Motion displacement transducer

Claim 2

A motion displacement transducer for converting displacement motion into an electrical digital output signal comprising in combination: a. an emitting source of radiant energy; b. sensing means adapted to receive radiation from said source and to emit a discrete electrical signal in response to radiation received; c. one of said source or said sensing means comprising an element array arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern; d. a motion producing means adapted for displacement motion within predetermined distance limits; e. a member impervious to radiation from said source and connected to said motion producing means for conjoint movement therewith; said member being movable in a motion path intermediate said element sensing means and said source for consecutively interrupting radiation therebetween with changing quantities of said elements; and f. logic means to continuously time scan the elements of said array in sequence to obtain a count determination of the number of said elements with which transmission of radiation is being conducted between said source and said sensing means and to electrically emit a ditial output signal correlated to said determination.

Claim 3

A motion displacement transducer according to claim 1 in which said element array comprises said radiation source.

Claim 4

A motion diSplacement transducer according to claim 1 in which said element array comprises said sensing means including a plurality of photosensitive elements.

Claim 5

A motion displacement transducer according to claim 3 in which said radiation source is adapted for pulsed operation.

Claim 6

A motion displacement transducer according to claim 1 in which said motion producing means comprises apparatus means operatively sensitive to condition variables for bidirectional motion displacement in response to sensed condition changes.

Claim 7

A motion displacement transducer according to claim 5 in which said apparatus means is responsively operative to sensed changes in pressure.

Claim 8

A motion displacement transducer according to claim 6 in which said apparatus means comprises a Bourdon tube.

Claim 9

A motion displacement transducer according to claim 5 in which said apparatus is responsively operative to sensed changes in temperature.

Claim 10

A motion displacement transducer according to claim 8 in which said apparatus means comprises a bimetal coil.

Claim 11

A motion displacement transducer for converting displacement motion into an electrical digital output signal comprising in combination: a. motion producing means adapted for displacement motion within predetermined distance limits; b. a radiation impervious member secured to said motion producing means for conjoint movement therewith in a defined motion path; c. an element array arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern and positioned on one side of said motion path generally overextending at least one travel limit thereof; d. operative means positioned on the other side of said motion path generally opposite said array adapted for operative cooperation therewith; e. one of said operative means or the elements of said array comprising an emitting source of radiant energy capable of being transmitted across said motion path to the other and said other comprising sensing means operatively sensitive to radiation received from said source for said member in the course of its movement to consecutively interrupt radiation between changing quantities of the elements of said array; and f. logic means to continuously time scan the elements of said array in sequence to obtain a count determination of the number of said elements with which transmission of radiation is being conducted with said operative means and to electrically emit a digital output signal correlated to said determination.

Claim 12

A motion displacement transducer for converting displacement motion into an electrical digital output signal comprising in combination: a. motion producing means adapted for displacement motion within predetermined distance limits; b. a radiation impervious member secured to said motion producing means for conjoint movement therewith in a defined motion path; c. an element array arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern and positioned on one side of said motion path generally overextending at least one travel limit thereof; d. operative means positioned on the other side of said motion path generally opposite said array adapted for operative cooperation therewith; e. one of said operative means or the elements of said array comprising an emitting source of radiant energy capable of being transmitted across said motion path to the other and said other comprising sensing means operatively sensitive to radiation received from said source for said member in the course of its movement to consecutively interrupt radiation between changing quantities of the elements of said array; and f. logic means to continuously time scan the elements of said array in sequence to obtain a count determination of the number of said elements with which transmission of radiation is being conducted with said operative means and to electrically emit a digital output signal correlated to said determination.

Claim 13

A motion displacement transducer according to claim 10 in which said array elements comprise said radiation source.

Claim 14

A motion displacement transducer according to claim 10 in which said operative means comprises said radiation source.

Claim 15

A motion displacement transducer according to claim 12 in which said operative means comprises a pulsed radiation emitting source.

Claim 16

A motion displacement transducer according to claim 10 in which said motion producing means comprises apparatus means operatively sensitive to condition variables for bidirectional motion displacement in response to sensed condition changes.

Claim 17

A motion displacement transducer according to claim 14 in which said apparatus means is responsively operative to sensed changes in pressure.

Claim 18

A motion displacement transducer according to claim 15 in which said apparatus means comprises a Bourdon tube.

Claim 19

A motion displacement transducer according to claim 14 in which said apparatus is responsively operative to sensed changes in temperature.

Claim 20

A motion displacement transducer according to claim 17 in which said apparatus means comprises a bimetal coil.