Buffered cam assembly
AssigneeCBN Nano Technologies Inc.
InventorJames F. Ryley, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A buffered cam assembly, which is particularly well-suited for use to provide a clock input for a mechanical computing system, interposes a buffer element between a cam surface and a follower. The buffer element engages the cam surface and acts to significantly reduce the effect of any irregularities in the cam surface on the resulting motion of the follower, allowing the output waveform of movement of the follower to more closely approximate an intended ideal output waveform.
Claims17
A clock signal generator for a mechanical computing system having a clocking member, the clock signal generator comprising:
- a cam having a cam surface;
- a buffer element engaged with said cam surface;
- and
- a follower having a follower contact portion positioned to engage said buffer element and connected to the clocking member of the mechanical computing system,
- said cam surface being configured relative to said follower such that relative motion between said cam surface and said follower causes relative displacement of said follower, transmitted from said cam surface via said buffer element, such relative displacement of said follower acting to move the clocking member of the mechanical computing system,
- said cam surface being configured such that relative displacement of said follower generates a clock signal output waveform for the clocking member.
A buffered cam assembly comprising:
- a cam having a contoured cam surface;
- a buffer element having a buffer active region that contacts said cam surface;
- and
- a follower having a follower contact portion that is positioned to contact said buffer active region so as to be displaced by displacement of said buffer active region caused by the contour of said cam surface as said cam moves relative to said follower,
- wherein said buffer active region is no more than 20 nm thick where it is engaged by said follower contact portion.
A method for reducing inaccuracies in the output of a follower of a cam assembly also having a cam, the method comprising the steps of:
- interposing a buffer active region of a buffer element between a follower contact portion of the follower and a cam surface of the cam, such that the buffer active region is displaced by motion of the cam surface relative to the follower contact portion and transmits such displacement to the follower contact portion;
- causing the cam surface to move relative to the follower contact portion;
- and
- using the follower to provide at least one clock signal for a mechanical computing system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.