Inductive Distance Sensor Phase Delay Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing distance measurement technologies face challenges in accurately measuring propagation time of field changes, especially in inductive fields, due to ambient influences and material properties of objects, and struggle with sensitivity and temperature effects.
Innovation Solution
The use of coils to interact with inductive fields, where clocked signals from sending and compensating coils are divided into sections to regulate amplitude and phase, allowing for the determination of propagation time by minimizing clock synchronous signal components and eliminating temperature effects, thereby achieving high sensitivity and accurate distance measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical distance measurement methods are used, then distance can be measured, but the measurement is affected by ambient light, temperature effects, and aging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical measurement systems with inductive measurement systems. Instead of using light transmission and photodiodes, the invention uses inductive sensors with coils to generate and detect electromagnetic fields. This substitution eliminates sensitivity to ambient light conditions and reduces temperature effects, as inductive measurement is inherently more stable under varying environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an inert measurement environment by using inductive field measurement that is immune to external electromagnetic interference and ambient conditions. The inductive sensor system operates independently of ambient light, temperature fluctuations, and aging effects that plague optical systems, effectively creating a protected measurement environment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If inductive sensors are used for distance measurement, then measurement is independent of material properties, but temperature effects and low sensitivity remain problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic measurement techniques by using modulated excitation signals and evaluating the dynamic response of the inductive sensor. The system uses frequency-modulated or amplitude-modulated excitation signals and analyzes the phase and amplitude of the response, enabling precise measurement even with small changes in inductance or resistance, thereby overcoming sensitivity limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through synchronous detection and phase-locked loops. The system continuously monitors the sensor response and adjusts the excitation signal frequency and amplitude to maintain optimal measurement conditions, compensating for temperature drift and maintaining high sensitivity across varying environmental conditions.
3Measurement precision
If propagation time measurement is performed in inductive fields, then distance can be determined, but clock synchronous signal components interfere with measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the useful propagation time signal from the interfering clock synchronous components through synchronous detection. By using reference signals synchronized with the excitation frequency, the system selectively extracts the in-phase and quadrature components that contain propagation time information while rejecting the clock synchronous interference through phase-sensitive detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary signal conditioning and filtering before propagation time measurement. The system pre-processes the sensor signal by removing known interference frequencies and applying band-pass filtering to isolate the propagation time signal, ensuring that subsequent time measurements are not contaminated by clock synchronous artifacts.
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 method enables precise propagation time measurement in inductive fields, independent of object material properties, with high sensitivity and minimal influence from temperature or preamplifier parameters, allowing for accurate distance determination even at close ranges.
Implementation Method 1
The use of coils to interact with inductive fields, where clocked signals from sending and compensating coils are divided into sections to regulate amplitude and phase
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is method for measuring influence of or propagation time of inductive fields including producing and detecting a first inductive temporal field change and a first change value, producing and detecting a further inductive temporal field change and further field change, at least one of the changes being influenced by an object, comparing the first and further change values to produce a comparison value used to produce amplitude values such that amplitude of the first or further change value are substantially of the same magnitude, detecting a clock pulse alternation signal corresponding to the field change, determining a difference value by a comparison of the clock pulse alternation signals, changing the difference value to change phase delay of the first or further field change until the difference value is zero, using the phase delay to determine influence/propagation time of the inductive change.