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US4061966A
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Method and apparatus for generating a continuous magnetic field determining the position of an inductive sensing element therein
Assignee: Czech Academy of Sciences
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Filing: 1976-01-19
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Granted: 1977-12-06
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Expires: 1996-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A technique for sensing the relative position of a cursor or other indicator integral with an inductive sensing element along at least one coordinate of a specified area is described. An array of conductors are sequentially arranged along the coordinate and are sequentially excited by a sequence of adjacent, substantially rectangular voltage pulses to yield an overlapping current distribution to simulate a continuous travelling-wave magnetic field along the coordinate. The induced voltage response of the sensing element is a continuous wave form which passes through a predetermined level at a time, relative to the start of movement of the travelling wave magnetic field, that is indicative of the relative position of the element along the coordinate. A threshold detector element which outpulses an indication upon the attainment of such specified value of induced voltage response is coupled, along with a signal indicative of the start of excitation of the conductors, to suitable digital comparison circuitry to yield a position read-out of the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Pavel Sedlacek
- 👤 Jiri Hajek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 02:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/046; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/004; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/12; G01D5/14; G01D5/20; G01D5/204; G01D5/2073
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
In a method of electromagnetically determining the relative position of an inductive sensing element along a specified first direction, the method comprising the steps of exciting an array of parallel conductors sequentially arranged in the first direction and disposed in magnetic coupling relation with the sensing element with current pulses to vary the induced voltage response of the sensing element, and measuring the time of occurrence of a prescribed value of such induced voltage with respect to the start of an excitation interval of the conductors as a measure of the distance, in the first direction, of the sensing element from a reference point, the improvement wherein the excitation step comprises energizing the conductors by a consecutive sequence of adjacent substantially rectangular voltage pulses to yield a resultant substantially continuous, travelling-wave magnetic field along the first direction to produce a correspondingly continuous induced voltage response in the sensing element and in which the measuring step comprises determining the instant relative to the start of the energization of the conductors at which the continuous voltage response induced in the sensing means reaches a predetermined value in a prescribed sense.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
In a method of electromagnetically determining the relative position of an inductive sensing element along a specified first direction, the method comprising the steps of exciting an array of parallel conductors sequentially arranged in the first direction and disposed in magnetic coupling relation with the sensing element with current pulses to vary the induced voltage response of the sensing element, and measuring the time of occurrence of a prescribed value of such induced voltage with respect to the start of an excitation interval of the conductors as a measure of the distance, in the first direction, of the sensing element from a reference point, the improvement wherein the excitation step comprises energizing the conductors by a consecutive sequence of adjacent substantially rectangular voltage pulses to yield a resultant substantially continuous, travelling-wave magnetic field along the first direction to produce a correspondingly continuous induced voltage response in the sensing element and in which the measuring step comprises determining the instant relative to the start of the energization of the conductors at which the continuous voltage response induced in the sensing means reaches a predetermined value in a prescribed sense.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
163 words
In an apparatus including an array of parallel conductors sequentilly arranged transversally in a first direction for sensing the relative position, in such first direction, of an inductive sensing element disposed in magnetic coupling relation to the array of conductors, means for generating a sequence of adjacent substantially rectangular voltage pulses, means for exciting successive ones of the conductors in the array with successively adjacent ones of the voltage pulses to produce in said conductors an overlapping current distribution which yields a substantially continuous, travelling-wave magnetic field along the first direction to correspondingly generate a continuous induced voltage response of the sensing means, threshhold circuit means coupled to the output of the sensing means for producing an output indication when the continuous induced voltage response of the sensing means reaches a predetermined value in a prescribed sense, and means for detecting the interval between the start of excitation of the conductors and the occurrence of the output indication from the threshhold circuit means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
163 words
In an apparatus including an array of parallel conductors sequentilly arranged transversally in a first direction for sensing the relative position, in such first direction, of an inductive sensing element disposed in magnetic coupling relation to the array of conductors, means for generating a sequence of adjacent substantially rectangular voltage pulses, means for exciting successive ones of the conductors in the array with successively adjacent ones of the voltage pulses to produce in said conductors an overlapping current distribution which yields a substantially continuous, travelling-wave magnetic field along the first direction to correspondingly generate a continuous induced voltage response of the sensing means, threshhold circuit means coupled to the output of the sensing means for producing an output indication when the continuous induced voltage response of the sensing means reaches a predetermined value in a prescribed sense, and means for detecting the interval between the start of excitation of the conductors and the occurrence of the output indication from the threshhold circuit means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which the sensing means is disposed in spaced relation to the array of conductors along the first direction, and in which the apparatus further comprises a continuous conductive plate disposed in magnetic coupling relation to and intermediate the sensing means and the array of conductors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which the means for generating a sequence of adjacent substantially rectangular voltage pulses comprise a clock pulse generator and the exciting means comprises, in combination, a binary counter, means for coupling the output of the clock pulse generator to the count input of the binary counter, means coupled to the inputs of the successive conductors of the array for distributing pulses applied to such distributing means to such conductor inputs, and means for applying at least one output of the binary counter to the input of the distributing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, in which the distributing means comprises means for serially routing pulses applied to its input to the inputs of the successive conductors in the array, and in which the applying means comprises means for coupling the lowest order output of the binary counter to the inut of the routing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, in which the distributing means comprises means including a succession of inputs for individually routing pulses applied to said succession of inputs to associated successive ones of the inputs of the array conductors, and in which the applying means comprises means for coupling successively higher order outputs of the binary counter to successive ones of the inputs of the routing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, in which the interval detecting means comprises, in combination, a serial-input binary register, a gate, means for coupling the output of the clock pulse generator to the main input of the gate, means for coupling the output of the gate to the input of the binary register, and means coupling the output of the threshold circuit means to the control input of the gate for inhibiting said gate on the occurrence of an output from said threshold circuit means and thereby stopping the accumulated count in said register which is a measure of the position of said sensing element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, in which the interval detecting means comprises, in combination, a parallel-input binary register having an auxiliary inhibiting input, means for coupling successively higher order outputs of the binary counter to successively higher order inputs of the binary register, and means coupling the output of the threshold circuit means to the auxiliary inhibiting input of the binary register for inhibiting said binary register on the occurrence of an output from said threshold circuit means thereby stopping the accumulated count in said binary register which is a measure of the position of said sensing element.
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) | 1980-12-05 | 1981-06-06 | 1981-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-05 | 1985-06-06 | 1985-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-05 | 1989-06-06 | 1989-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |