# US 7,612,554 B2 · Bipolar interrogation for magnetostrictive transducers

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- Number: US 7,612,554 B2
- Document ID: US7612554B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/935,879
- Filed: 2007-11-06
- Published: 2008-04-17
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2003-04-21
- Assignees: MTS Systems Corporation
- Inventors: Arnold F. Sprecher
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612554B2

## CPC

- G01D 5/485: {using magnetostrictive devices}
- G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A magnetostrictive-based sensor is disclosed which obtains higher return signals through the use of multiple consecutive input pulses

## Claims

### Claim 1

A magnetostrictive transducer, comprising:
a magnetostrictive waveguide;
a return wire connected to the magnetostrictive waveguide;
a magnet movable in close proximity to the magnetostrictive waveguide; and
a bipolar driver circuit coupled to the magnetostrictive waveguide, said bipolar driver circuit configured to generate at least two consecutive current pulses of opposite polarity, wherein the current pulses of opposite polarity are timed to generate a return pulse along the magnetostrictive waveguide that has an amplitude larger than if the return pulse was from a single current pulse.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The magnetostrictive transducer of claim 1, wherein the bipolar driver circuit comprises a bridge driver circuit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The magnetostrictive transducer of claim 1, wherein the bipolar driver circuit comprises an intrinsically safe circuit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The magnetostrictive transducer of claim 1 wherein the magnetostrictive waveguide comprises a linear magnetostrictive position sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The magnetostrictive transducer of claim 4 further comprising a termination end, and the magnetostrictive waveguide and the return wire connect to one another at the termination end.

### Claim 6

A magnetostrictive transducer, comprising:
a magnetostrictive waveguide;
a return wire connected to the magnetostrictive waveguide;
a magnet movable in close Proximity to the magnetostrictive waveguide; and
a bipolar driver circuit coupled to the magnetostrictive waveguide, said bipolar driver circuit configured to generate at least two consecutive current pulses of opposite polarity wherein the magnetostrictive waveguide comprises a resonance that generates the return pulse such that the return pulse is constructively additive.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The magnetostrictive transducer of claim 6 further comprising a termination end, and the magnetostrictive waveguide and the return wire connect to one another at the termination end.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The magnetostrictive transducer of claim 6 further comprising a pickup head and wherein the magnetostrictive waveguide extends through the pickup head.

### Claim 9

A magnetostrictive transducer, comprising:
a magnetostrictive waveguide with a resonance;
a magnet movable in close proximity to the magnetostrictive waveguide; and
a bipolar driver circuit coupled to the magnetostrictive waveguide, said bipolar driver circuit configured to generate at least two consecutive current pulses of opposite polarity that are timed such that the resonance generates a constructively additive return pulse.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The magnetostrictive transducer of claim 9, wherein the bipolar driver circuit comprises a bridge driver circuit.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The magnetostrictive transducer of claim 9, wherein the bipolar driver circuit comprises an intrinsically safe circuit.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The magnetostrictive transducer of claim 9 wherein the current pulses of opposite polarity are timed to generate a return pulse along the magnetostrictive waveguide that has an amplitude larger than if the return pulse was from a single current pulse.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The magnetostrictive transducer of claim 9 wherein the magnetostrictive waveguide comprises a linear magnetostrictive position sensor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The magnetostrictive transducer of claim 9 further comprising a return wire and a termination end, and the magnetostrictive waveguide and the return wire connect to one another at the termination end.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The magnetostrictive transducer of claim 14 wherein the magnetostrictive waveguide comprises a linear magnetostrictive position sensor.