초록 ▼

A vibratory sensor (5) includes a vibratory element (104) configured to generate a vibration signal and a meter electronics (20) coupled to the vibratory element (104) and receiving the vibration signal, with the meter electronics (20) including a gain stage (150) coupled to the vibratory element (1

A vibratory sensor (5) includes a vibratory element (104) configured to generate a vibration signal and a meter electronics (20) coupled to the vibratory element (104) and receiving the vibration signal, with the meter electronics (20) including a gain stage (150) coupled to the vibratory element (104) and receiving the vibration signal, with the gain stage (150) amplifying the vibration signal by a predetermined gain to generate a saturated vibration signal, and a signal processor (156) coupled to the gain stage (150), with a first input (161) of the signal processor (156) receiving the saturated vibration signal and determining a vibration signal frequency from the saturated vibration signal and with a second input (162) of the signal processor (156) receiving the vibration signal and determining a vibration signal amplitude from the vibration signal.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vibratory sensor (5), comprising: a vibratory element (104) configured to generate a vibration signal; anda meter electronics (20) coupled to the vibratory element (104) and receiving the vibration signal, with the meter electronics (20) comprising: a gain stage (150) coupled to the vibratory e

1. A vibratory sensor (5), comprising: a vibratory element (104) configured to generate a vibration signal; anda meter electronics (20) coupled to the vibratory element (104) and receiving the vibration signal, with the meter electronics (20) comprising: a gain stage (150) coupled to the vibratory element (104) and receiving the vibration signal, with the gain stage (150) amplifying the vibration signal by a predetermined gain to generate a saturated vibration signal; anda signal processor (156) coupled to the gain stage (150), with a first input (161) of the signal processor (156) receiving the saturated vibration signal and determining a vibration signal frequency from the saturated vibration signal and with a second input (162) of the signal processor (156) receiving the vibration signal, the vibration signal received at the second input being unsaturated, and determining a vibration signal amplitude from the vibration signal. 2. The vibratory sensor (5) of claim 1, wherein the saturated vibration signal comprises a substantially square-wave vibration signal. 3. The vibratory sensor (5) of claim 1, with the second input (162) of the signal processor (156) being directly coupled to the vibratory element (104) and receiving the vibration signal from the vibratory element (104). 4. The vibratory sensor (5) of claim 1, with the second input (162) of the signal processor (156) being coupled to the gain stage (150) and receiving the vibration signal through the gain stage (150). 5. The vibratory sensor (5) of claim 1, with the second input (162) of the signal processor (156) being coupled to a buffer (168) and receiving the vibration signal from the buffer (168), wherein the buffer (168) is coupled to the vibratory element (104). 6. The vibratory sensor (5) of claim 1, with the second input (162) of the signal processor (156) being coupled to a buffer (168) and receiving the vibration signal from the buffer (168), wherein the buffer (168) is coupled to the vibratory element (104) and wherein the buffer (168) provides a predetermined second gain (K2) that is less than the predetermined gain used for generating the saturated vibration signal. 7. The vibratory sensor (5) of claim 1, with the signal processor (156) being coupled to an interface circuit (136), with the signal processor (156) providing the vibration signal amplitude and the vibration signal frequency to the interface circuit (136) for transmission to external devices. 8. The vibratory sensor (5) of claim 1, with the signal processor (156) being coupled to a drive circuit (138), with the signal processor (156) providing the vibration signal amplitude and the vibration signal frequency to the drive circuit (138), with the drive circuit (138) generating a drive signal using the vibration signal amplitude and the vibration signal frequency. 9. The vibratory sensor (5) of claim 1, with the vibratory sensor (5) comprising a vibratory tine sensor (5) and with the vibratory element (104) comprising a tuning fork structure (104). 10. A method of operating a vibratory sensor, with the method comprising: generating a vibration signal using a vibratory element of the vibratory sensor;determining a vibration signal amplitude from the vibration signal, the vibration signal being unsaturated when the vibration signal amplitude is determined;amplifying the vibration signal by a predetermined gain and generating a saturated vibration signal; anddetermining the vibration signal frequency from the saturated vibration signal. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the saturated vibration signal comprises a substantially square-wave vibration signal. 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing the vibration signal amplitude and the vibration signal frequency for transmission to external devices. 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating a drive signal using the vibration signal amplitude and the vibration signal frequency. 14. The method of claim 10, with the vibratory sensor comprising a vibratory tine sensor and with the vibratory element comprising a tuning fork structure.