High resolution encoder within a swivel
AssigneeNescom Inc.
InventorPaul S. Cardello
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotational positioning system is disclosed. The rotational position system includes a housing, a body rotatable with respect to the housing, and a target eccentrically mounted on the body. A first sensor is mounted on the housing. The first sensor is adapted to transmit a first signal based on a distance of the target relative to the first sensor. The first signal varies according to a rotational position of the body with respect to the housing. A processor is electrically coupled to the first sensor and is adapted to read the first signal from the first sensor. A method of determining a rotational position of a body relative to a fixed point is also disclosed.
Claims23
A rotational positioning system comprising:
- a housing;
- a body rotatable with respect to the housing;
- a target eccentrically mounted on the body;
- a first sensor mounted on the housing, the first sensor adapted to transmit a first signal based on a distance of the target relative to the first sensor, the first signal varying according to a rotational position of the body with respect to the housing;
- and
- a processor electrically coupled to the first sensor and adapted to read the first signal from the first sensor.
A rotational positioning system comprising:
- a housing;
- a body rotationally mounted with respect to the housing;
- a first sensor coupled to one of the housing and the body, the first sensor adapted to transmit a first signal based on a rotational position of the body relative to the housing;
- and
- a processor electrically coupled to the first sensor to determine the rotational position of the body with respect to the housing based on the signal transmitted by the first sensor.
A rotational positioning system for determining a rotational position of a body relative to a fixed point comprising:
- means for obtaining a first position value;
- means for obtaining a second position value;
- means for determining a rotational position value based on the first position value and the second position value;
- and
- means for determining the rotational position of the body relative to the fixed point based on the rotational position value.
A method for use with a first sensor and a second sensor of determining a rotational position of a body relative to a fixed point comprising:
- a) obtaining a first output value from the first sensor;
- b) obtaining a second output value from the second sensor;
- c) determining a rotational position value based on the first output value and the second output value;
- and
- d) determining the rotational position of the body relative to the fixed point based on the rotational position value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.