Systems and methods for measuring rotational speed and position of a rotating device
View Patent ↗A system includes a transceiver module and a rotating device. The transceiver module generates an electromagnetic (EM) field using an antenna. The rotating device includes N transponders arranged such that each of the N transponders passes through the EM field during one revolution of the rotating device. Each of the N transponders damps the EM field when passing through the EM field. The transceiver module determines a rotational speed of the rotating device based on a number of times the EM field is damped during a period. N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.
1. A system comprising:
a transceiver module that generates an electromagnetic (EM) field using an antenna; and
a rotating device that includes N transponders arranged such that each of the N transponders passes through the EM field during one revolution of the rotating device,
wherein each of the N transponders damps the EM field when passing through the EM field, wherein the transceiver module determines a rotational speed of the rotating device based on a number of times the EM field is damped during a period, and wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the transceiver module determines a position of the rotating device based on data transmitted from one or more of the N transponders in the EM field.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the transceiver module determines when the rotating device is stationary and determines the position of the rotating device when the rotating device is stationary.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the transceiver module commands the one or more of the N transponders in the EM field to stop transmitting the data after the transceiver module receives the data, wherein the one or more of the N transponders does not transmit the data when passing through the EM field after receiving the command.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the rotating device is included in a vehicle, and wherein the rotating device is connected to at least one of a crankshaft, a camshaft, an output shaft of a transmission, and a wheel.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the N transponders includes an antenna and memory.
7. The system of claim 2 wherein the transceiver module determines the position of the rotating device based on a table that relates the data transmitted from the one or more of the N transponders to the position of the rotating device.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the transponders are arranged to produce a pattern of damping when the rotating device is rotating, and wherein the transceiver module determines a position of the rotating device when the rotating device is rotating based on the pattern of damping.
9. The system of claim 2 wherein the transceiver module generates the EM field at a first strength when the rotating device is stationary, wherein the N transponders transmit data when the transponders are in the EM field having the first strength, wherein the transceiver module generates the EM field at a second strength when the rotating device is rotating, and wherein the N transponders do not transmit data when the transponders are in the EM field having the second strength.
10. A method comprising:
generating an electromagnetic (EM) field using an antenna; and
determining a rotational speed of a rotating device based on a number of times the EM field is damped during a period,
wherein the rotating device includes N transponders arranged such that each of the N transponders passes through the EM field during one revolution of the rotating device, wherein each of the N transponders damps the EM field when passing through the EM field, and wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining a position of the rotating device based on data transmitted from one or more of the N transponders in the EM field.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
determining when the rotating device is stationary; and
determining the position of the rotating device when the rotating device is stationary.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising commanding the one or more of the N transponders in the EM field to stop transmitting the data after receiving the data, wherein the one or more of the N transponders does not transmit the data when passing through the EM field after receiving the command.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein the rotating device is included in a vehicle, and wherein the rotating device is connected to at least one of a crankshaft, a camshaft, an output shaft of a transmission, and a wheel.
15. The method of claim 10 wherein each of the N transponders includes an antenna and memory.
16. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining the position of the rotating device based on a table that relates the data transmitted from the one or more of the N transponders to the position of the rotating device.
17. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining a position of the rotating device when the rotating device is rotating based on a pattern of damping, wherein the transponders are arranged to produce the pattern of damping when the rotating device is rotating.
18. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
generating the EM field at a first strength when the rotating device is stationary, wherein the N transponders transmit data when the transponders are in the EM field having the first strength; and
generating the EM field at a second strength when the rotating device is rotating, wherein the N transponders do not transmit data when the transponders are in the EM field having the second strength.