Optics: measuring and testing – Range or remote distance finding – With photodetection
Patent
1986-11-06
1989-05-30
Arnold, Bruce Y.
Optics: measuring and testing
Range or remote distance finding
With photodetection
350 377, 350 385, 356372, 356375, 368 79, G03H 128, G04B 1906, G01B 1100
Patent
active
048344753
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to analogue indicating means for conveying to an observer information represented by the position of one of two relatively movable components relative to the other of the two components.
BACKGROUND ART
For convenience, one of those components commonly has a pointer, needle or other reference marker (referred to hereafter for the sake of simplicity as a `reference marker`) designating a reference position on that one component; and the other of the two components commonly has a series of markers or markings spaced apart on a scale, dial, or face (referred to hereafter for the sake of simplicity as a `scale`) and relative to which scale markings the reference marker is relatively movable. The position of one component relative to the other is represented by the position of said reference marker relative to the series of scale markings.
In many cases, (e.g. in clocks and other analogue time-keeping devices, and electrical indicating instruments), the relative positions of the reference marker and the associated series of scale markings is indicative to an observer of the value of a parameter whose magnitude governs or controls the relative positions of the said two components.
In other cases, (e.g. in radio wave-band or other multi-position, operating mode selectors) the relative positions of that reference marker and the associated series of scale markings are indicative to an observer of (a) the relative positions of the two components to which they have been deliberately brought in selecting a desired one of a predetermined plurality of operating modes for an associated apparatus, and hence of (b) the selected operating mode of such apparatus.
In yet other cases (e.g. in linear and other dimension measuring devices) the reference marker may comprise a selected feature of an article, the position of which relative to a datum is to be ascertained in relation to a series of scale markings (constituting a measuring scale) placed adjacent to the article, either directly or by means of a movable probe.
Thus, the present invention relates to various different kinds of analogue indicating means, some of which have been recited above by way of example.
In some such indicating means its is often very difficult to accurately determine the position of the reference marker in relation to the scale markings, for the reason that the reference marker and the associated scale markings are not coplanar, so that the perceived position of the reference marker is dependent upon the position of the observer's eyes, and the interpretation placed upon that perceived position by the observer.
Furthermore, the accurate mass reproduction of such a series of scale markings is difficult and costly to achieve.
Disclosure of the Invention
According to the present invention, in an analogue indicating means which comprises two relatively movable components bearing respectively a reference marker, and a series of scale markings spaced apart along a scale portion, and in which the position of the reference marker relative to the scale markings is indicative to an observer of the relative positions of the two components, at least one of the two components comprises a hologram (or holographic element) which when illuminated by a source of a predetermined reference light portrays to a said observer a holographic image of the reference marker or holographic images of the scale markings, as appropriate to the said one component, for comparison with respectively the scale markings or the reference marker of the other of the two components.
Such an arrangement offers a useful alternative to existing forms of indicating means, in that holograms are easily reproducible and may portray in addition any real or fictional pictorial effect or environment.
Preferably, the said hologram is arranged so as to project the holographic image or images into the plane of the scale markings or reference marker respectively of the other of the two components.
By that means, the problem of accurately interpreting the pos
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