Digital Frequency Response Enhancement for Vibration Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vibration sensors face complexity and cost issues due to the need for costly analog components to analyze analog vibration signals, limiting their signal range and requiring expensive manufacturing, which hinders early detection and identification of machinery problems.

Innovation Solution

A vibration meter system that uses an analog-to-digital converter to convert attenuated vibration signals, followed by a digital frequency enhancement block with signal processing software to amplify and filter the signals using a digital high pass filter with a calculated roll-off slope, reducing the need for analog components and enhancing frequency response.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If analog circuits are used to capture frequency response of vibration signals, then frequency response can be captured, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency response captureVSAvoidanalog circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex analog electronic circuits with a digital signal processing system. An analog-to-digital converter transforms the vibration signal into digital form, allowing frequency response enhancement through software-based filtering and processing algorithms rather than complex analog circuitry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the state of the vibration signal from analog to digital domain. By converting the signal early in the processing chain and applying digital filtering techniques, the system achieves frequency response enhancement without requiring complex analog components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If costly analog components are used to manufacture vibration meter, then frequency response can be enhanced, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency response enhancementVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes expensive analog filtering and frequency enhancement components with affordable digital signal processing algorithms. Standard microcontrollers or processors can implement the required filtering and enhancement functions through software, dramatically reducing component costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs cost-effective digital processing components rather than expensive analog components. The use of software-based signal processing allows for the use of simpler, cheaper hardware platforms that can be manufactured at lower cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Adaptability or versatility

If analog circuit is used to capture vibration signal, then signal can be processed, but signal range for analysis is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal range for analysisVSAvoidanalog circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the vibration signal from analog to digital domain early in the processing chain. This conversion enables the use of software-based filtering and signal processing techniques that can easily adapt to different frequency ranges and signal characteristics without requiring hardware reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The digital signal processing approach provides universal functionality for analyzing vibration signals across different frequency ranges. The same hardware platform can process various types of vibration signals by simply changing the software filtering parameters, making the system highly adaptable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach simplifies the design, reduces noise floor, and improves signal-to-noise ratio, allowing for more reliable and cost-effective detection and identification of machinery issues by providing a uniform frequency response over a desired band, facilitating early detection and correction of mechanical problems.

Implementation Method 1

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert an attenuated vibration signal to a converted signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnalog-to-digital conversion:

Implementation Method 2

The converted signal is amplified by amplifying time domain samples of the attenuated vibration signal to produce an amplified signal. The amplified signal is filtered to produce a filtered signal by a digital high pass filter with a calculated roll-off slope

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDigital signal filtering: Filter (electronic)

Data Source

PatentEP2778632B1Frequency response of vibration sensors
Publication Date: 2019.05.29 FLUKE CORP
  • EP2778632B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2778632B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2778632B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Frequency compensation of a vibration sensor digitally in a time domain by using a high-pass filter roll-off slope is presented. The subject matter reduces the noise floor of an analog front end or analog domain portion of a circuit configured to enhance the frequency response of a vibration sensor. The present subject matter eliminates or reduces analog components and adds pieces of signal processing software to digitally enhance the frequency response of a vibration sensor so as to reduce component costs.