US3744915A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photoelectric length measuring apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-12-13
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1991-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A beam from a light source traverses a first diaphragm having a slit therein and then a second diaphragm having different sized openings to form first and second partial beams. The two partial beams go through an inclined partially-transmission partially reflective mirror to a reflective rotor. The reflective rotor is positioned at the focal point of a parabolic reflector strip so that the light therefrom is projected at the focal plane of the strip. At the focal plane is a raster reflector and a cylinder lens. The cylinder lens projects the first partial beam across the area within which is the object to be measured. At the opposite side of that area is a reversing reflector. The reflected partial beams from the reversing reflector and the raster reflector go back via the parabolic reflector, the reflective rotor and the mirror to respective photoelectric receivers. The signal from the receiver getting the first partial beam opens an ''''and'''' gate for the period during which the first partial beam is blocked by the object. The light pulses from the second partial beam produce electrical pulses that go through the ''''and'''' gate for so long as it is open.
Inventors
- 👤 E Sick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:51
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
294 words
In a photoelectric length measuring apparatus for use in determining the length of an object positioned in a field of view, said apparatus comprising a light source, first means for forming a scanning light beam from light from said source and causing said beam to sweep across said field in a direction parallel to said length whereby a first portion of the scanning beam will traverse said field, a second portion will be intercepted by the object for a period of time corresponding to said length followed by a third portion of the scanning beam which will traverse said field, pulse generating means, and signal producing means to receive the first and third portions of the scanning beam and to produce a first signal when the light is intercepted at the end of the first portion and a second signal when the light is established at the beginning of the third portion, and computing means connected to said pulse generating means and to said signal producing means to determine said length of said object, the improvement comprising: a raster reflector comprising a series of reflective and nonreflective areas positioned in sequence along a given line; said first means forming two side by side partial beams a first of which forms said scanning beam and a second of which sweeps said raster reflector along said line, said first means including a first diaphragm constructed as a slit and positioned between said source and said field and said raster reflector, respectively, to form said two partial beams into beams as relatively narrow in the direction of said sweep; said pulse generating means incluDing a photoelectric receiver and optical means to direct the part of the second partial beam reflected from said raster reflector to said receiver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
294 words
In a photoelectric length measuring apparatus for use in determining the length of an object positioned in a field of view, said apparatus comprising a light source, first means for forming a scanning light beam from light from said source and causing said beam to sweep across said field in a direction parallel to said length whereby a first portion of the scanning beam will traverse said field, a second portion will be intercepted by the object for a period of time corresponding to said length followed by a third portion of the scanning beam which will traverse said field, pulse generating means, and signal producing means to receive the first and third portions of the scanning beam and to produce a first signal when the light is intercepted at the end of the first portion and a second signal when the light is established at the beginning of the third portion, and computing means connected to said pulse generating means and to said signal producing means to determine said length of said object, the improvement comprising: a raster reflector comprising a series of reflective and nonreflective areas positioned in sequence along a given line; said first means forming two side by side partial beams a first of which forms said scanning beam and a second of which sweeps said raster reflector along said line, said first means including a first diaphragm constructed as a slit and positioned between said source and said field and said raster reflector, respectively, to form said two partial beams into beams as relatively narrow in the direction of said sweep; said pulse generating means incluDing a photoelectric receiver and optical means to direct the part of the second partial beam reflected from said raster reflector to said receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first means includes, a reflector rotor, a partially reflective partially transmissive mirror positioned at an angle to the axis of the light beam between the diaphragm and the reflector rotor, said first means imaging said slit approximately at said reflector rotor, said signal producing means including a second photoelectric receiver, a reversing reflector positioned at the opposite side of said field from said first means for returning the first and third portions back on themselves through the reflector rotor and to said partially reflective partially transmissive mirror to said second photoelectric receiver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first means includes a second diaphragm positioned between the first diaphragm and the reflector rotor, said second diaphragm having a first opening to pass said first partial beam and a second opening to pass said second partial beam, said first opening being larger than said second opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first means including a parabolic reflector strip having a focal point, said reflector rotor being positioned about at said focal point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said reflector rotor has a spherically concave reflector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said reflector strip has a focal plane, said raster reflector being positioned in said focal plane, a cylinder lens positioned in said focal plane beside said raster reflector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 6, including a third photoelectric receiver positioned in said focal plane at a position to receive a part of said scanning beam at the start of each sweep of said field to produce an electrical output signal for reference purposes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said reflector strip has a focal plane and including a third photoelectric receiver positioned in said focal plane at a position to receive a part of said scanning beam at the start of each sweep of said field to produce an electrical output signal for reference purposes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE1281153B
Cited
US3615139A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |