US4364046A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotation angle detecting device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-09-11
•
Granted: 1982-12-14
•
Expires: 1999-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A rotation angle detecting device with a pair of variable capacitors which are formed with a rotating object, i.e. a movable electrode, and two stationary electrodes disposed around the rotating object, so that the capacitors operate in a differential mode. Alternatively, the central electrode can be stationary while the two outer electrodes move with the rotating object. The capacitors are combined with oscillators, so that a signal varying with the rotation of the rotating object is provided by obtaining the difference between the output frequencies of the oscillators.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroomi Ogasawara
- 👤 Masaomi Ogasawara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P3/00; G01P3/42; G01P3/44; G01P3/48; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/12; G01D5/14; G01D5/24; G01D5/241; G01D5/2417; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S73/00; Y10S73/01; Y10S73/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A device for measuring the amount of rotation of a rotatable object comprising: (a) sensor means including a first electrode plate; a pair of second electrode plates confronting said first electrode plate and spaced therefrom by a first distance and a second distance respectively to form therewith a pair of capacitors; and means responsive to rotation of the rotatable object for producing relative rotation between (i) said first electrode plate and (ii) said pair of second electrode plates in an eccentric manner to vary the first distance and the second distance differentially so that as the rotatable object rotates the capacitance of one of the capacitors increases while the capacitance of the other of the capacitors correspondingly decreases differentially; (b) two oscillator circuits, each having an associated one of the capacitors incorporated therein as a frequency varying component; and (c) mixer means connected to said two oscillator circuits for providing a frequency difference signal determined by the difference in the frequencies of said two oscillator circuits and indicative of the extent of rotation of the rotatable object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
177 words
A device for measuring the amount of rotation of a rotatable object comprising: (a) sensor means including a first electrode plate; a pair of second electrode plates confronting said first electrode plate and spaced therefrom by a first distance and a second distance respectively to form therewith a pair of capacitors; and means responsive to rotation of the rotatable object for producing relative rotation between (i) said first electrode plate and (ii) said pair of second electrode plates in an eccentric manner to vary the first distance and the second distance differentially so that as the rotatable object rotates the capacitance of one of the capacitors increases while the capacitance of the other of the capacitors correspondingly decreases differentially; (b) two oscillator circuits, each having an associated one of the capacitors incorporated therein as a frequency varying component; and (c) mixer means connected to said two oscillator circuits for providing a frequency difference signal determined by the difference in the frequencies of said two oscillator circuits and indicative of the extent of rotation of the rotatable object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said first electrode plate is an eccentric cam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said first electrode plate is a plate inclined at an acute angle with respect to a line interconnecting the plates of said pair of second electrode plates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising conversion means for converting the frequency difference signal into a signal of a desired type.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A device as claimed in claim 4 in which said conversion means comprises: a pulse generator for converting the frequency difference signal into a pulse signal; an integrator for integrating the pulse signal; a reference voltage source for providing a reference voltage signal having a predetermined value; and comparator means for comparing the reference voltage signal with the output of said integrator to provide an output signal corresponding to the comparison result.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said first electrode plate is adapted to rotate in response to rotation of the rotatable object and said pair of second electrode plates is stationary.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said pair of second electrode plates is adapted to rotate in response to rotation of the rotatable object and said first electrode plate is stationary.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the output frequency of said mixer means is linearly increased or decreased for every unitary amount of relative rotational motion between said first electrode plate and said pair of second electrode plates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for transmitting the outputs of said oscillators by radio wave.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a source of local oscillation frequencies connected to said mixer means for subjecting the outputs of said oscillators to frequency conversion to provide frequency converted signals and means for obtaining a difference frequency signal indicative of the difference between the frequencies of said frequency converted signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2613249A
Cited
US2675540A
Cited
US3307164A
Cited
US3227952A
Cited
US3237447A
Cited
US3221256A
Cited
US3671857A
Cited
US3683402A
Cited
US3702467A
Cited
US3860918A
Cited
US3879660A
Cited
US3938077A
Cited
US3990005A
Cited
US4227182A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-12-13 | 1986-06-14 | 1986-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-13 | 1990-06-14 | 1990-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-13 | 1994-06-14 | 1994-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |