Importance

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Abstract

An AC-to-DC converter obtains phase and amplitude signal information from a displacement transducer that is excited by an AC excitation signal and provides an AC sensor signal indicative of transducer position. The converter includes a first rectifier circuit that receives and sums the AC excitation signal and the AC sensor signal, and rectifies the sum to provide a rectified summed excitation and input signal indicative thereof. A second rectifier circuit receives and rectifies the AC excitation signal, and provides a rectified excitation signal indicative thereof. A summing circuit computes the difference between the rectified summed excitation and input signal and the rectified excitation signal, and provides a signed DC signal indicative of displacement transducer position. Advantageously, the AC-to-DC converter of the present invention performs summing and difference functions directly and provides a signed DC signal representative of the AC amplitude and phase input of the transducer output, thus eliminating the need for an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and the support of an associated processor.

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First Claim