# US 8,786,343 B2 · Method, apparatus and system for sensing a signal with automatic adjustments for changing signal levels

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- Number: US 8,786,343 B2
- Document ID: US8786343B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/510,202
- Filed: 2010-11-17
- Published: 2013-05-23
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2009-11-18
- Assignees: Cognitive Vision Inc.
- Applicants: Derek H. Geer; Timothy John Smelter; John Gordon Thomas
- Inventors: Derek H. Geer; Timothy John Smelter; John Gordon Thomas
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786343B2

## CPC

- H03K 5/02: by amplifying (H03K5/04 takes precedence)
- H03K 3/013: Modifications of generator to prevent operation by noise or interference
- H03K 5/082: {with an adaptive threshold}
- H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M)

## Abstract

The present specification provides a method, apparatus and system for sensing a signal with automatic adjustments for changing signal levels. A novel fractional peak discriminator circuit is provided which can be incorporated into a system for measuring periodic signals from moving elements. The circuit can be used regardless of whether the periodic signals are detected using optics, magnetic detector or other methods.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A signal conditioner circuit comprising:
a filter for receiving an electrical signal generated by a sensor; said sensor configured to detect rotational periodic movement and generate said electrical signal based on said rotational periodic movement; said filter for generating a filtered signal having a peak where said electrical signal is greatest, wherein said peak represents a single rotation;
a peak detector configured to receive said filtered signal and to detect said peak and generate a detected-peak signal that holds said peak;
a peak-divider configured to receive said detected-peak signal and to divide said detected-peak signal by a predetermined amount and thereby generate a divided-peak signal;
a comparator configured to receive said divided-peak signal and said filtered signal; said comparator configured to generate and output a pulse when a comparison between said divided-peak signal and said filtered signal results in a determination that said filtered signal exceeds said divided-peak signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1 further comprising a pulse generator configured to generate a further pulse, based on said pulse; said further pulse conditioned for monitoring equipment.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1 wherein said sensor is an optical sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a magnetic sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1 wherein said rotational periodic movement corresponds to rotation of a turbine in a jet engine.

### Claim 6

A signal conditioner circuit comprising:
a filter for receiving an electrical signal generated by a sensor; said sensor configured to detect rotational periodic movement and generate said electrical signal based on said rotational periodic movement; said filter for generating a filtered signal having a peak where said electrical signal is greatest, wherein a plurality of said peaks represents a single rotation;
a peak detector configured to receive said filtered signal and to detect said peak and generate a detected-peak signal that holds said peak;
a peak-divider configured to receive said detected-peak signal and to divide said detected-peak signal by a predetermined amount and thereby generate a divided-peak signal;
a comparator configured to receive said divided-peak signal and said filtered signal; said comparator configured to generate and output a pulse when a comparison between said divided-peak signal and said filtered signal results in a determination that said filtered signal exceeds said divided-peak signal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The circuit of claim 6 further comprising a pulse generator configured to generate a further pulse, based on said pulse; said further pulse conditioned for monitoring equipment.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The circuit of claim 6 wherein said sensor is an optical sensor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The circuit of claim 6 wherein said sensor is a magnetic sensor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The circuit of claim 6 wherein said rotational periodic movement corresponds to rotation of a turbine in a jet engine.