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US 5,619,583 AGranted
Apparatus and methods for determining the relative displacement of an object
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsSteven L. Page, James Hollander, Gene Frantz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microphone is disclosed which converts an audio signal directly into a digital representation by analyzing and digitizing the distortion imposed upon a signal, such as a string of regularly spaced pulses as a result of the displacement of a diaphragm, relative to a sensor, in response to the incoming acoustical signal. Other devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.
Claims3
An apparatus for detecting relative displacement of a diaphragm, comprising:
- a signal source for providing a predetermined signal having a string of regularly spaced pulses;
- a structure for receiving and distorting said predetermined signal in response to relative displacement of said diaphragm to produce a distorted signal, said structure for receiving and distorting said predetermined signal distorts said signal by distorting the relative phase of said regularly spaced pulses;
- a processor for receiving said distorted signal and determining said relative displacement from said distorted signal;
- memory circuits connected to said processor for storing instructions for said processor;
- and
- additional memory circuits connected to said processor for storing displacement values corresponding to predetermined levels of signal distortion;
- said diaphragm is flexibly connected to said base by a connecting element having a determinable transfer function, said transfer function introducing an error factor in the displacement of said diaphragm in response to an external pressure;
- said displacement values stored in said memory represent a pressure value corresponding to said external pressure;
- and
- said processor including instructions stored in said memory for canceling out said error factor so that a truer estimate of said external pressure is determined.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.