Systems and methods for indicating the position of a web
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsDaniel H. Carlson, Dale L. Ehnes, Daniel S. Wertz, Luis A. Aguirre, Levent Biyikli, Alan B. Campbell
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Abstract
Methods and systems for indicating the displacement of a flexible web are described. An elongated, flexible web includes an integral scale having scale features configured to modulate energy directed towards the web. A transport mechanism provides relative movement between the web relative to a transducer. The transducer detects energy modulated by the scale features and generates a signal indicting a continuous web displacement based on the modulated energy.
Claims29
A method for indicating web displacement, comprising:
- moving an elongated, flexible web having a plurality of discrete scale features disposed thereon and wherein the plurality of discrete scale features comprise optical prisms configured to reflect light via total internal reflection;
- modulating light using the plurality of discrete scale features;
- converting the modulated light into a signal that provides indication of continuous web displacement using a web position processor.
A system for indicating web displacement, comprising:
- an elongated, flexible web having an integral scale disposed thereon, the scale comprising a plurality of discrete scale features comprising optical prisms configured to reflect light via total internal reflection and configured to modulate light directed towards the web;
- a transducer configured to sense the light modulated by the plurality of discrete scale features and to generate a signal indicating continuous web displacement based on the modulated light;
- and
- a transport mechanism configured to provide relative movement between the web and the transducer.
An apparatus comprising a flexible, elongated web having an integral scale, the scale comprising a pattern of scale features disposed on the web, the scale features comprising optical prisms configured to reflect light via the total internal reflection and the scale features modulating light directed toward the web, the modulated light indicative of a continuous displacement of the web.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.