US3899247A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical position indicator
Assignee: Jos Schneider Optische Werke GmbH
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Filing: 1973-12-03
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Granted: 1975-08-12
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Expires: 1993-12-03
Abstract
Abstract To indicate the position of a gauge, measuring rod or similar implement, a scale carrier mechanically coupled with that implement bears two sets of light-transmissive (i.e. transparent or reflective) areas aligned in the direction of displacement, the areas of at least one set being numerals or other distinctively shaped characters representing different measuring positions. In each measuring position an area of one set is aligned with an associated area of the other set in a common optical path including one or more ray-transposing reflectors so positioned that the images of the two areas, as focused by an objective in that path upon a display surface, move in opposite directions upon a displacement of the scale carrier. In a simple case, the areas of one set are small windows or mirrors acting as localized light emitters; for greater precision, they are the laterally reversed counterparts of the characters represented by the areas of the other set.
Inventors
- 👤 Werner Faller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B9/00; G01B9/08; G01B11/00; G01B11/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
A position indicator comprising: a scale carrier displaceable in at least one dimension into a suscession of discrete operating positions, said carrier being provided with correlated first and second sets of lighttransmissive areas on a contrasting background, the areas of each set following one another in a direction of displacement of said carrier; optical means forming a light path with an incoming branch and an outgoing branch respectively aligned in any of said operating positions with an individual area of said first set and with an associated area of said second set respectively correlated therewith, at least one of the two areas simultaneously disposed in said light path forming an alphanumerical symbol characterizing the particular operating position defined by the coincidence of said two areas in said light path; image-receiving means forming a display surface in line with said outgoing branch of said light path; and a source of light in line with said incoming branch of said light path for illuminating an area of said first set in each of said operating positions; said optical means including projection means for superposing the image of an illuminated area of said first set upon the associated area of said second set in any operating position to focus the superposed images of said illuminated area and said associated area upon said display surface, and ray-transposing means for shifting said superposed images in opposite directions on said display surfaces upon displacement of said scale carrier whereby said images register with each other only in the corresponding operating position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
A position indicator comprising: a scale carrier displaceable in at least one dimension into a suscession of discrete operating positions, said carrier being provided with correlated first and second sets of lighttransmissive areas on a contrasting background, the areas of each set following one another in a direction of displacement of said carrier; optical means forming a light path with an incoming branch and an outgoing branch respectively aligned in any of said operating positions with an individual area of said first set and with an associated area of said second set respectively correlated therewith, at least one of the two areas simultaneously disposed in said light path forming an alphanumerical symbol characterizing the particular operating position defined by the coincidence of said two areas in said light path; image-receiving means forming a display surface in line with said outgoing branch of said light path; and a source of light in line with said incoming branch of said light path for illuminating an area of said first set in each of said operating positions; said optical means including projection means for superposing the image of an illuminated area of said first set upon the associated area of said second set in any operating position to focus the superposed images of said illuminated area and said associated area upon said display surface, and ray-transposing means for shifting said superposed images in opposite directions on said display surfaces upon displacement of said scale carrier whereby said images register with each other only in the corresponding operating position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A position indicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said scale carrier is displaceable in two orthogonal directions, the areas aligned with said branches in any operating position being divided into two pairs of characters representing two-dimensional co-ordinates of the operating position, said two pairs of characters being disposed at respective corners of a square with corresponding characters located in mutually inverted positions at diagonally opposite corners of the square.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A position indicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said projection means includes a first projector in an intermediate portion of said light path between said areas and a second projector between said scale carrier and said display surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A position indicator as defined in claim 3 wherein said second projector is a magnifying objective.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A position indicator as defined in claim 3 wherein said ray-transposing means comprises a reflector in casade with said first projector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A position indicator as defined in claim 5 wherein said first projector is disposed in said incoming branch ahead of said reflector for magnifying the image of said illuminated area as superposed upon said associated area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A position indicator as defined in claim 5 wherein said first projector comprises a lens positioned for traversal by light rays from said source impinging upon and reflected by said mirror.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A position indicator as defined in claim 3 wherein said scale carrier is divided into two rigidly interconnected sections respectively bearing said first and said second set of light-transmissive areas, said ray-transposing means being part of said first projector, the latter being interposed between said sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A position indicator as defined in claim 8 wherein said sections are disks rotatably mounted on a common shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A position indicator as defined in claim 1 wherein the illuminated areas of said first set represent alphanumerical symbols in a predetermined position and the correlated areas of said second set respectively represent the same alphanumerical symbols in a relatively laterally reversed position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2556871A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |