Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Optical or pre-photocell system
Patent
1989-11-20
1991-05-21
Nelms, David C.
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Optical or pre-photocell system
25022712, H01J 516
Patent
active
050177710
ABSTRACT:
An optical position sensor is provided for sensing the position of an object movable along a motion axis. The sensor comprises a light source, a support member, a beamsplitter, a variable filter, and a processor. The light source produces an optical beam that is directed to the beamsplitter. The beamsplitter is fixedly coupled to the support member and optically coupled to the light source, and converts the optical beam into a reference beam and a subject beam. The beamsplitter projects the subject beam along a beam axis fixed relative to the support member. The variable filter is positioned along the beam axis, it is coupled to the object, and it is movably coupled to the support member to be movable along the motion axis in coordination with movement of the object for modulating the subject beam. The transmissivity of the variable filter is nonuniform along the motion axis to attenuate the subject beam in accordance with the position of the object. The processor is optically coupled to the beamsplitter to receive the reference beam and optically coupled to the variable filter to receive the subject beam. The processor compares the subject beam to the reference beam to determine the position of the object.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2302554 (1942-11-01), Kingsbury
patent: 3171034 (1965-02-01), Tomasulo et al.
patent: 3416865 (1968-12-01), Townsend
patent: 3664752 (1972-05-01), Hermieu
patent: 3755681 (1973-08-01), Montross
patent: 4103155 (1978-07-01), Clark
patent: 4182935 (1980-01-01), Chown
patent: 4275295 (1981-06-01), Menningen et al.
patent: 4278296 (1981-06-01), Adolfsson
patent: 4333009 (1982-06-01), Stevens
patent: 4356395 (1982-10-01), Miller
patent: 4422180 (1983-12-01), Wendt
patent: 4432599 (1984-02-01), McMahon
patent: 4436365 (1984-03-01), Hodgins et al.
patent: 4481621 (1984-11-01), Schmack et al.
patent: 4493995 (1985-01-01), Adolfsson et al.
patent: 4546466 (1985-10-01), Lopiccolo
patent: 4554451 (1985-11-01), Kirstein
patent: 4687927 (1987-08-01), Iwamoto et al.
patent: 4731530 (1988-03-01), Mikan
patent: 4870269 (1989-09-01), Jeunhomme et al.
Bartholomew Richard D.
Pitalo Stephen K.
Schaffer, Jr. James R.
Messinger Michael
Nelms David C.
The Boeing Company
LandOfFree
Position sensor using optical fibers and a variable filter does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Position sensor using optical fibers and a variable filter, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Position sensor using optical fibers and a variable filter will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-240182