Method and apparatus for measuring physical parameters
AssigneeSherwood Engineering Design Services, Inc.
InventorsRobert A. Sherwood, Roy A. Griffin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and corresponding method measure physical parameters using a plurality of low-cost sensors coupled in series is provided. These sensors can be thermal sensors for measuring the temperature of a heating pad. Different types of sensors to measure temperature, moisture, pressure, or state change of a switch may be employed. Such sensors may be distributed throughout a building to concurrently monitor multiple physical parameters at numerous locations. The sensors are easily manufactured, thus reducing sensor cost. Costs are further reduce by the user of two wires to connect the series of sensors. Moreover, the wires can be run easily through conduit or cable troughs.
Claims34
An apparatus for measuring physical parameters, comprising:
- a plurality of sensors coupled in series having circuits with respective time constants relating to physical parameters to be measured by the sensors to cause respective measurement signals to be generated in series;
- and
- a module to provide a drive signal to the sensors to generate the respective measurement signals and to measure the physical parameters based on a metric associated with the respective measurement signals.
A method for measuring physical parameters, comprising:
- generating a series of measurement signals representing respective physical parameters by affecting a drive signal at intervals meaningful of the physical parameters;
- and
- measuring the physical parameters based on at least one metric associated with the respective measurement signals.
An apparatus for measuring temperature in a heating pad, comprising:
- means for generating a series of measurement signals representing respective physical parameters by affecting a drive signal at intervals meaningful of the physical parameters;
- and
- means for measuring the physical parameters based on at least one metric associated with the respective measurement.
A heating pad system, comprising:
- a heater element;
- a driver unit to drive the heater element;
- a plurality of thermal sensors coupled in series having circuits with respective time constants relating to the temperature of the heating pad measured by the thermal sensors to cause respective measurement signals to be generated in series, a metric associated with the measurement signals representative of the temperature measured by the respective thermal sensors;
- and
- a module to monitor the measurement signals to sense the temperature measured by the thermal sensors and provide feedback to the driver unit to regulate a temperature produced by the heater element.
An apparatus for measuring the temperature in a heating pad, comprising:
- a plurality of sensors coupled in series to sense respective physical parameters at the sensors;
- and
- a module coupled to the sensors to provide a drive signal to the sensors and monitor effects on the drive signal caused by the sensors as a function of the respective physical parameters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.