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An analog circuit technique to realize an inverse transfer characteristic of a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) is presented in this paper. Practically, the structure of the LVDT causes a narrow linear operating range compared with its full stroke range. However, a large linear operating range requires a huge structure for the LVDT, making it unsuitable for a small or compact measurement system. The proposed technique can be used in a commercial LVDT to extend the linear operating range to its full stroke range. The technique utilizes an inherent behavior of an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) to emulate the LVDT transfer characteristic. The LVDT transfer characteristic generated by the OTA is used as a feedback path of the inverting amplifier formed by an operational amplifier (opamp) to realize the inverse transfer characteristic. The residual error due to the OTA behavior is very small and can be neglected without adversely affecting the performance of the proposed technique. All devices used in the proposed scheme are commercially available. The attractive features of the proposed technique are its simple configuration, small size, low cost, and high accuracy. The performance of the proposed technique is discussed in detail and confirmed by its experimental implementation. Measurement results demonstrate that the linear operating range of the commercial LVDT used in this study can be extended by a factor of more than 2.4, and a fullscale percentage error of about 0.068% was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study on the electromagnetic effects of a main fuel control system under the action of a strong electromagnetic pulse. It assesses the electromagnetic sensitivity of a speed sensor and a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) sensor. This assessment focuses on the control system's electromagnetic effects and the sensors' coupling signals. The effects and signals were determined using radiation and pulse current injection tests. Analysis of the signal at the system power port shows that it is the same as those for the two test methods. Based on analysis of the working mechanism and terminal signals of the sensors, the electromagnetic sensitivity of the system is different under the different electromagnetic pulse conditions. The electromagnetic sensitivity characteristics of the sensors were verified, and the electromagnetic effects of the main fuel regulation control system were analyzed. Meanwhile, the degree of sensor coupling mechanism caused by the electromagnetic coupling effects of the main fuel regulation control system under strong electromagnetic pulses were studied. These findings have clear practical implications for electromagnetic pulse protection of aero-engine control systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a circuit technique to extend the measuring range of a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) is proposed. The transfer characteristic of the LVDT contains the odd function form of the cubic polynomial. Therefore, the measuring range of a commercial LVDT is linear in a narrow range compared to its physical dimensions. The wide measuring range of the LVDT requires a large structure of the LVDT, which increases the scale and the cost of the measurement system. The measuring range of the LVDT can be linearly extended to the maximum of the stroke range using the proposed technique. The realization of the proposed technique is based on the use of the hyperbolic sine (sinh) function of the electronic circuit building block, named the class AB bipolar amplifier. The class AB bipolar amplifier can be obtained by the current feedback operational amplifier (CFOA). The circuit of the proposed technique requires two CFOAs and an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) as the active devices and all devices used in the proposed technique to synthesize the sinh function are commercially available. The proposed technique exhibits an ability to compensate for the nonlinear characteristic of the LVDT without digital components. The proposed technique is attractive in terms of its simple circuit configuration, small size, and low cost. The linear range extension of the LVDT used in this paper is significantly increased with a maximum error of about 18.3 μm of 6.2 mm at the full stroke range or the full-scale percentage error of about 0.295%. The results indicate that the proposed technique provides excellent performance to extend the measuring range of the LVDT without modifying the LVDT structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the design and improvement of an LVDT, theoretical analysis or numerical analysis can facilitate optimal design for the sensor performance by effectively and quickly predicting the measurement range and the sensitivity with the changes of design and process variables. In this study, analysis models of the LVDT were proposed through theoretical analysis and the finite element method (FEM), and the effects of design and process variables on the sensitivity and linear region of the LVDT according to the core motion were analyzed by the proposed models. The theoretical model for the relation between the output voltage and the change in core position, including the position before entering and after passing the secondary coil, was developed by deriving the change in the mutual inductance of the primary and secondary coils. Meanwhile, the core, coil, magnetic shell, electric circuit, and core movement of the LVDT were constructed as a three-dimensional model for the FEM to obtain the voltage output using a commercial analysis program. The results of the LVDT output characteristics analyzed by the theoretical and the finite element models were mutually verified. By the verified models, a series of the analyses of the LVDT were performed with changes in the supply voltage, core size, number of primary and secondary turns, distance between coils, coil length, initial core position, and permeabilities of core and magnetic shell. The effects of those variables on the sensitivity and linear region of the LVDT could then be revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on controlling the dynamics of a mass-damper-spring model via a servo-controlled linear actuator (SCLA). The displacements of the mass are sensed and measured by a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) whose output electrical signal is proportional with the position of the mass. Furthermore, a positive position feedback (PPF) controller is then provided with this signal to be processed and to generate the suitable control signal. The control signal itself is applied to the actuator which in turn controls the mass position. The whole system dynamical equations for the amplitudes and phases are derived with the aid of Krylov-Bogoliubov averaging perturbation method. 2D and 3D visualizations are included to give the reader a wider aspect of the system behavior before and after control.

This paper presents a position sensor based on a novel configuration of linear variable differential transformer. Design and optimization of the position sensor using finite element method are presented. The measurements are also conducted to validate experimentally the sensor performance. The sensor has short air core coils and long magnetic armatures. The axis of the rectangular excitation coil and two antiserially connected rectangular pick up coils is perpendicular to the motion direction of the position sensor. The coils are located between two parallel silicon steel laminations serving as the armatures. The position sensor is optimized with compromise between minimization of nonlinearity error and maximum sensitivity. The main advantage of the proposed position sensor is the small ratio of coils dimensions to the working range. The position sensor is operated for excitation frequencies of 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz. The maximum nonlinearity error is less than 1.5% for the theoretical results and it is less than 2% for the measured results in ±90 mm position range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study on the electromagnetic effects of a main fuel control system under the action of a strong electromagnetic pulse. It assesses the electromagnetic sensitivity of a speed sensor and a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) sensor. This assessment focuses on the control system’s electromagnetic effects and the sensors’ coupling signals. The effects and signals were determined using radiation and pulse current injection tests. Analysis of the signal at the system power port shows that it is the same as those for the two test methods. Based on analysis of the working mechanism and terminal signals of the sensors, the electromagnetic sensitivity of the system is different under the different electromagnetic pulse conditions. The electromagnetic sensitivity characteristics of the sensors were verified, and the electromagnetic effects of the main fuel regulation control system were analyzed. Meanwhile, the degree of sensor coupling mechanism caused by the electromagnetic coupling effects of the main fuel regulation control system under strong electromagnetic pulses were studied. These findings have clear practical implications for electromagnetic pulse protection of aero-engine control systems.

Copyright of Electronic Components & Materials is the property of Electronic Components & Materials and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, a circuit technique to extend the measuring range of a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) is proposed. The transfer characteristic of the LVDT contains the odd function form of the cubic polynomial. Therefore, the measuring range of a commercial LVDT is linear in a narrow range compared to its physical dimensions. The wide measuring range of the LVDT requires a large structure of the LVDT, which increases the scale and the cost of the measurement system. The measuring range of the LVDT can be linearly extended to the maximum of the stroke range using the proposed technique. The realization of the proposed technique is based on the use of the hyperbolic sine (sinh) function of the electronic circuit building block, named the class AB bipolar amplifier. The class AB bipolar amplifier can be obtained by the current feedback operational amplifier (CFOA). The circuit of the proposed technique requires two CFOAs and an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) as the active devices and all devices used in the proposed technique to synthesize the sinh function are commercially available. The proposed technique exhibits an ability to compensate for the nonlinear characteristic of the LVDT without digital components. The proposed technique is attractive in terms of its simple circuit configuration, small size, and low cost. The linear range extension of the LVDT used in this paper is significantly increased with a maximum error of about 18.3 μm of 6.2 mm at the full stroke range or the full-scale percentage error of about 0.295%. The results indicate that the proposed technique provides excellent performance to extend the measuring range of the LVDT without modifying the LVDT structure.

The linear-range extension technique for a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) is described in this paper. Generally, the LVDT has a narrow linear operating range caused by its nonlinear transfer characteristic. To extend the linear operating range, the nonlinear behavior of the LVDT must be adjusted. In this paper, the circuit building block providing the LVDT inverse transfer characteristic using binomial series approximation is proposed for linearizing the nonlinear behavior of the LVDT. The third-order inverse transfer characteristic of the LVDT is synthesized from analog multipliers and a difference amplifier comprising an operational amplifier (opamp). All active devices used in this study are commercially available. Therefore, the attraction of the proposed technique is in the simple configuration and low cost, making it suitable for an embedded measurement system. The performance of the proposed technique is discussed in detail. Simulation and experimental results confirming the performance are also included. As a result, the linear range of the commercial LVDT used in this study can be extended more than 500%. The full scale error of the measured value is about 0.23% over the entire operating range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is often complicated by difficult-to-control hypertension, in part due to chronic overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). CKD patients also exhibit a greater increase in arterial blood pressure for a given increase in sympathetic nerve activation, suggesting an augmented vasoconstrictive response to SNS activation (i.e., neurovascular transduction). One potential mechanism of increased sympathetic neurovascular transduction is heightened sensitivity of the vascular α1-adrenergic receptors (α1ARs), the major effectors of vasoconstriction in response to norepinephrine release at the sympathetic nerve terminals. Therefore, we hypothesized that patients with CKD have increased vascular α1AR sensitivity. We studied 32 patients with CKD stages III and IV (age 59.9 ± 1.3 yr) and 19 age-matched controls (CON, age 63.2 ± 1.6 yr). Using a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT), we measured change in venoconstriction in response to exponentially increasing doses of the selective α1AR agonist phenylephrine (PE) administered sequentially into a dorsal hand vein. Individual semilogarithmic PE dose-response curves were constructed for each participant to determine the PE dose at which 50% of maximum venoconstriction occurred (ED50), reflecting α1AR sensitivity. In support of our hypothesis, CKD patients had a lower PE ED50 than CON (CKD = 2.23 ± 0.11 vs. CON = 2.63 ± 0.20, P = 0.023), demonstrating increased vascular α1AR sensitivity. Additionally, CKD patients had a greater venoconstrictive capacity to PE than CON (P = 0.015). Augmented α1AR sensitivity may contribute mechanistically to enhanced neurovascular transduction in CKD and may explain, in part, the greater blood pressure reactivity exhibited in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A technique for extending the linear range of a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) is introduced in this paper. The linear operating range of a commercial LVDT is narrow compared to the full stroke range due to its nonlinear transfer characteristic. The narrow linear range of the commercial LVDT can be extended to maximum stroke range using the proposed technique based on LVDT inverse transfer characteristic. The circuit building block provided the third-order inverse transfer characteristic of the LVDT is established using analog multipliers and operational amplifiers (opamps). The proposed technique requires only commercially available devices, which is attractive in terms of a simple configuration and low cost. Performances of the proposed technique are discussed in detail and confirmed by simulation and experimental results using the commercial LVDT. As a result, the linear range of the LVDT used in this paper can be extended from ±2mm to ±15mm with the maximum absolute error of about $10.23{\mu }\text{m}$ or the full-scale error of about 0.068%. It is shown that the linear range of LVDT can be extended greater than seven times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of vibration control in an automotive semi-active suspension system depends on the quality of information from sensors installed in the vehicle, including information about deflection of the suspension system. The control algorithm for vibration attenuation of the body takes into account its velocity as well as the relative velocity of the suspension. In this paper it is proposed to use the Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) unit to measure the suspension deflection and then to estimate its relative velocity. This approach is compared with a typical solution implemented in such applications, where the relative velocity is calculated by processing signals acquired from accelerometers placed on the body and on the chassis. The experiments performed for an experimental All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) confirm that using LVDT units allows for improving ride comfort by better vibration attenuation of the body.

The Ironless Inductive Position Sensor (I2PS) has been introduced as a valid alternative to Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDTs) when external magnetic fields are present. Potential applications of this linear position sensor can be found in critical systems such as nuclear plants, tokamaks, satellites and particle accelerators. This paper analyzes the performance of the I2PS in the harsh environment of the collimators of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), where position uncertainties of less than 20 µm are demanded in the presence of nuclear radiation and external magnetic fields. The I2PS has been targeted for installation for LHC Run 2, in order to solve the magnetic interference problem which standard LVDTs are experiencing. The paper describes in detail the chain of systems which belong to the new I2PS measurement task, their impact on the sensor performance and their possible further optimization. The I2PS performance is analyzed evaluating the position uncertainty (on 30 s), the magnetic immunity and the long-term stability (on 7 days). These three indicators are assessed from data acquired during the LHC operation in 2015 and compared with those of LVDTs.

Copyright of Computer Measurement & Control is the property of Magazine Agency of Computer Measurement & Control and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To ensure high quality output of biotechnological processes, relevant process parameters need to be monitored. As bioprocesses are increasingly executed in single use bioreactors, there is an increasing demand for new sensors applicable to these processes. In this work, we investigate different approaches for continuous non-invasive cell growth monitoring, especially for single use bioreactor applications. Therefore, the permittivity of the cell culture is used as a measure for the biomass. In a first step, a measuring procedure based on the transmission measurement of an electromagnetic wave is investigated. It appears that the penetration depth of this sensor is not sufficient for a noninvasive measurement through the polymer wall of a single use bioreactor. Therefore, alternative setups based on magnetic induction are investigated. The initial setup is very simple. It consists of a planar coil connected to an impedance analyzer. The coil is attached to the outside of the polymer foil of the single use bioreactor and an impedance spectrum is measured. To evaluate the sensor, E. coli cultivations are performed in a modified cultivation setup, which enables measurements through the polymer foil of a Sartorius BIOSTAT ® CultiBag RM, and additionally allows sampling of culture medium for optical density reference measurements. The resonance peak of the coil in the impedance spectrum, is observed as measure for the optical density. Regardless of the simple sensor construction, we found a good correlation between optical density and the damping ratio of the resonance peak. However, the sensor signal shows saturation towards high optical densities. Therefore, an LTCC coil producing a higher magnetic flux density in the culture medium is investigated subsequently. This sensor shows a linear response up to high optical densities, but the sensitivity is reduced compared to the former used coil and therefore scattering of the data is increased. However, to increase the sensitivity, a linear variable differential transformer is realized. Using this setup, the influence of the primary magnetic flux is eliminated from the measuring voltage. This approach delivers the most promising results, as the sensor response is linear up to high optical densities and data scattering is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]