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US 2004/0015282 A1Published application
High reliability pressure sensor
AssigneeKelsey-Hayes Company
InventorsMike L. Babala, Marc Bolitho, Jeffrey E Shaya, Thomas Baron
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The reliability of a pressure sensor is improved either by utilization of redundant composants. A pair of pressure sensors are mounted upon a single pressure sensor diaphragm. The pressure signals generated by the pressure sensors are compared and, if the difference between the signals exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is determined that a malfunction of the pressure sensor has ocurred. Alternately, additional diagnostic testing may be included to detect a malfunctioning sensor.
Claims39
A pressure sensor assembly for a hydraulic system comprising:
- a pressure sensor housing adapted to be mounted upon a hydraulic system;
- a pressure sensor diaphragm carried by said pressure sensor housing;
- a first pressure sensing element mounted upon said pressure sensor diaphragm;
- a second pressure sensing element mounted upon said pressure sensor diaphragm;
- a first signal conditioning circuit connected to said first pressure sensing elements, said first signal conditioning circuit operable to generate a first pressure signal at a first output port;
- a second signal conditioning circuit connected to said second pressure sensing elements, said second signal conditioning circuit operable to generate a second pressure signal at a second output port;
- and
- an electronic device connected to said output ports of said first and second signal conditioning circuits, said electronic device operative to compare said first and second pressure signals and, upon detecting a difference therebetween, to generate an error signal.
5 more elements
A pressure sensor assembly for a hydraulic system comprising:
- a pressure sensor housing adapted to be mounted upon a hydraulic system;
- a pressure sensor diaphragm carried by said pressure sensor housing;
- two pressure sensing elements mounted upon said pressure sensor diaphragm;
- a single signal conditioning circuit connected to both of said pressure sensing elements, said signal conditioning circuit operable to generate a digital pressure signal which includes pressure data from both of said pressure sensing elements;
- and
- an electronic device connected to an output port of said signal conditioning circuit, said microprocessor operative to compare said pressure data and, upon detecting a difference therebetween, to generate an error signal.
3 more elements
A pressure sensor assembly for a hydraulic system comprising:
- a pressure sensor housing adapted to be mounted upon a hydraulic system;
- a pressure sensor diaphragm carried by said pressure sensor housing;
- a single pressure sensing element mounted upon said pressure sensor diaphragm;
- a signal conditioning circuit connected to said pressure sensing element, said signal conditioning circuit operative to generate a pressure signal, said signal conditioning circuit also including at least one diagnostic test and operable to generate an error signal upon detecting a predetermined fault condition;
- and
- an electronic device connected to output port of said signal conditioning circuit.
3 more elements
A method for measuring a pressure comprising:
- (a) providing a pressure sensor having first and second sensor elements, the first and second sensor elements connected to corresponding first and second signal conditioning circuits, the second signal conditioning circuit having a gain that is a fraction of the gain of the first signal conditioning circuit;
- (b) comparing the output of the first signal conditioning circuit to a first threshold;
- (c) upon the output of the first signal conditioning circuit exceeding the first threshold, comparing the output of the second signal conditioning circuit to a second threshold;
- and
- (d) upon the output of the second signal conditioning circuit exceeding the second threshold, setting an error flag.
2 more elements
A method for measuring a pressure comprising:
- (a) providing a pressure sensor having first and second sensor elements, the first and second sensor elements connected to corresponding first and second signal conditioning circuits, the second signal conditioning circuit having a gain that is a fraction of the gain of the first signal conditioning circuit;
- (b) comparing the output of the first signal conditioning circuit to a first threshold and, upon the output of the first signal conditioning circuit exceeding the first threshold, setting an error flag;
- (c) upon the output of the first signal conditioning circuit being less than or equal to the first threshold, comparing the output of the second signal conditioning circuit to the first threshold and upon the output of the second signal conditioning circuit exceeding the first threshold, setting an error flag;
- (d) upon the output of the second signal conditioning circuit being less than or equal to the threshold, comparing the output of the first signal conditioning circuit to a second, and
- (e) upon the output the first signal conditioning circuit being less than the second threshold, comparing the output of the second signal conditioning circuit to a third threshold and, upon the output of the second signal conditioning circuit being less than the third threshold, setting an error flag.
2 more elements
A method for measuring a pressure comprising:
- (a) providing a pressure sensor having first and second sensor elements;
- (b) determining the absolute value of the difference of the outputs of the first and second sensor elements;
- (c) comparing the absolute value of the difference of the outputs of the first and second sensor elements to a maximum difference factor;
- and
- (d) upon the absolute value of the difference of the outputs of the first and second sensor elements greater than the maximum difference factor, setting an error flag.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.