Patents by Inventor Tarek Ghaoud

Tarek Ghaoud has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6993445
    Abstract: A process variable transmitter, implemented in a dual PLL structure, includes a first PLL having a first bandwidth producing a first output signal, and a second PLL having a second bandwidth narrower than the first bandwidth of the first PLL. The first and second PLLs are operable to lock into a frequency of an input signal and produce first and second output signals, respectively. The second PLL is operable to lock into the frequency of the input signal with greater accuracy and greater immunity to noise than the first PLL. A switch is operable to switch an output signal of the process variable transmitter between the first output signal and the second output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Clarke, Tarek Ghaoud
  • Patent number: 6915242
    Abstract: A signal processor, for use with a zero crossing module of a vortex flow meter, includes a peak amplitude detector, a comparator, and a filter module. The filter module is enabled when the comparator determines that the amplitude is less than a low flow rate threshold. The filter module filters a vortex signal and the filtered signal is provided to a frequency estimator that uses a zero crossing algorithm. The signal processor may increase the signal-to-noise ratio at low flow rates for which the frequency estimator may not otherwise be able to accurately estimate the flow rate. Low flow rates may be measured by determining that there is a low flow rate using amplitude detection of a vortex signal, filtering the vortex signal based on the amplitude detection, and using a zero crossing algorithm on the filtered vortex signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tarek Ghaoud, David W. Clarke
  • Patent number: 6832179
    Abstract: A signal processor, for use with a zero crossing module of a vortex flow meter, includes a peak amplitude detector, a comparator, and a filter module. The filter module is enabled when the comparator determines that the amplitude is less than a low flow rate threshold. The filter module filters a vortex signal and the filtered signal is provided to a frequency estimator that uses a zero crossing algorithm. The signal processor may increase the signal-to-noise ratio at low flow rates for which the frequency estimator may not otherwise be able to accurately estimate the flow rate. Low flow rates may be measured by determining that there is a low flow rate using amplitude detection of a vortex signal, filtering the vortex signal based on the amplitude detection, and using a zero crossing algorithm on the filtered vortex signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tarek Ghaoud, David W. Clarke
  • Publication number: 20040243359
    Abstract: A signal processor, for use with a zero crossing module of a vortex flow meter, includes a peak amplitude detector, a comparator, and a filter module. The filter module is enabled when the comparator determines that the amplitude is less than a low flow rate threshold. The filter module filters a vortex signal and the filtered signal is provided to a frequency estimator that uses a zero crossing algorithm. The signal processor may increase the signal-to-noise ratio at low flow rates for which the frequency estimator may not otherwise be able to accurately estimate the flow rate. Low flow rates may be measured by determining that there is a low flow rate using amplitude detection of a vortex signal, filtering the vortex signal based on the amplitude detection, and using a zero crossing algorithm on the filtered,vortex signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation
    Inventors: Tarek Ghaoud, David W. Clarke
  • Publication number: 20030028334
    Abstract: A signal processor, for use with a zero crossing module of a vortex flow meter, includes a peak amplitude detector, a comparator, and a filter module. The filter module is enabled when the comparator determines that the amplitude is less than a low flow rate threshold. The filter module filters a vortex signal and the filtered signal is provided to a frequency estimator that uses a zero crossing algorithm. The signal processor may increase the signal-to-noise ratio at low flow rates for which the frequency estimator may not otherwise be able to accurately estimate the flow rate. Low flow rates may be measured by determining that there is a low flow rate using amplitude detection of a vortex signal, filtering the vortex signal based on the amplitude detection, and using a zero crossing algorithm on the filtered vortex signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Tarek Ghaoud, David W. Clarke
  • Publication number: 20020129661
    Abstract: A process variable transmitter, implemented in a dual PLL structure, includes a first PLL having a first bandwidth producing a first output signal, and a second PLL having a second bandwidth narrower than the first bandwidth of the first PLL. The first and second PLLs are operable to lock into a frequency of an input signal and produce first and second output signals, respectively. The second PLL is operable to lock into the frequency of the input signal with greater accuracy and greater immunity to noise than the first PLL. A switch is operable to switch an output signal of the process variable transmitter between the first output signal and the second output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: David W. Clarke, Tarek Ghaoud