Back to results
US 2001/0018795 A1Published application
Method for setting electrical characteristics of sensors after assembly
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsFREDERICK W. HINTZ, STEPHEN J. POSTMA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor, such as a proximity sensor, having its components sealed within a case, has its sensitivity adjusted with a remotely settable digital potentiometer after assembly of the sensor. The adjustment connection is then destroyed.
Claims20
A method of assembling a sensor comprising:
- (a) placing sensing apparatus inside a casing, the sensing apparatus including a sensing circuit having means for electrical connection to the outside of the case and a potentiometer for setting electrical characteristics of the sensor connected to the electrical connection means;
- (b) sealing the sensing apparatus within the casing;
- (c) measuring the electrical characteristics of the sensor;
- (d) attaching the leads to means capable of emitting a signal for changing the value of the potentiometer, and operating the means for changing as necessary to reset the value of the potentiometer to a pre-selected electrical characteristic for the sensor.
1 more element
A method of assembling a sensor comprising:
- (a) supplying a sensor casing;
- (b) placing sensing apparatus inside the casing, the sensing apparatus including a sensing circuit having means for electrical connection to the outside of the case and a potentiometer for setting electrical characteristics of the sensor connected to the electrical connection means;
- (c) setting the potentiometer to an initial value;
- (d) sealing the sensing apparatus within the casing;
- (e) measuring the electrical characteristics of the sensor;
- (f) attaching the leads to means capable of emitting a signal for changing the value of the potentiometer, and operating the means for changing as necessary to reset the value of the potentiometer to a pre-selected electrical characteristic for the sensor and;
- (g) destroying the electrical connection between the outside of the sensor casing and the potentiometer.
4 more elements
A method of assembling a sensor comprising:
- (a) supplying a sensor casing;
- (b) inserting sensing apparatus inside the casing, the sensing apparatus including a sensing circuit having means for electrical connection to the outside of the case and a digital potentiometer for setting the sensitivity of the sensor apparatus;
- (c) sealing the sensing apparatus within the casing
- (d) measuring the sensitivity of the sensor;
- (e) attaching the electrical connection means to means capable of emitting a signal for changing the value of the potentiometer, and operating the means for changing as necessary to rest the value of the potentiometer to a preselected operating point of the proximity sensor;
- and
- (f) destroying the electrical connection between the outside of the case and the potentiometer.
4 more elements
A method of constructing a sensor comprising in order:
- (a) supplying a case;
- (b) stuffing the case with sensing components, the components including a potentiometer for setting the sensitivity of the sensor, the potentiometer having a means for remote adjustment;
- (c) filling the case with a fluid-state potting compound to cover and protect the components;
- (d) letting the fluid potting compound harden;
- (e) checking the sensitivity of the sensor after the potting compound is hardened;
- (d) operating an adjustment means to set the value of the potentiometer to set the sensor sensitivity to a predetermined value.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.