Contactless distance measurement arrangement using pulse=echo signals - uses neural network to evaluate transition time of transmitted and reflected signal

摘要

The measurement arrangement transmits a pulse signal towards the surface whose distance is to be measured. The reflected pulse echo signal is received and compared with a similar stored signal. The transition time is a measure of the distance between the transmitter and surface and is measured, stored and displayed. The memory consists of a neural network (14) with input (14a), output (14b) and possibly concealed (14c) layers in which a processing routine is generated by an iterative learning process in which neural connections are modified according to a learning algorithm (18). The pulse-echo signal fed into the input layer is modified by the processing routine to form the output value which represents the signal transition time. USE/ADVANTAGE - For contactless distance measurement by exactly measuring signal transition time without errors such as those caused by variations in gas composition, temp. or different surface shapes.