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US 4,075,478 AGranted
Floating head encoder
AssigneeLitton Systems, Inc.
InventorRalph Eldridge Walker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical encoder design is disclosed which maintains a constant fixed air gap between the commutator and light sensors. The encoder head is mounted on a partially compressed hollow bellows or other spring member biasing snubber posts adjacent to the light sensors against tracks on the commutator. The height of the snubber posts above the light sensors defines the air gap.
Claims8
An improved optical encoder for generating an electrical signal representative of the rotational position of a shaft, of the type having
- a non-rotating optical head including light sources and light sensors connected by light paths,
- a commutator including a coded pattern thereon mounted for rotation with the shaft through the light paths, wherein the improvement comprises:
- snubber means mounted to the optical head for contact with the commutator to maintain a constant air gap between the coded pattern and the optical head, and
- means for urging the commutator and snubber posts into contact with each other.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.