US3716716A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photoelectric two axis positioning system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-08-26
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Granted: 1973-02-13
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Expires: 1991-08-26
Abstract
Abstract A member is capable of being positioned at precise rectangular coordinate points by providing a circular hole in the member. A light source is positioned on one side of the member and a photocell on the other side to receive light passing through the hole along a given axis corresponding precisely to the coordinate points. A slot is provided between the photocell and hole and extends radially from the given axis beyond the boundary of the hole. By revolving this slot about the said given axis, the photocell will then receive a constant amount of light through the slot for every revolved position only if the hole in the member is exactly centered on the given axis. Any off-centering of the hole from this given axis results in a variable amount of light passing to the photocell from the slot. The resulting variable electrical signal derived from the photocell is then used to actuate servo-motors to move the member in a proper direction to minimize the variations in the signal thereby effecting exact centering of the hole and thus the member at the precise coordinate points.
Inventors
- 👤 R Marantette
- 👤 W Marantette
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:54
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D3/00; G05D3/12; G05D3/14; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/141
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of positioning a member at precise rectangular coordinate points comprising the steps of: a. providing a circular hole in said member; b. providing a light source on one side of said member and a photocell on the other side; c. initially positioning said member such that said light source passes light through said hole to said photocell, the path of light being on an axis normal to said member and located at said precise coordinate points; d. providing a slot between said photocell and hole extending radially from said axis beyond the boundary of said hole; e. revolving said slot about said axis whereby said photocell receives a constant amount of light only when the exact center of said hole in said member coincides with said axis, any off-centering of said hole from said axis resulting in a variable amount of light passing to said cell to result in a variable electrical signal from said cell; and f. moving said member in response to said variable electrical signal in a direction to decrease the variations in said signal whereby when said hole is exactly centered on said axis, said electrical signal no longer varies and movement of said member ceases.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of positioning a member at precise rectangular coordinate points comprising the steps of: a. providing a circular hole in said member; b. providing a light source on one side of said member and a photocell on the other side; c. initially positioning said member such that said light source passes light through said hole to said photocell, the path of light being on an axis normal to said member and located at said precise coordinate points; d. providing a slot between said photocell and hole extending radially from said axis beyond the boundary of said hole; e. revolving said slot about said axis whereby said photocell receives a constant amount of light only when the exact center of said hole in said member coincides with said axis, any off-centering of said hole from said axis resulting in a variable amount of light passing to said cell to result in a variable electrical signal from said cell; and f. moving said member in response to said variable electrical signal in a direction to decrease the variations in said signal whereby when said hole is exactly centered on said axis, said electrical signal no longer varies and movement of said member ceases.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of positioning a member at precise rectangular coordinate points comprising the steps of: a. providing a circular hole in said member; b. providing a light source on one side of said member and a photocell on the other side; c. initially positioning said member such that said light source passes light through said hole to said photocell, the path of light being on an axis normal to said member and located at said precise coordinate points; d. providing a slot between said photocell and hole extending radially from said axis beyond the boundary of said hole; e. revolving said slot about said axis whereby said photocell receives a constant amount of light only when the exact center of said hole in said member coincides with said axis, any offcentering of said hole from said axis resulting in a variable amount of light passing to said cell to result in a variable electrical signal from said cell; and f. moving said member in response to said variable electrical signal in a direction to decrease the variations in said signal whereby when said hole is exactly centered on said axis, said electrical signal no longer varies and movement of said member ceases.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of positioning a member at precise rectangular coordinate points comprising the steps of: a. providing a circular hole in said member; b. providing a light source on one side of said member and a photocell on the other side; c. initially positioning said member such that said light source passes light through said hole to said photocell, the path of light being on an axis normal to said member and located at said precise coordinate points; d. providing a slot between said photocell and hole extending radially from said axis beyond the boundary of said hole; e. revolving said slot about said axis whereby said photocell receives a constant amount of light only when the exact center of said hole in said member coincides with said axis, any offcentering of said hole from said axis resulting in a variable amount of light passing to said cell to result in a variable electrical signal from said cell; and f. moving said member in response to said variable electrical signal in a direction to decrease the variations in said signal whereby when said hole is exactly centered on said axis, said electrical signal no longer varies and movement of said member ceases.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of claim 1, in which said member comprises a master art work having more than one hole, the holes being precisely positioned relative to each other, and including the step of providing a board to be drilled at points spaced relatively to each other in the same manner as the holes in said master art work, said board being connected to said master art work for movement therewith whereby said board is positionable at precise coordinate points defined by the hole positions in said master art work when said hole in said master art work is exactly centered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
281 words
A photoelectric two axis positioning system comprising, in combination: a. a master art work having a circular hole therein; b. a light source on one side of said art work and a photocell on the other side of said art work such that light passes through said hole from said light source to said photocell along a given axis normal to the plane of said art work; c. means defining a slot positioned between said art work and photocell such that only light passing through said slot from said hole reaches said photocell, said slot extending radially from said given axis and passing beyond the boundary of said hole; d. means for revolving said slot about said given axis whereby light from said slot reaching said photocell will be constant for every revolved position of said slot only if the exact center of said hole falls on said given axis, any off-centering of said hole from said given axis resulting in a variable amount of light reaching said photocell over each complete revolution of said slot; e. means connected to said photocell to provide a signal constituting a function of the amount of light received by said photocell at each instant of time, said signal being variable when said amount of light is variable and constant when said amount of light is constant; and f. servo-motor means for moving said master art work connected to be responsive to variations in said signal to move said art work in a direction to minimize the variations in said signal whereby when said art work is moved to exactly center said hole on said given axis, said signal becomes constant and said servo-motor stops.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
281 words
A photoelectric two axis positioning system comprising, in combination: a. a master art work having a circular hole therein; b. a light source on one side of said art work and a photocell on the other side of said art work such that light passes through said hole from said light source to said photocell along a given axis normal to the plane of said art work; c. means defining a slot positioned between said art work and photocell such that only light passing through said slot from said hole reaches said photocell, said slot extending radially from said given axis and passing beyond the boundary of said hole; d. means for revolving said slot about said given axis whereby light from said slot reaching said photocell will be constant for every revolved position of said slot only if the exact center of said hole falls on said given axis, any off-centering of said hole from said given axis resulting in a variable amount of light reaching said photocell over each complete revolution of said slot; e. means connected to said photocell to provide a signal constituting a function of the amount of light received by said photocell at each instant of time, said signal being variable when said amount of light is variable and constant when said amount of light is constant; and f. servo-motor means for moving said master art work connected to be responsive to variations in said signal to move said art work in a direction to minimize the variations in said signal whereby when said art work is moved to exactly center said hole on said given axis, said signal becomes constant and said servo-motor stops.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
A system according to claim 3, in which said master art work includes more than one hole, the holes being precisely positioned relative to each other; a board through which holes are to be drilled at points spaced relatively to each other in tHe same manner as said holes in said master art work, said board being connected to said master art work for movement therewith; and a stationary drill above said board, whereby said drill may be operated to drill a hole in said board after exact centering of a hole in said master art work has taken place thereby positioning said board for drilling at a precise corresponding point on said board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 4, including safety means connected to receive said signal and responsive to said signal exceeding a given valve to render said drill inoperative.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 4, including safety means connected to receive said signal and responsive to variations exceeding a given amplitude to render said drill inoperative.
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) | 1976-02-13 | 1976-08-14 | 1977-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-13 | 1980-08-14 | 1981-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-13 | 1984-08-14 | 1985-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |