Shaft position sensor
AssigneeDictaphone Corporation
InventorEarnest Joseph Ray
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Shaft position sensing apparatus includes a group of generally parallel vanes extending generally longitudinally of the shaft axis, means for mounting the vanes in that relationship and attaching them to the shaft for rotation with the shaft, a light source providing a beam of light directed transversely of the shaft axis against the vanes, and a light sensor aligned with the light beam and positioned on the opposite side of the shaft axis from the light source for receiving varying amounts of light dependent upon the angular position of the shaft.
Claims8
Shaft position sensing apparatus comprising
- a group of generally parallel vanes with each said vane extending in a direction generally longitudinally of said shaft axis and said group arranged in a pattern extending transversely of said shaft axis;
- vane mounting means for maintaining said group of vanes in said relationships with one another and with said shaft, said vane mounting means being attached to said shaft for rotation with said shaft;
- a light surce positioned on one side of said shaft and having a beam of light directed transversely of said shaft axis against said vanes at a point adjacent said shaft axis;
- and
- a light sensor aligned with said light beam and positioned on the opposite side of said shaft axis from said light source for receiving light from said light beam, whereby light received by the sensor is passed between the vanes such that the amount of light received by the sensor varies with the angle between the light beam and the vanes such that the angular position of the shaft may be determined by the relative amount of light received by the sensor and indicated by the sensor output.
Shaft position sensing apparatus comprising
- a transparent plate member extending parallel to and aligned with said shaft and attached to said shaft for rotation therewith;
- a plurality of generally parallel opaque vanes imbedded in said plate member and extending generally longitudinally of said shaft;
- a light source positioned on one side of said transparent plate member and having a beam of light directed toward said plate member at a point adjacent said shaft axis;
- and
- a light sensor positioned on the opposite side of said plate member from said light source for and aligned with said light beam receiving light from said light beam, whereby light received by the sensor from the light source must be passed through the plate member and between the vanes such that the amount of light received by the sensor varies with the angle between the light beam and the vanes such that angular position of the shaft may be determined by the relative amount of light received by the sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.