Patent US4031386A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4031386A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical transducer encoding apparatus
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1976-06-15
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Granted: 1977-06-21
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Expires: 1996-06-15
Abstract
Abstract An optical transducer encoding system for use with mechanical counting means such as intermittent movement type counting mechanisms is illustrated using a stationary support means thereof as a housing for a plurality of transducers which transmit light to reflective means on the web of each one of a plurality indicia wheels and which light is reflected to optical sensors within the stationary support. All the reflective means are at the same radial distance from the hub of the wheel and the transducers provide an encoded electrical output indicative of the indicia readout.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary B. Recker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/26; G01D5/32; G01D5/34; G01D5/347; G01D5/3473; G06; G06M; G06M1/00; G06M1/27; G06M1/272
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
Conversion apparatus for providing a visual and binary coded electrical output indication of the number of revolutions of a geared mechanical input wherein an indicating section includes: a plurality of wheels each having a hub, a connecting web, and a felly with indicia on an outer surface, a continuous set of gear teeth on an inner surface on one side of the web and a partial set of gear teeth on the inner surface on the other side of the web to drive further conversion sections, and a plurality of stationary members, one for each wheel and mounted intermediate said wheels, cooperating with said wheel to provide a bearing surface for a gear operable to mesh with the partial set of gear teeth of the present section and the continuous set of gear teeth of an adjacent further section, the improvement comprising: a plurality of reflective surfaces situated on said web, each of said surfaces being located at the same radial distance, and a plurality of optical transducers, including light sources, in said stationary member for detecting and outputting encoded binary digital signals indicate of individual ones of several possible rotational positions of said wheel relative to said stationary member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
Conversion apparatus for providing a visual and binary coded electrical output indication of the number of revolutions of a geared mechanical input wherein an indicating section includes: a plurality of wheels each having a hub, a connecting web, and a felly with indicia on an outer surface, a continuous set of gear teeth on an inner surface on one side of the web and a partial set of gear teeth on the inner surface on the other side of the web to drive further conversion sections, and a plurality of stationary members, one for each wheel and mounted intermediate said wheels, cooperating with said wheel to provide a bearing surface for a gear operable to mesh with the partial set of gear teeth of the present section and the continuous set of gear teeth of an adjacent further section, the improvement comprising: a plurality of reflective surfaces situated on said web, each of said surfaces being located at the same radial distance, and a plurality of optical transducers, including light sources, in said stationary member for detecting and outputting encoded binary digital signals indicate of individual ones of several possible rotational positions of said wheel relative to said stationary member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
Encoding apparatus for use with intermitting movement type mechanical counting and visual indicating means comprising, in combination: a plurality of rotatable wheel means each including hub, web and felly portions; a plurality of stationary means, one of each being positioned intermediate adjacent stages of said wheel means and cooperating with said wheel means for providing intermittent mechanical output signals to higher order stages; and a plurality of optical sensor means incorporating in each of said stationary means for detecting the position of said wheel means relative said stationary means and outputting encoded binary digital electrical signals indicative of said position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
Encoding apparatus for use with intermitting movement type mechanical counting and visual indicating means comprising, in combination: a plurality of rotatable wheel means each including hub, web and felly portions; a plurality of stationary means, one of each being positioned intermediate adjacent stages of said wheel means and cooperating with said wheel means for providing intermittent mechanical output signals to higher order stages; and a plurality of optical sensor means incorporating in each of said stationary means for detecting the position of said wheel means relative said stationary means and outputting encoded binary digital electrical signals indicative of said position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising, in addition: indicia on said felly portion of said wheel means, and reflective means on said web portion of said wheel means with all of said reflective means located at the same radial distance from said hub portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said sensor means are optical transducers incorporating LED light sources.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
Position encoding apparatus for use in electrically determining the angular position of a plurality of wheels with respect to a intermediately situated stationary support members, comprising, in combination: a plurality of rotatable wheel means including hub, web and felly portions: a plurality of reflective means on each wheel, each reflective means being located on said web portion at the same distance from said hub portion; a plurality of optical transducer means mounted on each of the support members for transmitting light toward said web means, detecting reflected light as returned by said plurality of reflective means, and providing binary digital encoded output signals indicative of the rotational position of said wheel means relative to said transducer means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
Position encoding apparatus for use in electrically determining the angular position of a plurality of wheels with respect to a intermediately situated stationary support members, comprising, in combination: a plurality of rotatable wheel means including hub, web and felly portions: a plurality of reflective means on each wheel, each reflective means being located on said web portion at the same distance from said hub portion; a plurality of optical transducer means mounted on each of the support members for transmitting light toward said web means, detecting reflected light as returned by said plurality of reflective means, and providing binary digital encoded output signals indicative of the rotational position of said wheel means relative to said transducer means.
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) | 1980-06-20 | 1980-12-20 | 1981-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-20 | 1984-12-20 | 1985-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-20 | 1988-12-20 | 1989-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |