Loop powered distance transmitter
OwnerSylvio Laplante, Patrick Gilbert +3inventors
InventorsSylvio Laplante, Patrick Gilbert, Patrick Couture, Vincent Marceau, Yvan Mimeault
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A distance transmitter for industrial process control systems is provided. The distance transmitter has a laser emitter that outputs laser pulses that strike a target. The laser pulses are reflected back by the target and are received by a light detector. The distance of the target from the sensor is determined by the time it takes for the laser pulses to return to the light detector. The distance transmitter may be mounted to an industrial structure with a flange. The laser emitter and light detector may output and receive laser light through an opening in the flange.
Claims20
A loop powered distance transmitter, comprising:
- a laser emitter structured to output laser light toward a target;
- a light detector structured to receive the laser light reflected from the target, the light detector comprising a single photon detector;
- a processor coupled to the light detector and structured to output a first signal representing a distance of the target from the laser emitter and the light detector;
- a power converter structured to receive electrical power from a two wire loop powered circuit, the power converter being coupled to the laser emitter, the light detector and the processor, and the power converter being structured to provide power to the laser emitter, the light detector and the processor;
- and
- a signal converter coupled to the processor and structured to receive the first signal from the processor, the signal converter being structured to output a second signal to the two wire loop powered circuit, the second signal representing the distance of the target from the laser emitter and the light detector, and the second signal being compatible with a communication protocol of the two wire loop powered circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.