Strategic Technologies
Proximity Sensors
To view the entire patent, please click the patent number for the U.S. Patent Office site. For information on licensing a technology please contact the NISTAC representative listed below.
U.S. Patents:
Patent # 5,600,253 containing 1 claim, issued 02/04/1997. A low power, low cost, millimeter wave (MMW) proximity sensor that provides over a 6:1 increase in minimum detection range (55 mm minimum) compared to standard 18 mm inductive proximity sensors preferably includes a low cost MMW Gunn oscillator, MMW detector and analog processing/driver circuitry. The sensor is preferably designed for 3-wire operation and will fit in a standard 18 mm tube.
Electromagnetic wave, reflective type, low cost, active proximity sensor for harsh environments:
Patent # 5,905,380 containing 8 claims, issued 05/18/1999. An electromagnetic, reflective type, active proximity sensor includes a transmitter, the transmitter including a voltage controlled oscillator circuit, a transmitter circular waveguide and a transmitter polarization circuit. The voltage controlled oscillator circuit generates an output signal which is modulated such that the frequency of the output signal varies over time between a range of frequencies. The frequency varying, output signal is provided to the transmitter circular waveguide and propagated to the transmitter polarization circuit where it is circularly polarized in a first circular direction. The circularly polarized, frequency varying, output signal is radiated by the transmitter to the target, where it strikes the target and reflects back toward the sensor to form return signals. The return signals, upon being reflected, rotate in a second circular direction opposite to the first circular direction. The return signals also respectively exhibit one of the frequencies corresponding to the range of frequencies associated with the circularly polarized, frequency varying, output signal. The active proximity sensor also includes a receiver, the receiver including a receiver circular waveguide, a receiver polarization circuit and a detector. The receiver circular waveguide receives the return signals reflected from the target and the receiver polarization circuit circularly de-polarizes the return signals. Next, the detector receives and averages the return signals and generates an output signal which corresponds to the return signals. The active proximity sensor also includes an analog processor/driver circuit for processing the output signal provided by the detector.
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