Optical Measuring Device Clock Synchronization Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical measurement devices in process measurement technology face interference issues due to parasitic effects from electronic components, leading to inaccurate measurements, especially in environments requiring low power consumption and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The device employs a central control and measurement unit that generates synchronized clock signals to filter out interference by ensuring the frequency of the second clock signal is an even multiple of the first clock signal, using a charge pump for voltage supply and integrating a lock-in amplifier for improved signal-to-noise ratio, while minimizing component complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronic components such as power supply circuits or driver circuits are placed outside the microcontroller, then device functionality and flexibility are improved, but direct or indirect interference through parasitic effects on supply lines falsifies measurement signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the voltage supply device and driver device from the microcontroller into separate external components. This separation eliminates the parasitic coupling and interference that would occur through shared supply lines within an integrated microcontroller, thereby resolving the contradiction between functional flexibility and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces carefully designed supply lines with minimized parasitic effects as intermediaries between the voltage supply device and the microcontroller. These intermediary connections are engineered to reduce capacitive coupling and other parasitic effects, allowing external components to be used while maintaining signal integrity.
2Device complexity
If components are integrated into a microcontroller, then device complexity and component count are reduced, but interference through shared supply lines negatively influences measurement signals
Solution Approach 1:
The critical measurement-related components (optical receiver, voltage supply device, driver device) are extracted from the microcontroller into separate external components. This extraction prevents interference through shared supply lines while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure through centralized control by the microcontroller.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a charge pump is used for voltage supply, then power consumption is reduced and cost is lowered, but periodic switching causes interference that negatively affects measurement signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful periodic interference from the charge pump into a beneficial signal by using lock-in amplifier technology. The lock-in amplifier is synchronized to the charge pump's switching frequency, allowing it to distinguish the measurement signal from the periodic interference and effectively reject the interference while maintaining low power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the lock-in amplifier that uses the known periodic switching signal of the charge pump as a reference. This feedback mechanism allows the system to actively compensate for and eliminate the periodic interference, transforming what would be a harmful effect into a manageable and even useful synchronization signal.
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 effectively eliminates direct and indirect interference, ensuring reliable and accurate signal measurement while maintaining a simple and inexpensive device structure, suitable for use in various environments, including potentially explosive areas.
Implementation Method 1
a light source (3) for generating an optical input signal directed at a measurement object from an electrical input signal (8)
Implementation Method 2
an optical receiver (9) for detecting and converting the signal received from the measurement object, which corresponds to the optical input signal changed in phase and amplitude, into an electrical measurement signal (12)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for measuring a periodic signal, comprising a light source (3) for generating an optical input signal directed at an object being measured from an electrical input signal (8) generated by a driver device (5) on the basis of a first clock pulse (7), an optical receiver (9) for detecting and converting the signal received by the object being measured, said signal corresponding to the optical input signal altered in terms of phase and amplitude, into an electrical measuring signal (12), a central control and measuring device (10), which is designed to generate the first clock pulse (7) for the driver device (5) and to receive and process the electrical measurement signal (12, 13), and a voltage supply apparatus for supplying the driver device (5), wherein said central control and measuring device (10) is designed to generate a second clock pulse (19) for the voltage supply apparatus and filter the electrical measurement signal (12, 13) on the basis of the first and/or second clock pulse (7, 19), wherein the frequency of the second clock pulse (19) is an even multiple of the frequency of the first clock pulse (7).