US Patent 7779690 Vibrating wire sensor using spectral analysis

Systems and methods for analyzing the resonant frequency of vibratory wires within vibratory wire gauges. The resonant frequency of the vibrating wire is determined by using an interface that digitizes the response of an excited wire in the gauge. A transform then converts the digitized data into a frequency spectrum. The resulting spectrum is used to estimate the resonant frequency of the vibrating wire. The resulting measurement or estimate of the resonant frequency can be used to measure or determine some physical characteristic of the device or structure or system connected to the gauge.