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US 7,140,257 B2Granted
Wireless transmitting pressure measurement device
AssigneeAshcroft, Inc.
InventorsJohn W. Henson, Daniel G. Horne, Donald D. McIntosh, Walter J. Ferguson, John H. Bailey, Philip E. Butler, Douglas H. Beyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure measurement device includes a housing having an inlet, a transducer coupled to the inlet to generate an electrical signal representative of pressure at the inlet, and a data communication device coupled to the transducer to transmit a wireless signal corresponding to the electrical signal.
Claims59
A device for measuring pressure, the device comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet;
- a transducer coupled to the inlet in the housing to generate an electrical signal representative of pressure at the inlet, the transducer comprising:
- a pressure-to-mechanical transducer coupled to the inlet to displace in response to pressure at the inlet,
- a first component of an eddy current sensor, the first component coupled to the pressure-to-mechanical transducer, the first component being movable in response to displacement of the pressure-to-mechanical transducer, and
- a second component of an eddy current sensor, the second component positioned to sense movement of the first component and, in response to movement of the first component, generate the electrical signal;
- and
- a data communication device coupled to the transducer in the housing to transmit a wireless signal corresponding to the electrical signal, whereby pressure information is provided remotely.
4 more elements
A device for measuring pressure, the device comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet;
- a transducer coupled to the inlet in the housing to generate an electrical signal representative of pressure at the inlet, the transducer comprising:
- a pressure-to-mechanical transducer coupled to the inlet to displace in response to pressure at the inlet,
- a first component of an eddy current sensor, the first component coupled to the pressure-to-mechanical transducer, the first component being moveable in response to displacement of the pressure-to-mechanical transducer, and
- a second component of an eddy current sensor, the second component positioned to sense movement of the first component and, in response to movement of the first component, generate the electrical signal;
- a processor coupled to the transducer in the housing, the processor operable to receive the electrical signal and to generate a signal including pressure information corresponding to the signal;
- and
- a data communication device coupled to the processor in the housing to transmit a wireless signal representative of the processor generated signal, whereby pressure information is provided remotely.
5 more elements
A device for measuring pressure, the device comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet;
- a Bourdon tube coupled to the inlet in the housing to displace in response to pressure at the inlet;
- an inductive target coupled to the Bourdon tube to move in response to displacement of the Bourdon tube;
- an inductive coil positioned to sense movement of the inductive target and, in response to movement of the inductive target, to generate an electrical signal representative of pressure at the inlet;
- and
- a data communication device coupled to the inductive coil in the housing to transmit a wireless signal corresponding to the electrical signal, whereby pressure information is provided remotely.
3 more elements
A method performed at a pressure measurement device, the method comprising:
- sensing pressure at an inlet of a housing;
- converting the sensed pressure to a mechanical displacement;
- translating the mechanical displacement to a first component of an eddy current sensor;
- sensing movement of the first component with a second component of an eddy current sensor;
- converting the sensed movement to an electrical signal;
- and
- sending a wireless signal corresponding to the electrical signal from the housing, whereby pressure information is provided remotely.
4 more elements
A device for measuring pressure, the device comprising:
- means for sensing pressure at an inlet of a housing;
- means for converting the sensed pressure to an electrical signal at the housing by converting the sensed pressure to a mechanical displacement at the housing, translating the mechanical displacement to a first component of an eddy current sensor, sensing movement of the first component with a second component of the eddy current sensor, and converting the sensed movement to an electrical signal at the housing;
- and
- means for sending a wireless signal corresponding to the electrical signal from the housing, whereby pressure information is provided remotely.
1 more element
A device for measuring pressure, the device comprising:
- a housing comprising a stem having an inlet;
- a Bourdon tube coupled to the inlet to arcuately displace in response to pressure at the inlet;
- a shaft mechanically coupled to the Bourdon tube to rotate in response to displacement of the Bourdon tube;
- a pointer attached to the shaft to indicate pressure values;
- an inductive target coupled to the Bourdon tube, the target being movable in response to displacement of the Bourdon tube;
- an inductive coil positioned to sense movement of the inductive target and, in response to movement of the inductive target, generate an electrical signal;
- an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the sensor, the converter operable to receive the electrical signal and produce a digitized version of the signal;
- a microprocessor coupled to the converter, the microprocessor operable to:
- receive the digitized signal,
- compensate for non-linearity of the sensed pressure,
- compensate for temperature coefficients,
- generate pressure characterization data based on the compensated signal,
- determine whether the frequency at which pressure information is transmitted should be adjusted,
- if the frequency should be adjusted, adjust the frequency,
- determine whether it is time to transmit pressure information,
- if it is time to transmit pressure information, generate a signal comprising pressure information,
- place itself and other electronic components into a power conservation mode,
- an Infrared Data Association interface coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor may be remotely programmed via the interface;
- and
- an infrared transceiver coupled to the microprocessor to transmit a wireless signal representative of the microprocessor signal, whereby pressure information is provided both locally and remotely.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.