Position sensor
AssigneeNokia Corporation
InventorsIvan Kassamakov, Pasi Vihinen, Marcus Schorpp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hinge position sensor comprises first and second members connected together to provide a hinge, and an optical fiber or wave-guide connected between the first and second members to provide a communication link between the first and second members. A laser or LED is coupled to the optical fiber or wave-guide to transmit optical signals between the first and second members and the optical signal is received by a photo-detector. The optical fiber or wave-guide is physically distorted by actuation of the hinge such that light escapes from the optical fiber or wave-guide. The optical power level received by the photo-detector is used to determine the position of the hinge.
Claims18
An apparatus comprising:
- a first member and a second member rotationally connected to one another so as to provide a hinge;
- an optical wave-guide;
- a light emitter to transmit light through the optical wave-guide;
- and
- a light detector to detect an optical power level of light emitted from the optical wave-guide;
- wherein the optical wave-guide is physically distorted by actuation of the hinge and the detected power level is used to determine the position of the hinge.
A method comprising:
- transmitting light through an optical wave-guide connected between a first member and a second member;
- detecting an optical power level of light emitted from the optical wave-guide, wherein the optical wave-guide is physically distorted by actuation of a hinge connected between the first member and the second member;
- and
- determining the position of the hinge based on the detected optical power level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.