US3811056A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Velocity sensor
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1972-10-03
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Granted: 1974-05-14
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Expires: 1992-10-03
Abstract
Abstract A sensor for measuring the revolution speed of a rotary element which may be a wheel axle of a motor vehicle. The sensor has a rotary disc which is positioned between light-emissive and lightsensitive means which are aligned with each other. The rotary disc has a number of apertures at its entire periphery, which apertures are successively brought into alignment with the flux of the light projected from the light-emissive means to the light-sensitive means as the disc is driven for rotation in synchronism with the rotary element to be measured. The lightsensitive means thus produces a train of pulses having a frequency related to the revolution speed of the rotary disc. The pulses are fed to an electric circuit arrangement for being shaped and amplified and delivered to a system to be controlled on the thus produced output signals. The circuit arrangement includes means which is adapted to compensate for errors which would otherwise be involved in the output signals where the sensor is subject to variation in the ambient temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 K Baba
- 👤 K Wazawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P1/00; G01P1/006; G01P3/00; G01P3/42; G01P3/44; G01P3/48; G01P3/4802; G01P3/481; G01P3/486
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A velocity sensor for measuring the speed of rotation of a rotating element, comprising: a source of light; light-sensitive means positioned at a spacing from and in alignment with said source of light for producing an electric output when irradiated with light from said source of light; a rotary disc having a multiplicity of substantially uniformly spaced apertures at its entire perimeter and rotatably positioned between said source of light and said lightsensitive means, said rotary disc being driven for rotation at a velocity which is substantially proportional to the speed of rotation of said rotary element, said apertures in the rotary disc being successively aligned with said source of light and said light-sensitive means as the rotary disc rotates for causing said light-sensitive means to produce electric pulses having a frequency determined by the frequency of interception of the light incident on the light-sensitive means; a light-condensing lens which is positioned between said source of light and said rotary disc and in alignment with said lightsensitive means; an optical stop which is positioned between said light-sensitive means and said rotary disc and in alignment with said source of light; and an electric circuit arrangement shaping and amplifying said pulses and compensating errors involved in said pulses as a result of variation in the temperature surrounding said sensor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
A velocity sensor for measuring the speed of rotation of a rotating element, comprising: a source of light; light-sensitive means positioned at a spacing from and in alignment with said source of light for producing an electric output when irradiated with light from said source of light; a rotary disc having a multiplicity of substantially uniformly spaced apertures at its entire perimeter and rotatably positioned between said source of light and said lightsensitive means, said rotary disc being driven for rotation at a velocity which is substantially proportional to the speed of rotation of said rotary element, said apertures in the rotary disc being successively aligned with said source of light and said light-sensitive means as the rotary disc rotates for causing said light-sensitive means to produce electric pulses having a frequency determined by the frequency of interception of the light incident on the light-sensitive means; a light-condensing lens which is positioned between said source of light and said rotary disc and in alignment with said lightsensitive means; an optical stop which is positioned between said light-sensitive means and said rotary disc and in alignment with said source of light; and an electric circuit arrangement shaping and amplifying said pulses and compensating errors involved in said pulses as a result of variation in the temperature surrounding said sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A velocity sensor as claimed in claim 1, in which said electric circuit arrangement comprises an emitter-grounded amplifying circuit connected to an output of said light-sensitive means and an emitter-follower circuit connected to said amplifying circuit and controlling an output impedance of said circuit arrangement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A velocity sensor as claimed in claim 2, in which said emitter-grounded amplifying circuit comprises a transistor having a base electrode which is grounded, the collector electrode of the transistor being connected to a source of power through a resistor and to said emitter-follower circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A velocity sensor as claimed in claim 3, in which said electric circuit arrangement further comprises a thermistor having one terminal connected between the output of said light-sensitive means and the base electrode of said transistor and the other terminal connected to ground.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A velocity sensor as claimed in claim 3, in which said electric circuit arrangement further comprises a diode having an anode terminal connected to the power source through an input of said light-sensitive means and a cathode terminal connected to ground.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A velocity sensor as claimed in claim 1, in which said source of light comprises a light-emissive diode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A velocity sensor as claimed in claim 1, in which said source of light comprises a tungsten-filament light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A velocity sensor as claimed in claim 1, in which said light-sensitive means comprises a photoelectric semiconductor element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A velocity sensor as claimed in claim 8, in which said photoelectric semiconductor element is a solar cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A velocity sensor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a stationary casing and a shaft carrying said rotary shaft and rotatably journalled on said casing, said shaft being driven for rotation with said rotary disc from said rotary element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A velocity sensor as claimed in claim 10, further comprising coupling means for operatively connecting said shaft to said rotary element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A velocity sensor as claimed in claim 1, in which each of said apertures measures 0.2 mm by 1.2 mm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A velocity sensor as claimed in claim 1, in which said apertures are formed by a photo-etching process.
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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) | 1977-05-13 | 1977-11-12 | 1978-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-13 | 1981-11-12 | 1982-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-13 | 1985-11-12 | 1986-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |