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US3567945A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Photoelectric rotational direction sensor

Assignee: Honeywell Inc
•
Filing: 1968-12-23
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Granted: 1971-03-02
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Expires: 1988-12-23
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Abstract

Abstract There is provided a system including a light source, which, in accordance with the operation of a rotating device, produces pulses of light which are applied to a logic circuit. The circuit is capable of detecting the relative phase relationship between the light pulses and producing an output signal which is indicative of the direction of rotation of the rotating device.

Inventors

  • 👤 Vernon L Appleby

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 04:30
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/02; G11B15/05; G11B15/093; H; H03; H03K; H03K5/00; H03K5/22; H03K5/26

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 212 words
A photoelectric rotational direction sensor comprising, energy source means, detector means responsive to energy produced by said energy source means to produce signals indicative of receipt of energy from said energy source means, gate means connected to said detector means for producing signals as a function of the signals produced by said detector means, switch means connected to said detector means to receive signals therefrom, and waveshaping means connected between said detector means and said switch means to supply a signal to said switch means to control the operation thereof, said waveshaping means including first and second inverter means having the inputs thereof connected to said detector means, third inverter means connected to the output of energy storage means, said energy storage means comprising a first and a second energy storing means, said first and said second energy storing means connected to the outputs of said first and second inverter means respectively, said first and said second energy storing means having different values thereby exhibiting different time constants whereby the rate of energy storing is different, and further gate means having the inputs thereof connected to the outputs of said second and third inverter means and operative to produce an output signal in response to coincident signals supplied to the inputs thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 212 words
A photoelectric rotational direction sensor comprising, energy source means, detector means responsive to energy produced by said energy source means to produce signals indicative of receipt of energy from said energy source means, gate means connected to said detector means for producing signals as a function of the signals produced by said detector means, switch means connected to said detector means to receive signals therefrom, and waveshaping means connected between said detector means and said switch means to supply a signal to said switch means to control the operation thereof, said waveshaping means including first and second inverter means having the inputs thereof connected to said detector means, third inverter means connected to the output of energy storage means, said energy storage means comprising a first and a second energy storing means, said first and said second energy storing means connected to the outputs of said first and second inverter means respectively, said first and said second energy storing means having different values thereby exhibiting different time constants whereby the rate of energy storing is different, and further gate means having the inputs thereof connected to the outputs of said second and third inverter means and operative to produce an output signal in response to coincident signals supplied to the inputs thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
The combination recited in claim 1, wherein said energy source means comprises a light source, and said detector means comprises a photodetector and amplifier circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 39 words
The combination recited in claim 2 wherein said photodetector and amplifier circuit includes a phototransistor, said light source selectively illuminates said phototransistor to alter the operating condition thereof whereby the signal produced by said detector means is selectively varied.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The combination recited in claim 1 including means for selectively interrupting the transfer of energy from said energy source means to said detector means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 70 words
The combination recited in claim 4 wherein said means for selectively interrupting includes apertured means having at least one aperture therein, said apertured means disposed between said energy source means and said detector means, driving means for causing relative motion between said apertured means and said energy source means such that energy is transferred from said energy source means to said detector means only when an aperture is disposed therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 57 words
The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said detector means includes at least two separate detecting units which are located relative to each other and said apertured means so as to produce electrical signals which are 90* out-of-phase, the lead-lag relationship of the out-of-phase electrical signals being determined by the direction of motion of said apertured means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 66 words
The combination recited in claim 6 wherein said gate means receives signals from each of said detecting units and produces an output signal only during coincidence of signals from each of said units, said switch means comprises flip-flop means, said gate means connected directly to one input of said flip-flop means, and inverter means connected between said gate means and another input of said flip-flop means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 49 words
The combination recited in claim 7 wherein said waveshaping means includes a delayed single pulse circuit, said single pulse circuit supplying an output signal to a control input of said flip-flop means to selectively produce output signals from said flip-flop means in accordance with the input signals supplied thereto.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-03-01 1974-08-31 1975-03-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-03-01 1978-08-31 1979-03-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-03-01 1982-08-31 1983-03-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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