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US 6,639,675 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for aligning a mirror of a carbon in fly ash sensor
AssigneeABB Automation Inc.
InventorsStanley J. Boguszewski, Joseph W. Quinn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for aligning the axis of a mirror of a carbon in ash sensor. The method first executes a series of steps that causes a stepper motor connected to an axis of the mirror to move the mirror through a first coarse alignment procedure and then executes a second series of steps that that moves the mirror through a second fine alignment procedure.
Claims27
A method for aligning the first axis of a first mirror of a sensor comprising the steps of:
- a) determining when said first mirror is in a first location which is a first predetermined number of steps in a first direction from a starting point for said first mirror the average peak amplitude of a signal received at a receiver connected to said first mirror;
- b) moving said first mirror in a second direction which is opposite to said first direction in first increments each of a second predetermined number of steps and determining the average peak amplitude of said signal received at said receiving section at each of said first increments;
- c) stopping movement of said first mirror in said second direction when said first mirror has moved a predetermined number of said first increments beyond said starting point;
- d) determining said first increment where said average peak amplitude of said received signal was the highest and moving said first mirror to said determined first increment;
- e) moving said first mirror said second predetermined number of steps in said first direction to a second location and determining the average peak amplitude of said signal received at said receiving section at said second location;
- f) moving said first mirror in said second direction in second increments each of a third predetermined number of steps and determining the average peak amplitude of said signal received at said receiving section at each of said second increments;
- g) stopping movement of said first mirror in said second direction when said first mirror has moved beyond said determined first increment a predetermined number of said second increments;
- and
- h) determining said second increment where said average peak amplitude of said received signal was the highest and moving said first mirror to said determined second increment.
6 more elements
A method for aligning the axis of a mirror of a sensor comprising the steps of:
- a) moving said mirror from a starting point a first predetermined number of steps in a first direction to a first location;
- b) determining when said mirror is in said first location the average peak amplitude of a signal received at a receiver connected to said mirror;
- c) moving said mirror in a second direction which is opposite to said first direction in first increments each of a second predetermined number of steps and determining the average peak amplitude of said signal received at said receiving section at each of said first increments;
- d) stopping movement of said mirror in said second direction when said mirror has moved a number of said first increments beyond said starting point equal to said first predetermined number of steps;
- e) determining said first increment where said average peak amplitude of said received signal was the highest and moving said mirror to said determined first increment;
- f) moving said mirror said second predetermined number of steps in said first direction to a second location and determining the average peak amplitude of said signal received at said receiving section at said second location;
- g) moving said mirror in said second direction in second increments each of a third predetermined number of steps and determining the average peak amplitude of said signal received at said receiving section at each of said second increments;
- h) stopping movement of said mirror in said second direction when said mirror has moved beyond said determined first increment a number of said second increments equal to said second predetermined number of steps;
- and
- i) determining said second increment where said average peak amplitude of said received signal was the highest and moving said mirror to said determined second increment.
7 more elements
A method for aligning the first axis of a first mirror of a sensor comprising the steps of:
- a) moving said first mirror from a starting point a first predetermined number of steps in a first direction to a first location;
- b) determining when said first mirror is in said first location the average peak amplitude of a signal received at a receiver connected to said first mirror;
- c) moving said first mirror in a second direction which is opposite to said first direction in first increments each of a second predetermined number of steps and determining the average peak amplitude of said signal received at said receiving section at each of said first increments;
- d) stopping movement of said first mirror in said second direction when said first mirror has moved a number of said first increments beyond said starting point equal to said first predetermined number of steps;
- and
- e) determining said first increment where said average peak amplitude of said received signal was the highest and moving said first mirror to said determined first increment.
3 more elements
Apparatus for aligning the axis of a mirror of a sensor, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a digital processor;
- and
- b) a routine executed by said digital processor for:
- (i) moving said mirror from a starting point a first predetermined number of steps in a first direction to a first location;
- (ii) determining when said mirror is in said first location the average peak amplitude of a signal received at a receiver connected to said mirror;
- (iii) moving said mirror in a second direction which is opposite to said first direction in first increments each of a second predetermined number of steps and determining the average peak amplitude of said signal received at said receiving section at each of said first increments;
- (iv) stopping movement of said mirror in said second direction when said mirror has moved a number of said first increments beyond said starting point equal to said first predetermined number of steps;
- and
- (v) determining said first increment where said average peak amplitude of said received signal was the highest and moving said mirror to said determined first increment.
6 more elements
A solid fuel-fired steam generator comprising:
- a sensor for measuring in-situ and in real time the carbon content of the flue gas entrained fly ash that is produced from combustion occurring in said steam generator, said sensor comprising:
- a mirror;
- a digital processor;
- and
- a routine executed by said digital processor for:
- (i) moving said mirror from a starting point a first predetermined number of steps in a first direction to a first location;
- (ii) determining when said mirror is in said first location the average peak amplitude of a signal received at a receiver connected to said mirror;
- (iii) moving said mirror in a second direction which is opposite to said first direction in first increments each of a second predetermined number of steps and determining the average peak amplitude of said signal received at said receiving section at each of said first increments;
- (iv) stopping movement of said mirror in said second direction when said mirror has moved a number of said first increments beyond said starting point equal to said first predetermined number of steps;
- and
- (v) determining said first increment where said average peak amplitude of said received signal was the highest and moving said mirror to said determined first increment.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.