Closed continuous resistive track angular position sensor and measurement method
AssigneeNeopost Industrie
InventorBernard Vermesse
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An angular position sensor having at least one resistive track which is circular, for example, and at least one cursor. The cursor is adapted to move while in electric contact with the track. The track is closed and continuous and has at least two electric access points. The sensor cooperates with an arrangement for applying separate predetermined electric potentials to the access points and with an arrangement for measuring the resulting electric potential at one of the access points. The cursor is therefore able to rotate through a complete turn without leaving the one resistive track. All angles can be measured and rotation through several turns is possible.
Claims9
An angular position sensor comprising:
- at least one closed continuous resistive track having at least three access points defined thereon and at least one cursor adapted to move while in electrical contact with said at least one track;
- means for applying a first energization configuration wherein a potential VM is applied to an access point A, a potential VP is applied to an access point C, and an access point B is not energized;
- first means for measuring the potential at said cursor, and converting the measured value into a binary number N1;
- means for applying a second energization configuration wherein the potential VM is applied to an access point A, the potential VP is applied to the access point B, and the access point C is not energized;
- second means for measuring the potential at said cursor again, and converting the second measured value into a binary number N2;
- means for determining the angular sector containing said cursor, an angular sector being delimited by two of said access points, and
- means for determining an angular position X of said cursor with respect to a predetermined reference point based on the measured potentials.
A method for measuring the angular position of a cursor which is in electrical contact with a closed continuous resistive track, said track having three access points defined thereon, said method comprising the steps of:
- applying a first energization configuration wherein a potential VM is applied to an access point A, a potential VP is applied to an access point C, and an access point B is not energized;
- measuring the potential at said cursor, and converting the measured value into a binary number N1;
- applying a second energization configuration wherein the potential VM is applied to an access point A, the potential VP is applied to the access point B, and the access point C is not energized;
- measuring the potential at said cursor again, and converting the second measured value into a binary number N2;
- determining the angular sector containing said cursor, an angular sector being delimited by two of said access points, and
- determining an angular position X of said cursor with respect to a predetermined reference point based on the measured potentials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.