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US 10,859,363 B2Granted
Tape rule assembly with linear optical encoder for sensing human-readable graduations of length
AssigneeStanley Black & Decker, Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Murray, Aliaksei Chernyshou, Gabriel A. Haboubi
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Abstract
A tape rule assembly includes a linear optical encoder for sensing human-readable graduations of length disposed on a surface of a tape, without requiring any other machine-readable indicia to be present on the tape. The optical encoder includes two optical sensors disposed in a sensor holder pivotably disposed in the tape rule housing and configured to be displaced relative to one another in the housing along both the “x” axis and the “z” axis, a set of intersecting “x”, “y” and “z” axes being defined relative to a tape exit in the tape rule housing.
Claims19
A tape rule assembly, comprising:
- a housing having a tape exit, wherein intersecting “x”, “y” and “z” axes are defined relative to the tape exit;
- a length of tape disposed in the housing and having a surface, and further being extendable from the housing along the “z” axis;
- a first plurality of human-readable graduations of length disposed on the surface of the length of tape;
- and
- a linear optical encoder system disposed in the housing and operatively associated with the first human-readable graduations of length to provide an output representative of the length of tape extended from the housing;
- wherein the linear optical encoder system includes two optical sensors;
- the two optical sensors are displaced relative to each other in the housing along both the “x” axis and the “z” axis;
- and
- wherein the two optical sensors are configured to sense the first plurality of human-readable graduations of length.
6 more elements
A method of measuring a length of tape extended from a tape rule housing having a tape exit, wherein intersecting “x” and “y” axes are defined relative to the tape exit, and wherein a surface of the tape bears human-readable graduations of length, comprising:
- extending a length of tape from the tape exit along a “z” axis so that two optical sensors of a linear optical encoder system sense the human-readable graduations of length as the tape is being extended, the two optical sensors being disposed in the housing and being displaced from one another along both the “x” axis and the “z” axis;
- and
- using the output of the two optical sensors to provide a display of the length of tape extended from the housing.
A tape rule assembly including a housing, comprising:
- a length of tape disposed in the housing and coiled about a reel, the housing configured to confine the tape in a coiled state, the length of tape being extendable from the housing;
- wherein the length of tape is configured to uncoil if unconfined to produce a radial uncoiling bias;
- the length of tape includes an indicia surface on which are disposed indicia of length, the length of tape further includes a lower surface;
- and
- wherein the radial uncoiling bias produces a force biasing the lower surface of the tape against an inner surface of the housing as the tape is extended from the housing;
- and further comprising:
- a linear optical encoder system;
- a first optical sensor operatively associated with the linear optical encoder system;
- and
- a sensor holder disposed in the housing and configured to hold the first optical sensor relative to the tape so that the first optical sensor can sense the indicia surface;
- wherein the first optical sensor includes a sensor end disposed a distance “d” from the tape indicia surface;
- and
- wherein the housing, the sensor holder, and the uncoiling bias of the tape are configured to cooperate to maintain the distance “d” within an acceptable range of distances “R”, notwithstanding undulations in the tape as the tape is extended from the housing, and without requiring rollers or springs to assist in urging the lower surface of the tape against the inner surface of the housing;
- the housing defines a recess;
- and
- wherein the sensor holder includes a member movable in the recess, and is configured to move via the recess responsive to undulations in the tape as the tape is extended from the housing to cooperate with the housing and the uncoiling bias of the tape to maintain the distance “d” within the acceptable range of distances “R”.
13 more elements
A tape rule assembly including a housing, comprising:
- a length of tape disposed in the housing and coiled about a reel, the housing configured to confine the tape in a coiled state, the length of tape being extendable from the housing;
- wherein the length of tape is configured to uncoil if unconfined to produce a radial uncoiling bias;
- the length of tape includes an indicia surface on which are disposed indicia of length, the length of tape further includes a lower surface;
- and
- wherein the radial uncoiling bias produces a force biasing the lower surface of the tape against an inner surface of the housing as the tape is extended from the housing;
- and further comprising:
- a linear optical encoder system;
- a first optical sensor operatively associated with the linear optical encoder system;
- and
- a sensor holder disposed in the housing and configured to hold the first optical sensor relative to the tape so that the first optical sensor can sense the indicia surface;
- wherein the first optical sensor includes a sensor end disposed a distance “d” from the tape indicia surface;
- wherein the housing, the sensor holder, and the uncoiling bias of the tape are configured to cooperate to maintain the distance “d” within an acceptable range of distances “R”, notwithstanding undulations in the tape as the tape is extended from the housing, and without requiring rollers or springs to assist in urging the lower surface of the tape against the inner surface of the housing;
- and
- wherein the sensor holder is pivotably disposed in the housing about a horizontal pivot axis and is configured to pivot responsive to undulations in the tape as the tape is extended from the housing to cooperate with the housing and the uncoiling bias of the tape to maintain the distance “d” within the acceptable range of distances “R”.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.