Mechanical coder

Coded data generation or conversion – Digital pattern reading type converter – Brush and contacts or conductive pattern

Reexamination Certificate

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Reexamination Certificate

active

06271770

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates a coder, and more particularly, to a mechanical coder.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Referring to
FIG. 1
, which depicts a conventional obstructing type coder including an emitter
10
, a receiver
20
and an optical shutter
30
. The optical shutter
30
is made of opaque material. A plurality of rectangular openings
31
are formed on the periphery of the optical shutter
30
. While the optical shutter
30
is rotating, the light emitted by the emitter
10
may pass through the openings
31
or be interdicted by the opaque optical shutter
30
. As the light emitted from the emitter
10
passes through the openings
31
, the receiver
20
accepts an “ON” signal. Conversely, as the light emitted from the emitter
10
is interdicted by the opaque optical shutter
30
, the receiver
20
receives an “OFF” signal. Thus, a plurality of “ON” signals and a plurality of “OFF” signals constitute a continuous light-and-shade signal having constant interval. The light-and-shade signal is received and then transferred into a digital logic signal for output.
In order to increase the resolution, increasing the number of the shutter
32
is desired. However, the more the numbers of shutters
32
, the more serious is the problem caused by scattering and diffraction. Scattering and diffraction will result in the difficulty in clarifying “ON” signal or “OFF” signal. Thus the receiver
20
to judge the received signal exactly. Hence it is difficult to increase the resolution without limits.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, which depicts another conventional guidance type coder including an emitter
10
, a receiver
20
and an optical shutter
30
made of transparent material. There are a plurality of gear-shaped projections
33
and a plurality of recesses
34
formed on the periphery of the optical shutter
30
. Additionally, there are a plurality of refraction planes
35
formed on the inner portion of the optical shutter
30
. While the optical shutter
30
is rotating, the light emitted by the emitter
10
may be refracted to projections
33
or recesses
34
. As the light emitted by the emitter
10
is refracted to projections
33
, the receiver
20
accepts an “ON” signal. Conversely, as the light emitted by the emitter
10
is refracted to recesses
34
, the receiver
20
receives an “OFF” signal. Thus, a plurality of “ON” signals and a plurality of “OFF” signal constitute a continuous light-and-shade signal having a constant interval. The light-and-shade signal is received and then transferred into a digital logic signal for output.
The resolution of the guidance type coder is higher than that of the above-mentioned obstructing-type coder. However, the optical distance of the guidance type coder is longer than that of above-mentioned obstructing type coder because that the light is indirectly guided to the receiver
20
. Moreover, before the receiver
20
the refracted light, the light has grown weaker already. In order to prevent the light guided to the receiver
20
from being attenuated, the intensity of the emitter
10
must be increased. More power consumption is needed and the lifetime of emitter
10
is shortened.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, a traditional mechanical coder is depicted. The traditional mechanical coder consists of a signal-separating wheel
40
, a common terminal
54
, a first terminal
52
and a second terminal
53
. Additionally, there are a first conductive portion
41
, a plurality of second conductive portions
42
, a plurality of third conductive portions
43
and an insulating portion
43
formed on a main surface of the signal-separating wheel
40
having a disk-shaped outline. It is worth noting that there are several ladders formed of one second conductive portion
42
and one third conductive portion
43
. That is, for the first terminal
52
and the second terminal
53
, each of second conductive portions
42
and each of third conductive portions
43
are not on the same level. However, the common terminal
54
, the first terminal
52
and the second terminal
53
are placed on the same level and coupled to the main surface of the signal-separating wheel
40
. While the signal-separating wheel
40
is rotating, the first terminal
52
and the second terminal
53
, placed on the same level, continuously receive the “ON” signal or the “OFF” signal, respectively. The “ON” signal and the “OFF” signal constitute a digital logic signal.
The advantages of the traditional mechanical coder include lower power consumption, non-scattering, non-diffraction and longer lifetime. The traditional mechanical coder is generally employed in the wireless device, notebook or the device requiring lower power consumption. However, the disadvantages of the traditional mechanical coder are identified as follows.
(1) The signal-separating wheel is made from a general PCB (printed circuit board). Then the signal-separating wheel is etched or stamped. Thus the thickness of the first conductive portion, the second conductive portion and the third conductive portion may be slightly different from that of the insulating portion. That is, there is an altitude formed between the conductive portion and the insulating portion. This will result in bounce of the terminal, which leads to unstable signal and errors in receiving the signal.
(2) Because the signal-separating wheel is etched or stamped, there are many sharp teeth formed on the boundary of the conductive portion and the insulating portion. This will cause an unstable signal and errors in receiving the signal.
(3) The required precision is high and the extra work is difficult to do, so the yield is low.
(4) The common terminal, the first terminal and the second terminal are placed on the same level, and they are coupled to the main surface of the signal-separating wheel, so they suppress the rotation of the signal-separating wheel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a mechanical coder including a signal-separating wheel. The signal-separating wheel is manufactured in the following manner. First, a gear-shaped portion made of conductive material is formed. Then the recess of the gear-shaped portion is filled with insulating material to completely form the signal-separating wheel having a smooth disk-shaped outline. Thus the bounce of the terminal, caused by the altitude formed between the conductive portion and the insulating portion, is avoided.
The present invention also includes a first terminal, a second terminal and a common terminal. The first terminal and the second terminal are coupled to the opposite sides of the signal-separating wheel, respectively, rather than being placed on the main surface of the signal-separating wheel. This arrangement prevents the suppression of the rotating of the signal-separating wheel.
The first terminal, the second terminal and the common terminal are combined to form a terminal module. Thus the assembling time and the production cost are reduced effectively. Additionally, the yield is improved.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2974316 (1961-03-01), Guidal et al.
patent: 3024990 (1962-03-01), Magnuson
patent: 3206740 (1965-09-01), Maclay
patent: 4240069 (1980-12-01), Hullein et al.

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