Abstract: A wireless sensor reader is provided to interface with a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor reader transmits a narrowband, fixed frequency excitation pulse to cause the wireless sensor to generate a ring signal. The ring signal corresponds to the value of the physical parameter being sensed. The wireless sensor reader receives and amplifies the ring signal and sends the signal to a phase-locked loop. A voltage-controlled oscillator in the phase-locked loop locks onto the ring signal frequency and generates a count signal at a frequency related to the ring signal frequency. The voltage-controlled oscillator is placed into a hold mode where the control voltage is maintained constant to allow the count signal frequency to be determined. The low power, simple circuitry required to generate the excitation pulse allows the reader to be a small, battery operated unit. Alternative methods of frequency determination are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wireless sensor reader is provided to interface with a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor reader transmits an excitation pulse to cause the wireless sensor to generate a ring signal. The wireless sensor reader receives and amplifies the ring signal and sends the signal to a phase-locked loop. A voltage-controlled oscillator in the phase-locked loop locks onto the ring signal frequency and generates a count signal at a frequency related to the ring signal frequency. The voltage-controlled oscillator is placed into a hold mode where the control voltage is maintained constant to allow the count signal frequency to be determined. The reader uses an ambient reading or other information to select a subset of the possible ring signal frequencies, and tunes or adjusts its circuits and algorithms to focus on that subset.

Abstract: A method enables a radio receiver to distinguish sensor probes supplying data to the receiver over a long period of time. The method includes each probe generating a random number sent to the receiver to identify the probe. Each probe and the receiver also uses a pseudo-random process to identify a time of transmission for each probe. The pseudo-random process helps keep the transmission times for the probes separate in the presence of oscillator drift. If a transmission collision occurs, the receiver ignores all probes in the collision and waits until the pseudo-random process separates the probe transmissions.

Abstract: A wireless sensor reader is provided to interface with a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor reader transmits an excitation pulse to cause the wireless sensor to generate a ring signal. The wireless sensor reader receives and amplifies the ring signal and sends the signal to a phase-locked loop. A voltage-controlled oscillator in the phase-locked loop locks onto the ring signal frequency and generates a count signal at a frequency related to the ring signal frequency. The voltage-controlled oscillator is placed into a hold mode where the control voltage is maintained constant to allow the count signal frequency to be determined. The reader uses an ambient reading or other information to select a subset of the possible ring signal frequencies, and tunes or adjusts its circuits and algorithms to focus on that subset.

Abstract: A wireless sensor reader is provided to interface with a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor reader transmits an excitation pulse to cause the wireless sensor to generate a ring signal. The wireless sensor reader receives and amplifies the ring signal and sends the signal to a phase-locked loop. A voltage-controlled oscillator in the phase-locked loop locks onto the ring signal frequency and generates a count signal at a frequency related to the ring signal frequency. The voltage-controlled oscillator is placed into a hold mode where the control voltage is maintained constant to allow the count signal frequency to be determined. The reader uses an ambient reading or other information to select a subset of the possible ring signal frequencies, and tunes or adjusts its circuits and algorithms to focus on that subset.

Abstract: A wireless sensor reader is provided to interface with a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor reader transmits an excitation pulse to cause the wireless sensor to generate a ring signal. The wireless sensor reader receives and amplifies the ring signal and sends the signal to a phase-locked loop. A voltage-controlled oscillator in the phase-locked loop locks onto the ring signal frequency and generates a count signal at a frequency related to the ring signal frequency. The voltage-controlled oscillator is placed into a hold mode where the control voltage is maintained constant to allow the count signal frequency to be determined.

Abstract: A wireless sensor reader is provided to interface with a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor reader transmits an excitation pulse to cause the wireless sensor to generate a ring signal. The wireless sensor reader receives and amplifies the ring signal and sends the signal to a phase-locked loop. A voltage-controlled oscillator in the phase-locked loop locks onto the ring signal frequency and generates a count signal at a frequency related to the ring signal frequency. The voltage-controlled oscillator is placed into a hold mode where the control voltage is maintained constant to allow the count signal frequency to be determined. The reader uses an ambient reading or other information to select a subset of the possible ring signal frequencies, and tunes or adjusts its circuits and algorithms to focus on that subset.

Abstract: A wireless sensor reader is provided to interface with a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor reader transmits an excitation pulse to cause the wireless sensor to generate a ring signal. The wireless sensor reader receives and amplifies the ring signal and sends the signal to a phase-locked loop. A voltage-controlled oscillator in the phase-locked loop locks onto the ring signal frequency and generates a count signal at a frequency related to the ring signal frequency. The voltage-controlled oscillator is placed into a hold mode where the control voltage is maintained constant to allow the count signal frequency to be determined.

Abstract: A wireless sensor reader is provided to interface with a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor reader transmits an excitation pulse to cause the wireless sensor to generate a ring signal. The wireless sensor reader receives and amplifies the ring signal and sends the signal to a phase-locked loop. A voltage-controlled oscillator in the phase-locked loop locks onto the ring signal frequency and generates a count signal at a frequency related to the ring signal frequency. The voltage-controlled oscillator is placed into a hold mode where the control voltage is maintained constant to allow the count signal frequency to be determined.

Abstract: A machine includes a component. The machine may also include a position-sensing system with a plurality of sensor elements that each generate a signal related to proximity of the sensor element to the component by generating the signal based at least in part on the magnetic permeability of the space adjacent the sensor element and a time-varying magnetic field generated by an electric circuit of the position-sensing system. The machine may also include one or more information-processing devices that determine a positional relationship between the component and the plurality of sensor elements based on a plurality of the signals generated by the sensor elements.

Abstract: A wireless sensor reader is provided to interface with a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor reader transmits an excitation pulse to cause the wireless sensor to generate a ring signal. The wireless sensor reader receives and amplifies the ring signal and sends the signal to a phase-locked loop. A voltage-controlled oscillator in the phase-locked loop locks onto the ring signal frequency and generates a count signal at a frequency related to the ring signal frequency. The voltage-controlled oscillator is placed into a hold mode where the control voltage is maintained constant to allow the count signal frequency to be determined.

Abstract: A machine includes a component. The machine may also include a position-sensing system with a plurality of sensor elements that each generate a signal related to proximity of the sensor element to the component by generating the signal based at least in part on the magnetic permeability of the space adjacent the sensor element and a time-varying magnetic field generated by an electric circuit of the position-sensing system. The machine may also include one or more information-processing devices that determine a positional relationship between the component and the plurality of sensor elements based on a plurality of the signals generated by the sensor elements.

Abstract: A speed sensing device for use with a traction device is disclosed. The speed sensing device has a rotor having a first rotational, wherein the rotor has magnets affixed thereon to generate a magnetic field. The speed sensing device also has a power-harvesting circuit coupled with the rotor to convert fluctuations in the magnetic field into electrical energy. The speed sensing device further has a sensor having a second rotational speed different from the first rotational speed, wherein the sensor is powered by the power-harvesting circuit to generate a signal indicative of a speed of the traction device. The speed sensing device still further has a transmitting circuit connected with the speed sensor and powered by the power-harvesting circuit to wirelessly transmit the generated signal.

Abstract: An electronic interface is provided for connecting to various types of networks. The network places a data stream on a bus high signal and a bus low signal. The interface includes a ground synthesizer circuit, a capacitive isolator circuit, and an edge triggering circuit. The ground synthesizer circuit, coupled to the bus high signal and bus low signal, synthesizes a ground from the bus high signal and bus low signal. The capacitive isolator circuit, coupled to the ground synthesizer circuit, generates an isolated bus high signal from the bus high signal. The edge triggering circuit, coupled to the capacitive isolator circuit, regenerates the data stream into a first reconstructed data stream by comparing the isolated bus high signal with the ground. The resulting circuit comprises a digital data receiver that may be part of a transceiver.

Abstract: An electronic interface is provided for connecting to various types of networks. The network places a data stream on a bus high signal and a bus low signal. The interface includes a ground synthesizer circuit, a capacitive isolator circuit, and an edge triggering circuit. The ground synthesizer circuit, coupled to the bus high signal and bus low signal, synthesizes a ground from the bus high signal and bus low signal. The capacitive isolator circuit, coupled to the ground synthesizer circuit, generates an isolated bus high signal from the bus high signal. The edge triggering circuit, coupled to the capacitive isolator circuit, regenerates the data stream into a first reconstructed data stream by comparing the isolated bus high signal with the ground. The resulting circuit comprises a digital data receiver that may be part of a transceiver.