US3584959A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shaft position encoders
Assignee: Teeg Research Inc
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Filing: 1967-02-23
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Granted: 1971-06-15
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Expires: 1987-02-23
Abstract
Abstract Instruments capable of determining with precision the angular position of a shaft by projecting a reference beam of modulated polarized light through an analyzer rotating in unison with the shaft. The signal derived from the light passing through the analyzer is compared to the signal derived from the reference beam and the resultant signal is representative of the shaft angular position.
Inventors
- 👤 Carlo Del Carlo
- 👤 James M Mcmenamin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 06:41
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/26; G01D5/32; G01D5/34; G01D5/344; G01D5/345; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
An optical shaft position encoder comprising: rotating polarizer means for producing a beam of polarized light and for modulating the azimuth of polarization of said beam of light; means for analyzing said beam of light, said last-mentioned means rotated in unison with the shaft; and means deriving from said analyzing means a signal representative of the angular position of the shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
An optical shaft position encoder comprising: rotating polarizer means for producing a beam of polarized light and for modulating the azimuth of polarization of said beam of light; means for analyzing said beam of light, said last-mentioned means rotated in unison with the shaft; and means deriving from said analyzing means a signal representative of the angular position of the shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The optical shaft position encoder of claim 1 wherein the means deriving the signal representative of the angular position of the shaft comprises a first signal obtained from the beam of light after passage through said analyzing means with a second signal obtained from the beam of light before passage through said analyzing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical shaft position encoder of claim 1 wherein the means deriving a signal representative of the angular position of the shaft is a digital time interval counting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
An optical shaft position encoder comprising: means for producing a beam of light; rotating polarizer means for polarizing said beam of light and for modulating the angle of polarization of said beam of light at a given frequency; means for analyzing said beam of modulated polarized light, said last-mentioned means rotated in unison with the shaft; and means deriving from said analyzing means a signal representative of the angular position of the shaft by comparing the signal emerging from said analyzing means with a signal representative of the modulating of the angle of polarization of said beam of light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
An optical shaft position encoder comprising: means for producing a beam of light; rotating polarizer means for polarizing said beam of light and for modulating the angle of polarization of said beam of light at a given frequency; means for analyzing said beam of modulated polarized light, said last-mentioned means rotated in unison with the shaft; and means deriving from said analyzing means a signal representative of the angular position of the shaft by comparing the signal emerging from said analyzing means with a signal representative of the modulating of the angle of polarization of said beam of light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical shaft encoder of claim 4 wherein the means deriving a signal representative of the angular position of the shaft is a digital time interval counting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
205 words
An optical shaft position encoder comprising: means for producing a substantially parallel beam of light; a rotating polarizer for polarizing said light and for modulating the angle of polarization of said light; a semitransparent beam splitter disposed at an angle to the axis of said beam of modulated polarized light to allow said light to be propagated therethrough; an analyzer mounted on one end of a rotating shaft whose angular position is to be determined; a mirror placed behind said analyzer for reflecting said light back through said analyzer toward the reflective face of said semitransparent beam splitter whereby said beam light is reflected at an angle to the original axis thereof; detector means for supplying an electrical signal in function of the intensity of the light impinging thereupon; and a digital time interval counter electrically connected to said detector means to compare a first electrical signal representative of the modulation of the angle of polarization of said light before passage through said analyzer with a second electrical signal representative of the modulation of the angle of polarization of said light after passage through said analyzer, whereby the phase differential between said first and second signals is representative of the angular position of the shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
205 words
An optical shaft position encoder comprising: means for producing a substantially parallel beam of light; a rotating polarizer for polarizing said light and for modulating the angle of polarization of said light; a semitransparent beam splitter disposed at an angle to the axis of said beam of modulated polarized light to allow said light to be propagated therethrough; an analyzer mounted on one end of a rotating shaft whose angular position is to be determined; a mirror placed behind said analyzer for reflecting said light back through said analyzer toward the reflective face of said semitransparent beam splitter whereby said beam light is reflected at an angle to the original axis thereof; detector means for supplying an electrical signal in function of the intensity of the light impinging thereupon; and a digital time interval counter electrically connected to said detector means to compare a first electrical signal representative of the modulation of the angle of polarization of said light before passage through said analyzer with a second electrical signal representative of the modulation of the angle of polarization of said light after passage through said analyzer, whereby the phase differential between said first and second signals is representative of the angular position of the shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical shaft encoder of claim 6 wherein the means deriving a signal representative of the angular position of the shaft is a digital time interval counting means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for determining the angular position of a shaft comprising: producing a beam of light; polarizing said beam of light; modulating the angle of polarization of said beam of light at a given frequency; analyzing said beam of modulated polarized light by means of an analyzer rotated in unison with the shaft; and deriving from said analyzing means a signal representative of the angular position of the shaft by comparing the signal emerging from said analyzer with a signal representative of the modulating of the angle of polarization of said beam of light.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for determining the angular position of a shaft comprising: producing a beam of light; polarizing said beam of light; modulating the angle of polarization of said beam of light at a given frequency; analyzing said beam of modulated polarized light by means of an analyzer rotated in unison with the shaft; and deriving from said analyzing means a signal representative of the angular position of the shaft by comparing the signal emerging from said analyzer with a signal representative of the modulating of the angle of polarization of said beam of light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8 wherein modulating the angle of polarization of said beam of light is by a pair of Pockels cells.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 wherein modulating the angle of polarization of said beam of light is by rotating a polarizer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 wherein deriving a signal representative of the angular position of the shaft is by a digital time interval counting means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising causing a predetermined phase retardation between the wave components of said beam of polarized light.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for optically determining the angular position of a shaft comprising: producing a substantially parallel beam of light; polarizing said light; modulating the angle of polarization of said light; splitting said beam of polarized light by means of a semitransparent beam splitter disposed at an angle to the axis of said beam to allow said light to be propagated therethrough; analyzing said light propagated through said beam splitter by means of an analyzer mounted on one end of a rotating shaft whose angular position is to be determined; a mirror behind said analyzer for reflecting said light back through said analyzer toward the reflective face of said semitransparent beam splitter whereby said beam of light is reflected at an angle to the original axis thereof; detecting said light by way of detector means for supplying electrical signals in function of the intensity of the light impinging thereupon; and comparing a first electrical signal representative of the modulation of the angle of polarization of said light after passage through said analyzer for obtaining a phase differential signal between said first and second signals which is representative of the angular position of the shaft.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for optically determining the angular position of a shaft comprising: producing a substantially parallel beam of light; polarizing said light; modulating the angle of polarization of said light; splitting said beam of polarized light by means of a semitransparent beam splitter disposed at an angle to the axis of said beam to allow said light to be propagated therethrough; analyzing said light propagated through said beam splitter by means of an analyzer mounted on one end of a rotating shaft whose angular position is to be determined; a mirror behind said analyzer for reflecting said light back through said analyzer toward the reflective face of said semitransparent beam splitter whereby said beam of light is reflected at an angle to the original axis thereof; detecting said light by way of detector means for supplying electrical signals in function of the intensity of the light impinging thereupon; and comparing a first electrical signal representative of the modulation of the angle of polarization of said light after passage through said analyzer for obtaining a phase differential signal between said first and second signals which is representative of the angular position of the shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of cLaim 13 wherein modulating the angle of polarization of said beam of light is by a pair of Pockels cells.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 wherein modulating the angle of polarization of said beam of light is by rotating a polarizer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 wherein deriving a signal representative of the angular position of the shaft is by digital time interval counting means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising causing a predetermined phase retardation between the wave components of said beam of polarized light.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2880648A
Cited
US3427108A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-14 | 1974-12-14 | 1975-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-14 | 1978-12-14 | 1979-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-14 | 1982-12-14 | 1983-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |