Abstract: A sensor assembly comprises a housing, a bushing, a contact post, and a sensor. The housing has a hollow interior and the bushing is disposed within the hollow interior of the housing at a distal end of the housing. The bushing has a hollow interior, and the contact post is configured to slide within the hollow interior of the bushing as a tip of the contact post comes into contact with a surface. The contact post has a partial bore and the sensor is configured to slide into the partial bore if necessary. The sensor is also configured to measure a distance between the bottom of the contact post and a tip of the sensor. The sensor may communicate the measurement to a data processor.

Abstract: A tracking band comprises a magnetic tape and mounting tabs that secure the magnetic tape within a band clamp. The mounting tabs protrude radially inwardly toward a center region defined by the band clamp. The magnetic tape is precision-coded with a sequence of magnetic poles. The tracking band may be disposed within an annular recess of a rotating shaft of a heliostat. The tracking band may rotate with the rotating shaft. The shaft may be coupled with a mirror such that the mirror and rotating shaft rotate concurrently. As the tracking band rotates with the rotating shaft, the tracking band may pass by an encoder head, which may read the magnetic tape and relay information regarding the angular position of the mirror from the magnetic tape to a control system. The tracking band may thus provide altitude and azimuth position information for the mirror to a control system.

Abstract: A sensor assembly comprises a housing, a bushing, a contact post, and a sensor. The housing has a hollow interior and the bushing is disposed within the hollow interior of the housing at a distal end of the housing. The bushing has a hollow interior, and the contact post is configured to slide within the hollow interior of the bushing as a tip of the contact post comes into contact with a surface. The contact post has a partial bore and the sensor is configured to slide into the partial bore if necessary. The sensor is also configured to measure a distance between the bottom of the contact post and a tip of the sensor. The sensor may communicate the measurement to a data processor.

Abstract: An inductive proximity sensor includes a sensor housing, a sensing coil and an evaluation circuit. The sensor housing may generally include a sensing portion and a body portion. The evaluation circuit may be electrically coupled to the sensing coil and disposed in the body portion. The sensing coil may be positioned in the sensing portion such that the sensing coil is recessed from an outer edge of the sensor housing by a protective annulus disposed between the sensing coil and the outer edge. The sensing coil may be spaced from the sensor housing by a zone having low magnetic permeability relative to the sensor housing disposed between the sensing coil and the sensor housing. The zone may extend circumferentially around the sensing coil. A protective plate may be disposed between the outer edge of the sensor housing and the sensing coil and recessed from the outer edge of the housing.

Abstract: A sensor is provided in one illustrative embodiment that includes a microcontroller that executes a program that generates quadrature output signals that indicate the change in a parameter being measured. As an example, the sensor could comprise a linear position transducer. The quadrature output signals can comprise square wave signals that are ninety degrees out of phase, each transition of the signals representing a unit of change in position of the measured mass. According to another aspect, the quadrature signals can be placed into phase with one another to indicate an error condition. In another aspect, user inputs can be provided to allow the user to select parameters such as frequency, update rate, and/or resolution. Moreover, at least one of the sensor inputs can be utilized to load calibration factor data for the sensor.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a module for controlling two or more zones of an accumulating conveyor system. In one embodiment, the single module includes outputs to provide independent actuation signals to cause movement of two zones of the conveyor. The module includes two sensor inputs to receive article detection signals from two zones. Circuitry controls the actuation signals based upon the detection signals received. According to another aspect, a control module is provided with an input for indicating the speed of the conveyor to be used, such that programmed features of the module can be adjusted according to the speed selected. According to another aspect, a sleep mode of operation is provided wherein multiple downstream zones are awakened upon the detection of an article in an upstream zone.

Abstract: A sensor is provided in one illustrative embodiment that includes a microcontroller that executes a program that generates quadrature output signals that indicate the change in a parameter being measured. As an example, the sensor could comprise a linear position transducer. The quadrature output signals can comprise square wave signals that are ninety degrees out of phase, each transition of the signals representing a unit of change in position of the measured mass. According to another aspect, the quadrature signals can be placed into phase with one another to indicate an error condition. In another aspect, user inputs can be provided to allow the user to select parameters such as frequency, update rate, and/or resolution. Moreover, at least one of the sensor inputs can be utilized to load calibration factor data for the sensor.

Abstract: A modular waveguide assembly for use in a position sensor promotes efficient manufacturing, and can be tested and handled separately from the electronics module of the sensor. The waveguide assembly includes a channel having an opening extending along its length, a waveguide located within the channel, a conductor located within the channel, and a mode converter, such as a coil, located within the channel and positioned to generate an electrical signal from a signal traveling along the waveguide. A damping material can be inserted into the channel opening and around a portion of the waveguide such that the material adheres to the waveguide. Preferably, the damping material is at least initially partially flowable, and is then cured.

Abstract: A modular waveguide assembly for use in a position sensor promotes efficient manufacturing, and can be tested and handled separately from the electronics module of the sensor. The waveguide assembly includes a channel having an opening extending along its length, a waveguide located within the channel, a conductor located within the channel, and a mode converter, such as a coil, located within the channel and positioned to generate an electrical signal from a signal traveling along the waveguide. A damping material can be inserted into the channel opening and around a portion of the waveguide such that the material adheres to the waveguide. Preferably, the damping material is at least initially partially flowable, and is then cured.

Abstract: An incremental signal emulation method and apparatus which utilizes a variable frequency signal which is based on the rate of change of a sensor measurement. Preferably, the variable frequency signal is made up of a number of pulses, the frequency of which is based upon the rate of change of the sensor measurement. The variable frequency signal is converted to A and B incremental signals, the phase relationship between the A and B signals representing the sign (positive or negative) of the rate of change, and each transition in the A or B signal representing an increment to be added to or subtracted from the synthesized sensor measurement count. In one embodiment, a voltage-to-frequency converter is used to convert a velocity signal to a variable frequency signal, and flip flops and inverters are used to create the A and B signals. Preferably the A and B signals are square waves in quadrature.

Abstract: A measurement transducer and method is provided which provides a pair of pulses as an output, the measured condition being represented by the time between the pulses, and which includes internal compensation such that the pair of pulses are adjusted to mimic the output of a predetermined ideal transducer. In one embodiment, correction factors are calculated for a magnetostrictive linear position transducer by comparing the transducer output with a position measurement taken by a separate measuring device. These correction factors are stored in a non-volatile memory. Then, during operation of the transducer, a correction factor is selected for each uncorrected measurement and added to the uncorrected measurement to provide a compensated measurement. The compensated measurement is then used to generate a time value using a calculation which includes a predetermined standard waveguide propagation velocity value.

Abstract: A modular waveguide assembly for use in a position sensor promotes efficient manufacturing, and can be tested and handled separately from the electronics module of the sensor. The waveguide assembly includes a channel having an opening extending along its length, a waveguide located within the channel, a conductor located within the channel, and a mode converter, such as a coil, located within the channel and positioned to generate an electrical signal from a signal traveling along the waveguide. A damping material can be inserted into the channel opening and around a portion of the waveguide such that the material adheres to the waveguide. In one embodiment, the damping material is at least initially partially flowable, and is then cured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating the output signal of a linear position detector without accessing the interior of the detector housing is provided. According to one exemplary embodiment, a magnet is selectively movable toward and away from the exterior of the electronics housing, and a sensor is provided within the housing for sensing the presence of the magnet. According to this embodiment, the linear position detector is calibrated by setting a movable marker at the desired position and pushing the magnet toward the housing. The sensor then detects the presence of the magnet, and a processor saves the position of the marker as a reference point. All future positions of the marker can then be scaled based upon the reference point. Thus, the linear position detector can be calibrated without the need for opening the electronics housing and potentially exposing the electronics components to moisture, contaminants, and/or static electricity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically and periodically tuning a signal having a gain element, a variable impedance associated with the gain element, and a control device. The gain element has an input for receiving the signal and an output for providing an output signal and is preferably an operational amplifier with a feedback path extending from the output to the input. The variable impedance is preferably connected in series in the feedback path and includes a plurality of resistors connected in series and a plurality of switches, each switch being connected in parallel with one of the resistors. The control device receives the gain element output signal and generates a control signal in response to the amplitude of the gain element output signal. The control signal is transmitted to the variable impedance for regulating the setting of the impedance.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection apparatus for use with a data transmission interface, having at least one data transmission line associated therewith, for protecting the interface from power spikes, transients, and/or the continuous application of an excessive voltage. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes at least one voltage limiting device associated with each data line. Each voltage limiting device being connected at one end to the associated data line, and at a second end to a current sensing and switching structure, which is in turn connected to ground. The current sensing and switching structure monitors the current through the voltage limiting device. In the event an excessive voltage is applied to a pin or data line of the interface, the voltage limiting device briefly absorbs the excess power and generates an increased current. This increased current is sensed by the current sensing and switching structure, which responds by opening a switch which disconnects the interface from ground.