US3663881A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuous position sensing system
Assignee: Metritape Inc
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Filing: 1969-12-12
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Granted: 1972-05-16
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Expires: 1989-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A system for the precise and spatially-continuous determination of position along a predetermined path, capable of efficient operation even over relatively large distances. The system employs a unique elongated sensor capable of providing a signal directly related to the position of an actuating force applied thereto. The tape sensor is positioned along a path of travel, and means for actuating the sensor is coupled to an object whose position is to be determined. The system is operative to provide position control as well as position indication and can be adapted to provide self-monitoring during system operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert D Ehrenfried
- 👤 John Niejadlik
- 👤 Norton T Pierce
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:23
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B1/00; G05B1/01; G05B1/04; G05B1/06; B; B66; B66B; B66B1/00; B66B1/34; B66B1/3492; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/004; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/12; G01D5/14; G01D5/16; G01D5/20; H; H02; H02P; H02P7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A continuous position determining system comprising: an elongated spatially continuous sensor disposed along a predetermined path of travel and mechanically actuable at any position along the length thereof, said sensor including an elongated continuous resistance element having a substantially constant total resistance value during system operation; an elongated electrically conductive strip substantially coextensive with said resistance element; and means for maintaining said conductive strip in normally spaced relationship with said resistance element; a jacket enclosing said sensor along the full length thereof and operative to isolate said sensor from the working environment and sealed to provide a substantially constant volume within said jacket during sensor operation; means for applying an energizing potential to said resistance element; means adapted for coupling to an object movable along said path of travel, said means being disposed for movement along the length of said sensor and operative to apply an actuating force to the outer surface of said jacket at any position along the length of said sensor to cause contact of confronting portions of said conductive strip and said resistance element at the position of said actuating force, thereby to provide a continuously variable resistance; means electrically connected only to an end of said conductive strip and only to at least one end of said resistance element and operative in response to said continuously variable resistance to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of said actuating force; and output means coupled to said electrically connected means and operative in response to said continuously variable signal to provide an indication of the position of said object along said path of travel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A continuous position determining system comprising: an elongated spatially continuous sensor disposed along a predetermined path of travel and mechanically actuable at any position along the length thereof, said sensor including an elongated continuous resistance element having a substantially constant total resistance value during system operation; an elongated electrically conductive strip substantially coextensive with said resistance element; and means for maintaining said conductive strip in normally spaced relationship with said resistance element; a jacket enclosing said sensor along the full length thereof and operative to isolate said sensor from the working environment and sealed to provide a substantially constant volume within said jacket during sensor operation; means for applying an energizing potential to said resistance element; means adapted for coupling to an object movable along said path of travel, said means being disposed for movement along the length of said sensor and operative to apply an actuating force to the outer surface of said jacket at any position along the length of said sensor to cause contact of confronting portions of said conductive strip and said resistance element at the position of said actuating force, thereby to provide a continuously variable resistance; means electrically connected only to an end of said conductive strip and only to at least one end of said resistance element and operative in response to said continuously variable resistance to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of said actuating force; and output means coupled to said electrically connected means and operative in response to said continuously variable signal to provide an indication of the position of said object along said path of travel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
A system according to claim 30 wherein said maintenance means include insulation means partially surrounding and insulating said conductive strip with the exception of a full length exposed portion on one side thereof; and said resistance element includes a resistance wire helically wound around said conductive strip and insulated by said insulation means; said insulation means being adapted to maintain those segments of said resistance wire adjacent said exposed portion in normally spaced relationship with said conductive strip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 1 including a resistance value monitor connected to respective opposite ends of said resistance element and operative to monitor the substantially constant total resistance value thereof during sensor operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
A system according to claim 1 including a resistance value monitor connected to respective opposite ends of said resistance element and operative to monitor the substantially constant total resistance value thereof during sensor operation; and a continuity monitor connected between said conductive strip and one end of said resistance element and operative to monitor the resistance value of said sensor which varies in relation to the position of said actuating force.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said electrically connected means are connected to an end of said conductive strip and to both ends of said resistance element to provide a potentiometer configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a roller maintained for rolling contact with said sensor along the length thereof, and means for maintaining said roller in contact with said sensor with sufficient pressure to actuate said sensor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein said roller includes a resilient tire adapted for rolling contact with said sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a roller mounting for rolling contact with said sensor along the length thereof, said roller including a resilient tire dimensioned with respect to said exposed portion to cause actuation of said sensor at the point of contact between said roller and said sensor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a source of gas pressure disposed for movement along the length of said sensor and operative to direct a jet of gas onto said sensor to cause actuation thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a Rolamite disposed in juxtaposition with said sensor and adapted for rolling contact along the length thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 1 including mounting means adapted for disposition along said path of travel and having said sensor disposed on said mounting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 11 wherein said mounting means includes an elongated channel having said sensor disposed on a surface thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said sensor includes a plurality of segments each adapted for connection to a like segment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system according to claim 11 wherein said mounting means includes a relatively stiff backing member secured along the length of said sensor and substantially coextensive with the length and width thereof; a resilient plastic sheath surrounding said sensor and said backing member; and a mounting channel substantially coextensive with said sensor and having said backing member rigidly secured to a surface thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system according to claim 1 including mounting means adapted to support said elongated sensor in vertical tensioned disposition along a path of travel and wherein said actuating means includes a pinch roller assembly movable along the length of said sensor and adapted to engage respective opposite surfaces thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said jacket is a composite flexible jacket including an inner insulating layer enclosing said base strip, insulation means and resistance wire, and a metal strip secured to said inner layer on the side confronting said exposed portion, said metal strip being operative to provide additional spring action to said jacket.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
240 words
A continuous position determining system comprising: a first elongated spatially continuous sensor disposed along a predetermined path of travel and having electrical connections only from at least one end thereof and operative in response to an energizing potential to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of an actuating force applied to said sensor; a second like sensor disposed along a portion of said predetermined path of travel operative in response to an energizing potential to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of an actuating force applied to said second sensor; means for applying an energizing potential to each of said first and second sensors; first means disposed for movement along the length of said first sensor and operative to apply an actuating force thereto at any point along the length of said first sensor; second means disposed for movement along the length of said second sensor and operative to apply an actuating force thereto at any point along the length of said second seNsor; said first and second means each being adapted for coupling to an object movable along said path of travel; and circuitry operative in response to the signal of said first sensor to indicate the course position of said object along said path of travel, and operative in response to the signal of said second sensor to indicate the fine position of said object along said path of travel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
240 words
A continuous position determining system comprising: a first elongated spatially continuous sensor disposed along a predetermined path of travel and having electrical connections only from at least one end thereof and operative in response to an energizing potential to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of an actuating force applied to said sensor; a second like sensor disposed along a portion of said predetermined path of travel operative in response to an energizing potential to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of an actuating force applied to said second sensor; means for applying an energizing potential to each of said first and second sensors; first means disposed for movement along the length of said first sensor and operative to apply an actuating force thereto at any point along the length of said first sensor; second means disposed for movement along the length of said second sensor and operative to apply an actuating force thereto at any point along the length of said second seNsor; said first and second means each being adapted for coupling to an object movable along said path of travel; and circuitry operative in response to the signal of said first sensor to indicate the course position of said object along said path of travel, and operative in response to the signal of said second sensor to indicate the fine position of said object along said path of travel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
158 words
A position control system comprising: first and second elongated spatially continuous sensors each disposed along a respective path of travel and each having electrical connections only from at least one end thereof and operative to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of an actuating force applied thereto; means for applying an energizing potential to each of said first and second sensors; first and second actuating means each adapted for movement along the length of a respective sensor and each operative to apply an actuating force to said sensor; first and second driving means each coupled to a respective actuating means and each operative to cause movement of said respective actuating means along the length of said sensors; and control circuitry connected to said first and second sensors and operative in response to the signal provided by said sensors to provide control signals to said first and second drive means to cause synchronous operation thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
158 words
A position control system comprising: first and second elongated spatially continuous sensors each disposed along a respective path of travel and each having electrical connections only from at least one end thereof and operative to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of an actuating force applied thereto; means for applying an energizing potential to each of said first and second sensors; first and second actuating means each adapted for movement along the length of a respective sensor and each operative to apply an actuating force to said sensor; first and second driving means each coupled to a respective actuating means and each operative to cause movement of said respective actuating means along the length of said sensors; and control circuitry connected to said first and second sensors and operative in response to the signal provided by said sensors to provide control signals to said first and second drive means to cause synchronous operation thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
192 words
A continuous position determining system comprising: an elongated spatially continuous sensor disposed along a predetermined path of travel and having electrical connections only from at least one end thereof and operative in response to an energizing potential to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of an actuating force applied to said sensor; means for applying an energizing potential to said sensor; means adapted for coupling to an object movable along said path of travel, said means being disposed for movement along the length of said sensor and operative to apply an actuating force thereto at any position along the length of said sensor; and output means coupled to said sensor and operative in response to said continuously variable signal for indicating the position of said object along said path of travel; said sensor including a plurality of segments each adapted for connection to a like segment and including an inoperative end portion of predetermined dimension; said actuating means including first and second rollers being separated by a distance sufficient to traverse said end portions to thereby provide an effectively continuous actuating force along the length of said sensor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
192 words
A continuous position determining system comprising: an elongated spatially continuous sensor disposed along a predetermined path of travel and having electrical connections only from at least one end thereof and operative in response to an energizing potential to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of an actuating force applied to said sensor; means for applying an energizing potential to said sensor; means adapted for coupling to an object movable along said path of travel, said means being disposed for movement along the length of said sensor and operative to apply an actuating force thereto at any position along the length of said sensor; and output means coupled to said sensor and operative in response to said continuously variable signal for indicating the position of said object along said path of travel; said sensor including a plurality of segments each adapted for connection to a like segment and including an inoperative end portion of predetermined dimension; said actuating means including first and second rollers being separated by a distance sufficient to traverse said end portions to thereby provide an effectively continuous actuating force along the length of said sensor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
249 words
A continuous position determining system comprising: an elongated spatially continuous sensor disposed along a predetermined path of travel and having electrical connections only from at least one end thereof and operative in response to an energizing potential to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of an actuating force applied to said sensor; said sensor including an elongated electrically conductive base strip, insulation means partially surrounding and insulating said base strip with the exception of a full length exposed portion on one side thereof, and a resistance wire helically wound around said base strip and insulated therefrom by said insulation means, said insulation means being adapted to maintain those segments of said resistance wire adjacent said exposed portion in normally spaced relationship from said base strip; means for applying an energizing potential to said sensor; means adapted for coupling to an object movable along said path of travel, said means being disposed for movement along the length of said sensor and operative to apply an actuating force thereto at any position along the length of said sensor; output means coupled to said sensor and operative in response to said continuously varIable signal for indicating the position of said object along said path of travel; and first and second end windings each wound around a respective end portion of said sensor, and each adapted for coupling to circuitry and operative to provide an end-of-travel indication upon actuation of either of said end windings by said actuating means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
249 words
A continuous position determining system comprising: an elongated spatially continuous sensor disposed along a predetermined path of travel and having electrical connections only from at least one end thereof and operative in response to an energizing potential to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of an actuating force applied to said sensor; said sensor including an elongated electrically conductive base strip, insulation means partially surrounding and insulating said base strip with the exception of a full length exposed portion on one side thereof, and a resistance wire helically wound around said base strip and insulated therefrom by said insulation means, said insulation means being adapted to maintain those segments of said resistance wire adjacent said exposed portion in normally spaced relationship from said base strip; means for applying an energizing potential to said sensor; means adapted for coupling to an object movable along said path of travel, said means being disposed for movement along the length of said sensor and operative to apply an actuating force thereto at any position along the length of said sensor; output means coupled to said sensor and operative in response to said continuously varIable signal for indicating the position of said object along said path of travel; and first and second end windings each wound around a respective end portion of said sensor, and each adapted for coupling to circuitry and operative to provide an end-of-travel indication upon actuation of either of said end windings by said actuating means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
271 words
A continuous position determining system comprising: an elongated spatially continuous sensor disposed along a predetermined path of travel and having electrical connections only from at least one end thereof and operative in response to an energizing potential to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of an actuating force applied to said sensor; said sensor including an elongated electrically conductive base strip, insulation means partially surrounding and insulating said base strip with the exception of a full length exposed portion on one side thereof, and a resistance wire helically wound around said base strip and insulated therefrom by said insulation means, said insulation means being adapted to maintain those segments of said resistance wire adjacent said exposed portion in normally spaced relationship from said base strip; means for applying an energizing potential to said sensor; means adapted for coupling to an object movable along said path of travel, said means being disposed for movement along the length of said sensor and operative to apply an actuating force thereto at any position along the length of said sensor; output means coupled to said sensor and operative in response to said continuously variable signal for indicating the position of said object along said path of travel; drive means coupled to said actuating means and operative to move said actuating means along said path; and control means coupled to the conductive base strip and the resistance wire of said sensor and operative in response to said sensor to provide signals to said drive means for controlling the operation thereof in accordance with the position of said actuating means along said path.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
271 words
A continuous position determining system comprising: an elongated spatially continuous sensor disposed along a predetermined path of travel and having electrical connections only from at least one end thereof and operative in response to an energizing potential to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of an actuating force applied to said sensor; said sensor including an elongated electrically conductive base strip, insulation means partially surrounding and insulating said base strip with the exception of a full length exposed portion on one side thereof, and a resistance wire helically wound around said base strip and insulated therefrom by said insulation means, said insulation means being adapted to maintain those segments of said resistance wire adjacent said exposed portion in normally spaced relationship from said base strip; means for applying an energizing potential to said sensor; means adapted for coupling to an object movable along said path of travel, said means being disposed for movement along the length of said sensor and operative to apply an actuating force thereto at any position along the length of said sensor; output means coupled to said sensor and operative in response to said continuously variable signal for indicating the position of said object along said path of travel; drive means coupled to said actuating means and operative to move said actuating means along said path; and control means coupled to the conductive base strip and the resistance wire of said sensor and operative in response to said sensor to provide signals to said drive means for controlling the operation thereof in accordance with the position of said actuating means along said path.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
81 words
A system according to claim 21 wherein said control means includes a source of voltage reference signals representing a predetermined position along said path; a voltage comparator coupled to said sensor and to said reference source and operative to provide an error signal representing the difference between the position of said actuating means and said predetermined position; and control circuitry operative in response to said error signal to cause said drive means to move said actuating means to said predetermined position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 22 wherein said control circuitry includes proportional control circuitry for controlling operation of said drive means in a manner related to the distance between said predetermined position and the position of said actuating means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
240 words
A continuous position determining system comprising: an elongated spatially continuous sensor disposed along a predetermined path of travel and having electrical connections only from at least one end thereof and operative in response to an energizing potential to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of an actuating force applied to said sensor; said sensor including an elongated electrically conductive base strip, insulation means partially surrounding and insulating said base strip with the exception of a full length exposed portion on one side thereof, a resistance wire helically wound around said base strip and insulated therefrom by said insulation means, said insulation means being adapted to maintain those segments of said resistance wire adjacent said exposed portion in normally spaced relationship from said base strip, and a plurality of taps provided along the length of said resistance wire each adjacent pair of taps defining a sensor zone; means for applying an energizing potential to a selected zone; means adapted for coupling to an object movable along said path of travel, said means being disposed for movement along the length of said sensor and operative to apply an actuating force thereto at any position along the length of said sensor; and output means coupled to said sensor and operative in response to said continuously variable signal for providing an indication of the position of said actuating means along said path of travel and within said selected sensor zone.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
240 words
A continuous position determining system comprising: an elongated spatially continuous sensor disposed along a predetermined path of travel and having electrical connections only from at least one end thereof and operative in response to an energizing potential to provide a continuously variable signal directly related to the position of an actuating force applied to said sensor; said sensor including an elongated electrically conductive base strip, insulation means partially surrounding and insulating said base strip with the exception of a full length exposed portion on one side thereof, a resistance wire helically wound around said base strip and insulated therefrom by said insulation means, said insulation means being adapted to maintain those segments of said resistance wire adjacent said exposed portion in normally spaced relationship from said base strip, and a plurality of taps provided along the length of said resistance wire each adjacent pair of taps defining a sensor zone; means for applying an energizing potential to a selected zone; means adapted for coupling to an object movable along said path of travel, said means being disposed for movement along the length of said sensor and operative to apply an actuating force thereto at any position along the length of said sensor; and output means coupled to said sensor and operative in response to said continuously variable signal for providing an indication of the position of said actuating means along said path of travel and within said selected sensor zone.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |