US 5,444,613 A · Device for generating a signal representative of the position of an angularly or linearly moveable member · patentgrep

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Abstract

A digital position signal generator suitable for gain control and other purposes. A typical embodiment includes a rotary disk notionally divided into a plurality of sectors of the same angle about the disk axis. Some of the disk sectors have radial extensions which are detectable by photocouplers. The photocouplers are fixedly disposed about the disk axis with angular spacings each greater than the angle of each disk sector. Thus, with the rotation of the disk, the photocouplers produce binary zero and one outputs in various predetermined combinations nonsequentially representing successive predetermined angular positions of the disk. A position data generator circuit such as a microcomputer is provided which has stored thereon meaningful position data sequentially representing the successive predetermined angular positions of the disk. Inputting each output combination of the detectors, the position data generator circuit puts out a corresponding one of the meaningful position data. Several other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A position signal generator comprising:

(a) a member;
(b) a plurality of detectors each capable of producing binary zero and one outputs;
(c) either the member or the detectors being movable relative to the other along a predetermined path, the detectors being disposed along the predetermined path;
(d) the member being notionally divided into a series of sections extending along the predetermined path, each section having the same dimension in a direction parallel to the predetermined path, the sections including detectable sections which are detectable by the detectors, and undetectable sections which are undetectable by the detectors, the number of the sections including the detectable and the undetectable sections being 2.sup.n -1, n being an integer of more than one, the detectable and the undetectable sections being arranged in a uniquely identifiable pattern in conformity with an arrangement of maximum sequence pseudorandom pulses;
(e) the detectors being disposed with spacing each greater than or equal to the dimension of each section of the member in a direction parallel to the predetermined path so that with the relative movement of the member and the detectors along the predetermined path, the detectors simultaneously produce a pattern of the binary zero and one outputs in various predetermined unique combinations concurrently representing a series of independently unique relative positions of the stationary member with respect to the detectors, the number of the detectors being from n to 2.sup.n -1;
and
(f) position data generator means having stored therein the predetermined unique combinations of position data concurrently representing the series of independently unique relative positions of the member and the detectors, the position data generator means being connected to the detectors for translating each output combination of the detectors into a corresponding one of the predetermined unique combinations of position data.

4 more elements

A position signal generator comprising:

(a) a plurality of fixed detectors capable of simultaneously producing binary zero and one outputs;
(b) a rotary disk rotatable relative to the detectors about a predetermined axis, the disk being notionally divided into a plurality of sectors of the same angle about the predetermined axis, with the disk sectors including detectable sectors which are detectable by the detectors, and undetectable sections which are undetectable by the detectors, the angle of each sector of the disk being 360/(2.sup.n -1) degrees, n being an integer of more than one, the detectable and the undetectable sections being arranged in a uniquely identifiable pattern in conformity with an arrangement of maximum sequence pseudorandom pulses;
(c) the detectors being disposed about the disk axis with angular spacings each greater than or equal to the angle of each disk sector so that at the conclusion of the rotation of the disk the detectors simultaneously produce a pattern of the binary zero and one outputs in various predetermined unique combinations concurrently representing a series of independently unique angular positions of the stationary disk with respect to the detectors, the number of the detectors being from n to 2.sup.n -1;
and
(d) position data generator means having stored therein the predetermined unique combinations of position data concurrently representing the series of independently unique angular positions of the disk, the position data generator means being connected to the detectors for translating each output combination of the detectors into a corresponding one of the predetermined unique combinations of position data.

2 more elements

A position signal generator comprising:

(a) a plurality of fixed detectors capable of producing binary zero and one outputs;
(b) an endless strip of flexible material longitudinally movable relative to the detectors along a predefined closed path, the endless strip being notionally transversely divided into a series of sections of the same dimension in the longitudinal direction of the endless strip, with the sections including detectable sections which are detectable by the detectors, and undetectable sections which are undetectable by the detectors, the number of the sections including the detectable and the undetectable sections being 2.sup.n -1, n being an integer of more than one, the detectable and the undetectable sections being arranged on the endless strip in a uniquely identifiable pattern, in conformity with an arrangement of maximum sequence pseudorandom pulses;
(c) the detectors being disposed along the predefined closed path of the endless strip with spacings each longer than or equal to the dimension of each strip section in the longitudinal direction of the endless strip so that with the movement of the endless strip relative to the detectors, the detectors simultaneously produce a pattern of the binary zero and one outputs in various predetermined unique combinations concurrently representing a series of uniquely independent longitudinal positions of the endless strip with respect to the detectors, the number of the detectors being from n to 2.sup.n -1;
and
(d) position data generator means having stored therein predetermined unique position data concurrently representing the series of uniquely independent longitudinal positions of the endless strip, the position data generator means being connected to the detectors for translating each output combination of the detectors into a corresponding one of the predetermined unique position data.

2 more elements

A position signal generator comprising:

(a) a plurality of detectors capable of simultaneously producing a pattern of binary zero and one outputs;
(b) a first member notionally divided into a series of sections extending in a predetermined direction, each section being of the same dimension in the predetermined direction, with the sections including detectable sections which are detectable by the detectors, and undetectable sections which are undetectable by the detectors, the number of the sections including the detectable and the undetectable sections being 2.sup.n -1, n being an integer of more than one, the detectable and the undetectable sections being arranged in a uniquely identifiable pattern in conformity with an arrangement of maximum sequence pseudorandom pulses;
(c) a second member movable in the predetermined direction relative to the first member;
(d) the detectors being mounted to the second member and aligned in the predetermined direction with spacings each greater than or equal to the dimension of each section of the first member in the predetermined direction so that with the relative movement of the first and the second member, the detectors simultaneously produce a pattern of the binary zero and one outputs in various predetermined unique combinations concurrently representing a series of uniquely independent relative positions of the first and the second member, the number of the detectors being from n to 2.sup.n -1;
and
(e) position data generator means having stored therein predetermined unique position data concurrently representing the series of uniquely independent relative positions of the first and the second member, the position data generator means being connected to the detectors for translating each output combination of the detectors into a corresponding one of the predetermined unique position data.

3 more elements

A position signal generator comprising:

(a) a plurality of detectors each capable of producing binary zero and one outputs;
(b) a fixed base member;
(c) a strip of a preselected material formed on the base member and notionally transversely divided into a series of sections of the same dimension in the longitudinal direction of the strip, with the sections including detectable sections which are detectable by the detectors, and undetectable sections which are undetectable by the detectors, the number of the sections including the detectable and the undetectable sections being 2.sup.n -1, n being an integer of more than one, the detectable and the undetectable sections being arranged in a uniquely identifiable pattern in conformity with an arrangement of maximum sequence pseudorandom pulses;
(d) a carriage movable relative to the base member in the longitudinal direction of the strip;
(e) the detectors being mounted to the carriage and aligned in the longitudinal direction of the strip with spacings each greater than or equal to the dimension of each strip section in the longitudinal direction of the strip so that with the movement of the carriage relative to the base member, the detectors simultaneously produce a pattern of the binary zero and one outputs in various predetermined unique combinations concurrently representing a series of uniquely independent positions of the carriage with respect to the strip, the number of the detectors being from n to 2.sup.n -1;
and
(f) position data generator means having stored therein the predetermined unique combinations of position data concurrently representing the series of uniquely independent position of the carriage with respect to the strip, the position data generator means being connected to the detectors for translating each output combination of the detectors into a corresponding one of the predetermined unique combinations of position data.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/224,395Filed 7 Apr 1994 · continuation
Priority: JP 2-20173430 Jul 1990
Granted: 22 Aug 1995
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G01D 5/2495
Pulse stream: pseudo-random code
G05B 19/106
Using selector switches: for selecting a program, variable or parameter
H03M 1/282
With non-weighted coding: of the pattern-shifting type, e.g. pseudo-random chain code
G05B 2219/23062
Pc programming: position of knob, pedal detected by bundle of optical fibres

Family

Serial737,158Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Jul 1991
US 5,444,613 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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Citations

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