Claims
- 1. A system for real-time measuring, transmitting, and receiving of process conditions, comprising:
- a sensor unit for detecting a measurable condition signal having a plurality of inputs, said sensor unit having:
- a) an amplifier circuit for amplifying said measurable condition signal detected by said sensor unit;
- b) an analog-to-digital converter circuit for converting said amplified measurable condition signal to digital form;
- c) a multiplexer circuit in electrical communication with said plurality of inputs; and
- d) an ice-point/zero-voltage reference in electrical communication with said multiplexer circuit;
- a signal transmitter in association with said sensor unit for transmitting a signal characterizing said measurable condition signal detected by said sensor unit, via an air core signal transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding, such that communication is established via magnetic energy linking said primary and secondary windings, said transmitter adapted to enable transmitting from said sensor unit to a conductor which conveys said transmitted signal;
- a communication circuit for receiving said transmitted signal, and generating output characterizing said condition; and
- wherein said sensor unit, signal transmitter, and communication circuit are physically remote from one another.
- 2. A system recited in claim 1, wherein said sensor unit is further comprised of:
- a precision voltage reference in electrical communication with said analog-to-digital converter for providing a precise DC voltage trader all conditions.
- 3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensor is further comprised of:
- a low level voltage reference circuit in electrical communication with said multiplexer circuit.
- 4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein said multiplexer connects any one of said plurality of inputs, low level voltage reference, or ice point/zero-voltage reference to said amplifier circuit.
- 5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensor unit is further comprised of:
- a microcontroller in electrical communication with said analog-to-digital converter for providing data processing, communication, and control features.
- 6. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said sensor unit is further comprised of:
- unit ID switches in electrical communication with said microcontroller for uniquely identifying said sensor unit.
- 7. A system as recited in claim 5, where said sensor unit is further comprised of:
- a modulator/transmitter circuit in electrical communication with said microcontroller for transmitting a resulting signal from said microcontroller over said air-core signal transformer.
- 8. A sensor unit for measuring and transmitting process conditions, said sensor unit having a plurality of inputs, comprising:
- an amplifier circuit for amplifying measurable condition signals detected by said sensor unit;
- an analog-to-digital converter circuit for converting said amplified measurable condition signals to digital form;
- a multiplexer circuit in electrical communication with said plurality of inputs of said sensor unit;
- an ice-point/zero-voltage reference in electrical communication with said multiplexer circuit;
- a microcontroller in electrical communication with said analog-to-digital converter for providing data processing, communication, and control features; and
- a modulator/transmitter circuit in electrical communication with said microcontroller for transmitting a resulting signal from said microcontroller over an air-core signal transformer.
- 9. The sensor unit as recited in claim 8, further comprising:
- a precision voltage reference in electrical communication with said analog-to-digital converter for providing a precise DC voltage under all conditions.
- 10. The sensor unit as recited in claim 8, wherein said sensor unit is mobile.
- 11. The sensor unit as recited in claim 8, further comprising:
- a low level voltage reference circuit in electrical communication with said multiplexer circuit.
- 12. The sensor unit as recited in claim 11, wherein said multiplexer connects any one of said plurality of inputs, low level voltage reference, or ice point/zero-voltage reference to said amplifier circuit.
- 13. The sensor unit as recited in claim 8, further comprising:
- unit ID switches in electrical communication with said microcontroller for uniquely identifying said sensor unit.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/288,567, filed on Aug. 10, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,445 entitled INDUSTRIAL MOBILE PROCESS MONITOR SYSTEM, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/991,285, filed on Dec. 15, 1992 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,727, issued May 16, 1995 entitled MOBILE PROCESS MONITOR SYSTEM FOR KILNS.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
288567 |
Aug 1994 |
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Parent |
991285 |
Dec 1992 |
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