US3947843A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrangement for preventing ambiguity in digital displacement measuring apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-03-30
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Granted: 1976-03-30
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Expires: 1993-03-30
Abstract
Abstract The displacement of a first element relative to a second element in a predetermined direction is measured by a code display which has sets of code markings, each set representing a predetermined unit of displacement, spaced at predetermined distances from each other in said predetermined direction. The code display also has control markings each of which indicates the center of the set of code markings taken in the predetermined direction. Transducers sense the code markings and the control markings and furnish, respectively, corresponding data and control signals. An output circuit furnishes output signals corresponding to the data signals only upon simultaneous receipt of the control signals and the data signals, thereby assuring that the read-out means are substantially at the center of the code markings during read-out. The output signals may be stored until receipt of the next subsequent control signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Shelley M. Presentey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:05
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/12; H03M1/22; H03M1/24; H03M1/28; H03M1/30; H03M1/308; H03M1/303; H03M1/305
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
Displacement measuring apparatus for measuring displacement in a predetermined direction of a first element relative to a second element, comprising, in combination, code display means coupled to said first element, said code display means having a plurality of digital code markings each representing a predetermined unit of displacement spaced at predetermined distances from each other in said predetermined direction, said code display means further having control markings arranged in predetermined positions relative to said code markings; read-out means coupled to said second element and comprising code read-out means and control read-out means mounted in predetermined positions relative to each other, for respectively reading out code markings and control markings passing in operative proximity thereto and furnishing corresponding data and control signals; means for providing said control signals only when said code readout means are positioned relative to the central portion of said code markings; output circuit means connected to said read-out means for furnishing output signals corresponding to said data signals only upon receipt of said control signal and for storing said output signals until receipt of the next-subsequent one of said control signals thereby furnishing stored output signals; a plurality of light sources connected to said output circuit means for energization by said stored output signals; camera means for photographing said light sources, said camera means having a shutter and secondary optics for recording said light from said light sources; means for furnishing a shutter signal when said shutter is travelling across said secondary optics; and gating means interconnected between said means for furnishing a shutter signal, said control read-out means, and said output circuit means for furnishing said control signals to said output circuit means only in the presence of said control signals and the absence of said shutter signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
Displacement measuring apparatus for measuring displacement in a predetermined direction of a first element relative to a second element, comprising, in combination, code display means coupled to said first element, said code display means having a plurality of digital code markings each representing a predetermined unit of displacement spaced at predetermined distances from each other in said predetermined direction, said code display means further having control markings arranged in predetermined positions relative to said code markings; read-out means coupled to said second element and comprising code read-out means and control read-out means mounted in predetermined positions relative to each other, for respectively reading out code markings and control markings passing in operative proximity thereto and furnishing corresponding data and control signals; means for providing said control signals only when said code readout means are positioned relative to the central portion of said code markings; output circuit means connected to said read-out means for furnishing output signals corresponding to said data signals only upon receipt of said control signal and for storing said output signals until receipt of the next-subsequent one of said control signals thereby furnishing stored output signals; a plurality of light sources connected to said output circuit means for energization by said stored output signals; camera means for photographing said light sources, said camera means having a shutter and secondary optics for recording said light from said light sources; means for furnishing a shutter signal when said shutter is travelling across said secondary optics; and gating means interconnected between said means for furnishing a shutter signal, said control read-out means, and said output circuit means for furnishing said control signals to said output circuit means only in the presence of said control signals and the absence of said shutter signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said code markings has a predetermined width extending in said predetermined direction and a predetermined central portion within said width wherein read-out is unambiguous; and wherein said control markings are positioned relative to said code markings in such a manner that said output signals are furnished only when said predetermined positions of said read-out means relative to said code markings are within said predetermined central portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said code read-out means are aligned with said control read-out means in a direction perpendicular to said predetermined direction; and wherein said code markings are displaced a predetermined distance from said control markings in said predetermined direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said code markings are aligned with said control markings in a direction perpendicular to said predetermined direction; and wherein said control read-out means are displaced a predetermined distance relative to said code read-out means in said predetermined direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said code markings has a predetermined width extending in said predetermined direction; and wherein said control markings are positioned relative to said code markings in such a manner that said control signals are furnished only when said read-out means is substantially at the geometric center of said code markings in said predetermined direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said predetermined units of displacement is further represented by a second plurality of code markings arranged in a direction perpendicular to said predetermined direction; and wherein said code read-out means comprise a plurality of code read-out means corresponding in number to said second plurality of code markings and arranged in a direction perpendicular to said predetermined directions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said control markings has a leading edge positioned for indicating a predetermined position within said predetermined central portion of a corresponding one of said code markings; and wherein said control read-out means comprise differentiating circuit means for furnishing said control signals in response to said leading edges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said control markings has a width in said predetermined direction corresponding to said width of said code markings, whereby each of said control markings has a trailing edge for indicating the corresponding predetermined position of the next subsequent one of said code markings; and wherein said differentiating circuit means furnish said control signals in response to said leading edges and said trailing edges of said code markings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said read-out means comprise photoelectric read-out means; and wherein said code markings and said control markings comprise light-transmissive slots.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said output circuit means comprise a plurality of flip-flops each having a data input connected to a corresponding one of said code read-out means, a clock input connected to said control read-out means and an output connected to said clock and data inputs in such a manner that said output changes state only upon simultaneous receipt of a signal at said data and clock inputs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said plurality of light sources comprise a plurality of light sources each connected to a corresponding one of said flip-flop outputs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein each of said light sources is a light-emitting diode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said gating means comprise a NAND-gate having a first input connected to the output of said control read-out means, a second input connected to said means for furnishing a shutter signal and an output connected to said clock inputs of said flip-flops.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control read-out means comprise transducer means for sensing said control markings and furnishing corresponding electrical control signals; Schmitt trigger means connected to said transducer means for shaping said electrical control signals into substantially rectangular signals; and differentiator circuit means for differentiating said substantially rectangular signals, said so-differentiated signals constituting said control signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, further comprising inverter means connected to the output of said Schmitt trigger means; and wherein said differentiator circuit means comprise first differentiator circuit means connected to said Schmitt trigger means, first diode means connected to the output of said first differentiator circuit means, second differentiator circuit means connected to the output of said inverter means, second diode means connected to the output of said second differentiator circuit means, and means directly connecting the output of said first diode means to the output of said second diode means.
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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) | 1979-03-30 | 1979-09-29 | 1980-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-30 | 1983-09-29 | 1984-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-30 | 1987-09-29 | 1988-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |