US3833808A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Deflection angle measuring apparatus and method
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1973-02-15
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Granted: 1974-09-03
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Expires: 1993-02-15
Abstract
Abstract In an apparatus for measuring the rotation angle of a rotatable member, the rotation angle is measured as a function of the time required for a uniformly rotating object to rotate through the angle of deflection. An optical electrical system is employed to optically detect the deflection angle and electronically count the number of pulses of a reference oscillator signal which occur during the time required to uniformly rotate through the detected angle. A display device is calibrated to display the count of the counter in actual units of angular rotation.
Inventors
- 👤 H Armand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:28
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/26; G01D5/28; G01D5/30; G01L; G01L9/00; G01L9/0026; G01L9/0032; G01R; G01R17/00; G01R17/02; G01R17/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
In an apparatus for the measurement of the deflection angle of a rotatable member, the combination comprising a. a first mirror having both sides reflective, b. motor means coupled to rotate said first mirror along the circumference of a circle at a uniform rate of speed, c. a second member connected to said rotatable member and located at the center of said circle to be rotated in position corresponding to the deflection angle of said rotatable member, d. first light source and photoelectric detector so positioned that as said first mirror passes through a zero deflection position, light from said first source will be reflected by said first mirror back to said first detector causing a first electrical pulse, e. second light source and photoelectric detector so positioned that as said first mirror passes through a deflected position, light from said second source will be reflected by said second mirror then by said first mirror, then by said second mirror back to said second detector causing a second electrical pulse such that the time delay between said first and second electrical pulses is directly proportional to the deflection angle of said rotatable member, f. oscillator means for providing a reference signal and coupled to control the speed of said motor means, g. counting means for counting the number of pulses of said reference signal which occur between the occurrence of said first and second electrical pulses, and h. display means for displaying the count of the counting means in pressure units.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
In an apparatus for the measurement of the deflection angle of a rotatable member, the combination comprising a. a first mirror having both sides reflective, b. motor means coupled to rotate said first mirror along the circumference of a circle at a uniform rate of speed, c. a second member connected to said rotatable member and located at the center of said circle to be rotated in position corresponding to the deflection angle of said rotatable member, d. first light source and photoelectric detector so positioned that as said first mirror passes through a zero deflection position, light from said first source will be reflected by said first mirror back to said first detector causing a first electrical pulse, e. second light source and photoelectric detector so positioned that as said first mirror passes through a deflected position, light from said second source will be reflected by said second mirror then by said first mirror, then by said second mirror back to said second detector causing a second electrical pulse such that the time delay between said first and second electrical pulses is directly proportional to the deflection angle of said rotatable member, f. oscillator means for providing a reference signal and coupled to control the speed of said motor means, g. counting means for counting the number of pulses of said reference signal which occur between the occurrence of said first and second electrical pulses, and h. display means for displaying the count of the counting means in pressure units.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
283 words
In an apparatus for measuring the deflection angle of a rotatable member, the combination comprising a. a first mirror, b. motor means coupled to rotate said first mirror along the circumference of a circle at a uniform rate of speed, c. a second mirror connected to said rotatable member and located at the center of said circle to be rotated in position corresponding to the deflection angle of said rotatable member, d. a third mirror fixed in position at the center of said circle, e. a light source and photoelectric detector so positioned that as said first mirror passes through a start position, light from said source is reflected by said third mirror, then by said first mirror, then by said third mirror back to said detector causing a start electrical pulse and as said first mirror passes through a deflected position light from said source is reflected by said second mirror, then by said first mirror, then by said second mirror back to said detector causing a stop electrical pulse such that the time of occurrence of said stop pulse is indicative of the deflection angle of said rotatable member, f. oscillator means coupled to control the speed of said motor means and to provide a reference signal, g. counting means for counting the number of pulses of said reference signal which occur between the occurrence of said start and stop pulse, h. means for subtracting from the count of said counter the number of pulses of said reference signal that occur while said first mirror travels from said start position to the zero deflection position, and i. display means for displaying the corrected count of said counting means in deflection units.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
283 words
In an apparatus for measuring the deflection angle of a rotatable member, the combination comprising a. a first mirror, b. motor means coupled to rotate said first mirror along the circumference of a circle at a uniform rate of speed, c. a second mirror connected to said rotatable member and located at the center of said circle to be rotated in position corresponding to the deflection angle of said rotatable member, d. a third mirror fixed in position at the center of said circle, e. a light source and photoelectric detector so positioned that as said first mirror passes through a start position, light from said source is reflected by said third mirror, then by said first mirror, then by said third mirror back to said detector causing a start electrical pulse and as said first mirror passes through a deflected position light from said source is reflected by said second mirror, then by said first mirror, then by said second mirror back to said detector causing a stop electrical pulse such that the time of occurrence of said stop pulse is indicative of the deflection angle of said rotatable member, f. oscillator means coupled to control the speed of said motor means and to provide a reference signal, g. counting means for counting the number of pulses of said reference signal which occur between the occurrence of said start and stop pulse, h. means for subtracting from the count of said counter the number of pulses of said reference signal that occur while said first mirror travels from said start position to the zero deflection position, and i. display means for displaying the corrected count of said counting means in deflection units.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The deflection angle measuring apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a second light source and photoelectric detector so positioned that as said first mirror passes through a predetermined synchronization position light from said second source is reflected by said third mirror, then by said first mirror, then by said third mirror back to said second detector causing a synchronization electrical pulse.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of measuring the deflection angle of a rotatable member having a first mirror attached thereto, comprising, a. rotating a second mirror, reflective on a first and on a second side at a uniform rate of speed about said rotatable member, b. providing a first light beam from a first fixed position to reflect from said firsT side to a first light detector at said first fixed position to provide a first pulse defining a zero deflection angle, c. providing a second light beam from a second fixed position to reflect from said first mirror to said second side, d. providing a second light detector for receiving said second light beam from said second side to provide a second pulse, when activated by passing through a position corresponding to the deflection angle, and e. measuring the time between the occurrence of said first and second pulses by electronically counting the number of oscillations of a reference oscillator signal which occur between the first and second pulses.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of measuring the deflection angle of a rotatable member having a first mirror attached thereto, comprising, a. rotating a second mirror, reflective on a first and on a second side at a uniform rate of speed about said rotatable member, b. providing a first light beam from a first fixed position to reflect from said firsT side to a first light detector at said first fixed position to provide a first pulse defining a zero deflection angle, c. providing a second light beam from a second fixed position to reflect from said first mirror to said second side, d. providing a second light detector for receiving said second light beam from said second side to provide a second pulse, when activated by passing through a position corresponding to the deflection angle, and e. measuring the time between the occurrence of said first and second pulses by electronically counting the number of oscillations of a reference oscillator signal which occur between the first and second pulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of displaying the count of the electronic counter in deflection angle units.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-02 | 1978-03-04 | 1978-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-02 | 1982-03-04 | 1982-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-02 | 1986-03-04 | 1986-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |