Abstract:
An AC-to-DC converter obtains phase and amplitude signal information from a displacement transducer that is excited by an AC excitation signal and provides an AC sensor signal indicative of transducer position. The converter includes a first rectifier circuit that receives and sums the AC excitation signal and the AC sensor signal, and rectifies the sum to provide a rectified summed excitation and input signal indicative thereof. A second rectifier circuit receives and rectifies the AC excitation signal, and provides a rectified excitation signal indicative thereof. A summing circuit computes the difference between the rectified summed excitation and input signal and the rectified excitation signal, and provides a signed DC signal indicative of displacement transducer position. Advantageously, the AC-to-DC converter of the present invention performs summing and difference functions directly and provides a signed DC signal representative of the AC amplitude and phase input of the transducer output, thus eliminating the need for an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and the support of an associated processor.
Abstract:
An AC-to-DC converter obtains phase and amplitude signal information from a displacement transducer that is excited by an AC excitation signal and provides an AC sensor signal indicative of transducer position. The converter includes a first rectifier circuit that receives and sums the AC excitation signal and the AC sensor signal, and rectifies the sum to provide a rectified summed excitation and input signal indicative thereof. A second rectifier circuit receives and rectifies the AC excitation signal, and provides a rectified excitation signal indicative thereof. A summing circuit computes the difference between the rectified summed excitation and input signal and the rectified excitation signal, and provides a signed DC signal indicative of displacement transducer position. Advantageously, the AC-to-DC converter of the present invention performs summing and difference functions directly and provides a signed DC signal representative of the AC amplitude and phase input of the transducer output, thus eliminating the need for an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and the support of an associated processor.
Abstract:
A pulse displacement system comprises: a sensor, generating an analog waveform 105 indicative of an angular displacement of a reference wheel from a displacement wheel; a comparator 110, generating a pulse waveform; a flip flop 205, generating a duty cycle waveform; a first counter 215, accumulating a first count of high states of the duty cycle waveform; a second counter 220, accumulating a second count of low states; and a processor, determining a first average for the first count and a second average for the second count, and calculating a duty cycle of the pulse waveform as a function of these averages, where the first count includes an additional high state over the low state (see 310 and 315 in Figure 3). A method for determining a duty cycle in such a system is also provided. The system may map the calculated duty cycle to a torque value, and may be used in a control system for a helicopter rotor.
Abstract:
A method for determining a duty cycle in a pulse displacement system, includes generating an analog waveform indicative of an angular displacement of a reference wheel from a wheel; generating a pulse waveform of the analog waveform; generating a duty cycle waveform responsive to the generating of the pulse waveform; accumulating a first count of high states of the duty cycle waveform; accumulating a second count of low states of the duty cycle waveform; determining a first average for the first count and a second average for the second count; and calculating a duty cycle of the pulse waveform as a function of the first average and the second average. Also, the first count includes an additional high state over the low state.