G01D5/2291

LINEAR VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT TRANSFORMER (LVDT) WITH IMPROVED LINEARITY USING EXTREME END BOOSTER WINDING

A linear variable displacement transformer (LVDT) position sensor. The position sensor comprises a bobbin, a primary coil of wire wound on the bobbin, a first secondary coil wound in stepped layers on the bobbin, and a second secondary coil wound in stepped layers on the bobbin. The first secondary coil comprises a plurality of booster windings at an end of the first secondary coil. The second secondary coil comprises a plurality of booster windings at an end of the second secondary coil opposite the end of the first secondary coil booster windings. The stepped windings of the second secondary coil are complementary to the stepped windings of the first secondary coil.

RATIOMETRIC POSITION MEASUREMENT
20230175867 · 2023-06-08 ·

Systems and methods for sensor position measurements are provided. Aspects include receiving, through a first signal path, a first secondary signal from a first sensor and a built in test (BIT) signal, wherein the first signal path comprises a first multiplexer connected to a first filter, receiving, through a second signal path, a second secondary signal from the first sensor and the BIT signal, wherein the second signal path comprises a second multiplexer connected to a second filter, wherein the first signal path and the second signal path are connected to a third multiplexer, wherein the third multiplexer is connected to a first analog to digital converter (ADC), receiving, by a controller, an output signal from an output of the first ADC, and determining, by the controller, a position measurement for the first sensor based on the first secondary signal, the second secondary signal, and the BIT signal.

POSITION SENSING APPARATUS HAVING INTERNAL TARGET ROD WITH REMOTE ELECTRONICS FOR HARSH ENVIRONMENTS
20230175869 · 2023-06-08 ·

A sensing apparatus that measures a target characteristic. The apparatus has a sensing element formed as a section of a coupled slow-wave structure including a hollow ceramic tube and at least two impedance conductors each curled into a helix with opposing directions of winding around the tube to form a resonator. The sensing element is connected by coaxial cables to a remote electronics module which includes electronic components to create a resonant circuit with the sensing element. A metal internal target rod is configured to move into and out of the sensing element, being covered and uncovered by portions of the sensing element. This will cause the frequency of the resonant circuit to change proportionally to the movement of the target rod. The length of the coaxial cables separates the electronics module from the sensing element by a distance sufficient to avoid exposing the electronics module to harsh environments.

Method and apparatus for operating a dual rotor electrical machine

There is provided a system including a dual rotor electrical machine. The dual rotor electrical machine comprises a stator, an inner rotor including a first number of permanent magnet pole pairs, and a modulator including a second number of modulating segments. The system includes a controller configured to execute non-transitory machine readable instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the system to determine a virtual position of an electromagnetic field of the stator based on a weighted sum of an angular position of the inner rotor and an angular position of the modulator, wherein weights in the weighted sum are based on the first number and the second number.

Turbine speed detection and use

A speed control system and a power load balance detector for a turbine is provided. The speed control system includes a speed wheel with a plurality of teeth. A timer stores a time stamp when each of the teeth passes by a speed probe. A first speed estimate is determined for overspeed protection, and a second speed estimate is determined for operational speed control. The power load balance detector trips or shuts down the turbine when an unbalance is above a first threshold and the speed of the turbine is above a second threshold.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING ROTATIONAL POSITION
20170299409 · 2017-10-19 ·

A resolver system includes a rotatable primary winding, a secondary winding fixed relative to the primary winding, and an analog-to-digital converter electrically connected to the secondary winding. A control module is operatively connected to analog-to-digital converter and is responsive to instructions to apply an excitation voltage with an oscillating waveform to the primary winding, induce a secondary voltage using the secondary winding using the excitation voltage, and acquire a plurality of voltage measurements from the secondary winding separated by a time interval corresponding to π/3 of the excitation voltage oscillating waveform.

FAULT DETECTION IN VARIABLE DIFFERENTIAL TRANSFORMER SENSORS BASED ON ZERO-CROSSINGS OF SIGNALS
20170248648 · 2017-08-31 ·

Systems and methods of detecting failures in an assembly that uses a variable differential transformer sensor. In one embodiment, a signal processor receives an excitation signal applied to the sensor, and detects a zero-crossing of the excitation signal. The signal processor receives an output signal of the variable differential transformer sensor in response to the excitation signal, and detects a zero-crossing of the output signal. The signal processor detects a fault in the assembly responsive to a determination that the zero-crossing of the output signal is separated from the zero-crossing of the excitation signal by more than the detection threshold.

POSITION SENSOR ASSEMBLY
20170241810 · 2017-08-24 · ·

A position sensor assembly comprising (15) a housing (16) having a least one inner cavity, a stator (22) disposed within the housing, a moving element (23) disposed within the housing and configured and arranged to move relative to the stator (22), the stator comprising primary windings (24) and secondary windings (25, 26), the secondary windings configured and arranged to provide an output signal (27) as a function of movement of the moving element (23) relative to the stator (22), electronics (28) disposed in the housing and communicating with the primary windings (24) and the secondary windings (25, 26), the electronics comprising an integrated circuit (29) configured and arranged to provide excitation of the primary windings (24) and to demodulate the output signal (27) of the secondary windings (25, 26), and an input element (35) extending through the housing (16) and connected to the moving element (23).

Sensor circuit diagnosis

A method includes receiving data characterizing an output of a sensor coupled to an industrial equipment. The output can include a sum of a first secondary coil and a voltage of a second secondary coil. The first secondary coil can be included in a first circuit and the second secondary coil can be included in second circuit configured within the sensor. The method can also include determining an integrity state of a circuit configured within the sensor. The integrity state can be determined based on the received data. The integrity state can identify a state of operation of the circuit configured within the sensor. The method can further include providing the integrity state. Related systems, techniques, and non-transitory computer readable mediums are also described.

INDUCTIVE POSITION SENSOR WITH FREQUENCY CONVERTER AND GOERTZEL FILTER FOR ANALYZING SIGNALS
20170268907 · 2017-09-21 ·

A position sensor connected to first and second electric signal sources to output a first electric signal with a first frequency and a second electric signal with a second frequency. The position sensor includes: a primary coil generating a magnetic alternating field with the first frequency; a first and a second secondary coil, the first and second secondary coils each magnetically coupled to the primary coil by the position transmitter, and third and fourth electric signals induced in the first and second secondary coils respectively by the generated magnetic alternating field; a frequency converter converts the third and fourth electric signals into respective first and second intermediate frequency signals, the frequency converter connectable to the second electric signal source. A Goertzel filter bank demodulates the first intermediate frequency signal to obtain a first demodulated signal and demodulates the second intermediate frequency signal to obtain a second demodulated signal.