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US3855585A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

System for generating a digital signal indicative of shaft position with automatic error correction

Assignee: Vapor Corp
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Filing: 1973-06-21
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Granted: 1974-12-17
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Expires: 1993-06-21
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Abstract

Abstract A data transmission system for providing from a coarse analog signal representative of the cumulative angular position of a shaft, and from a fine analog signal representative of the noncumulative angular position of the shaft, a digital output indication of the cumulative position of the shaft. The coarse analog signal is utilized to provide the most significant digits and the fine analog signal is utilized to provide the least significant digits of the output display. Error correction means responsive to coarse and fine analog signals are provided for modifying the most significant portion of the output display to compensate for errors therein which may occur as a result of lower resolution in the encoder used to generate the coarse signal.

Inventors

  • 👤 G Stout

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 09:36
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/30; G01F23/40; G01F23/44; H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/10; H03M1/1071; H03M1/12; H03M1/14; H03M1/16

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 347 words
In combination, a data transmission system for providing a digital output signal indicative of the cumulative angular position of a rotatable shaft within a predetermined range of movement in terms of predetermined units of measurement, said digital output signal having a most significant portion indicating the cumulative angular position of said shaft in terms of an integral number of said units of measurement, and a least significant portion indicating only the non-cumulative angular position of said shaft in terms of a fractional portion of one of said units of measurement, said system comprising: means comprising a first encoder responsive to the position of said shaft for providing a first analog data signal indicative of the cumulative position of said shaft within said range of movement; first conversion means responsive to said first analog data signal for producing a first digital data signal indicative of the cumulative position of said shaft in terms of an integral number and a fractional part of said units of measurement, said indication being subject to an error of one of said units of measurement; means comprising a second encoder responsive to the position of said shaft for providing a second analog data signal indicative of the non-cumulative position of said shaft; second conversion means responsive to said second analog data signal for producing a second digital data signal indicative of the non-cumulative position of said shaft in terms of a fractional part of said units of measurement, said indication being subject to an error of less than one of said fractional parts; utilization means responsive to said first digital data signal for providing said most significant portion of said digital output signal and responsive to said second digital data signal for providing said least significant portion of said digital output signal; and error correction means for modifying said first digital data signal according to the data signals from said first and second encoders to compensate for said one unit error, if present, in said first digital data signal, such that said digital output signal accurately reflects the cumulative position of said shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 347 words
In combination, a data transmission system for providing a digital output signal indicative of the cumulative angular position of a rotatable shaft within a predetermined range of movement in terms of predetermined units of measurement, said digital output signal having a most significant portion indicating the cumulative angular position of said shaft in terms of an integral number of said units of measurement, and a least significant portion indicating only the non-cumulative angular position of said shaft in terms of a fractional portion of one of said units of measurement, said system comprising: means comprising a first encoder responsive to the position of said shaft for providing a first analog data signal indicative of the cumulative position of said shaft within said range of movement; first conversion means responsive to said first analog data signal for producing a first digital data signal indicative of the cumulative position of said shaft in terms of an integral number and a fractional part of said units of measurement, said indication being subject to an error of one of said units of measurement; means comprising a second encoder responsive to the position of said shaft for providing a second analog data signal indicative of the non-cumulative position of said shaft; second conversion means responsive to said second analog data signal for producing a second digital data signal indicative of the non-cumulative position of said shaft in terms of a fractional part of said units of measurement, said indication being subject to an error of less than one of said fractional parts; utilization means responsive to said first digital data signal for providing said most significant portion of said digital output signal and responsive to said second digital data signal for providing said least significant portion of said digital output signal; and error correction means for modifying said first digital data signal according to the data signals from said first and second encoders to compensate for said one unit error, if present, in said first digital data signal, such that said digital output signal accurately reflects the cumulative position of said shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
A data transmission system as defined in claim 1 wherein said error correction means include means for comparing a least significant portion of said first digital data signal with a most significant portion of said second digital data signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 40 words
A data transmission system as defined in claim 2 wherein said least significant portion of said first digital data signal and said most significant portion of said second digital data signal are like fractional parts of said units of measurement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
A data transmission system as defined in claim 3 wherein said first and second conversion means comprise analog-to-BCD converters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 61 words
A data transmission system defined in claim 1 wherein said first digital data signal is subject to an error not exceeding + or - 50 percent of said units of measurement, and said error correction means comprise means for adding or subtracting one unit of measurement from the least significant digit of said most significant portion of said digital output signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
A data transmission system as defined in claim 1 wherein said utilization means include display means responsive to said digital output signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 337 words
A data transmission system for providing a digital output signal indicative of the level of a liquid within a liquid storage tank in terms of predetermined units of measurement, said digital output signal having a most significant portion indicating said level in terms of an integral number of said units of measurement, and a least significant portion indicating said level in terms of a fractional portion of said units of measurement, said system comprising, in combination: a direct type liquid float gauge for positioning an output shaft in accordance with the level of said liquid; a first encoder coupled to said output shaft for generating a first analog data signal representative of the cumulative angular position of said shaft; first conversion means for converting said first analog data signal to a first digital data signal indicative of the cumulative angular position of said shaft in terms of an integral number and a fractional part of said predetermined units of measurement; a second encoder coupled to said output shaft for generating a second analog data signal representative only of the non-cumulative angular position of said shaft; second conversion means for converting said second analog data signal to a second digital data signal indicative only of the non-cumulative angular position of said shaft in terms of a fractional part of said predetermined units of measurement; display means responsive to said first and second digital data signals for providing a digital display indicative of the cumulative position of said shaft in terms of said predetermined units of measurement, said digital display having a most significant portion responsive to said first digital data signal and subject to an error of plus one or minus one of said units of measurement, and a least significant portion responsive to said second analog data signal; and error correction means for modifying said first digital data signal according to said first and second digital data signals to compensate for said one unit error, if present, in said most significant portion of said digital output display.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 337 words
A data transmission system for providing a digital output signal indicative of the level of a liquid within a liquid storage tank in terms of predetermined units of measurement, said digital output signal having a most significant portion indicating said level in terms of an integral number of said units of measurement, and a least significant portion indicating said level in terms of a fractional portion of said units of measurement, said system comprising, in combination: a direct type liquid float gauge for positioning an output shaft in accordance with the level of said liquid; a first encoder coupled to said output shaft for generating a first analog data signal representative of the cumulative angular position of said shaft; first conversion means for converting said first analog data signal to a first digital data signal indicative of the cumulative angular position of said shaft in terms of an integral number and a fractional part of said predetermined units of measurement; a second encoder coupled to said output shaft for generating a second analog data signal representative only of the non-cumulative angular position of said shaft; second conversion means for converting said second analog data signal to a second digital data signal indicative only of the non-cumulative angular position of said shaft in terms of a fractional part of said predetermined units of measurement; display means responsive to said first and second digital data signals for providing a digital display indicative of the cumulative position of said shaft in terms of said predetermined units of measurement, said digital display having a most significant portion responsive to said first digital data signal and subject to an error of plus one or minus one of said units of measurement, and a least significant portion responsive to said second analog data signal; and error correction means for modifying said first digital data signal according to said first and second digital data signals to compensate for said one unit error, if present, in said most significant portion of said digital output display.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3007637A Cited
US3148542A Cited
US3188626A Cited
US3648276A Cited
US3683368A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-12-16 1978-06-17 1978-12-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-12-16 1982-06-17 1982-12-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-12-16 1986-06-17 1986-12-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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