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US5317614A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Programmable electronic angular position indicator based upon engineering units

Assignee: Teridian Semiconductor Corp
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Filing: 1992-08-26
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Granted: 1994-05-31
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Expires: 2012-08-26
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Abstract

Abstract A programmable, electronic, angular position indicator, based upon engineering units, estimates the angular displacement of a rotating rotor. The angular position indicator is programmed with the particular arrangement of teeth (or other markings) on the rotor. Intermediate angular displacements are interpolated between a limited number of positive angular displacement indications. Offsets, due to acceleration or deceleration of the rotor, are corrected at each positive angular displacement indication without skipping the output of each interpolated angular displacement. Angular displacement is determined in standard engineering units.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard D. Davis
  • 👤 Jeff Kotowski

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 03:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/12; G01D5/244; G01D5/24404; G01D5/249; G01D5/2492

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 117 words
A circuit comprising: a detector for detecting the presence and absence of a reference marking on a rotating rotor, said detector outputting a first signal when the presence of a reference marking is detected; an interpolator coupled to said detector, said interpolator responsive to said first signal, said interpolator outputting a maximum of N interpolated position pulses between occurrences of said first signal, where the value of N changes and is dependent on angular distance between said reference markings; an angle counter coupled to said interpolator, said angle counter responsive to said first signal and to said interpolated position pulses and generating an angle position signal indicating angular position of said rotor relative to said reference marking.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 117 words
A circuit comprising: a detector for detecting the presence and absence of a reference marking on a rotating rotor, said detector outputting a first signal when the presence of a reference marking is detected; an interpolator coupled to said detector, said interpolator responsive to said first signal, said interpolator outputting a maximum of N interpolated position pulses between occurrences of said first signal, where the value of N changes and is dependent on angular distance between said reference markings; an angle counter coupled to said interpolator, said angle counter responsive to said first signal and to said interpolated position pulses and generating an angle position signal indicating angular position of said rotor relative to said reference marking.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
The circuit of claim 1 wherein said interpolator includes correction means for detecting acceleration and deceleration of said rotor and for controlling a rate of output of said interpolated position pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
The circuit of claim 1 wherein said value of N is programmed in said interpolator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
The circuit of claim 1 wherein said angle position signals are in engineering units.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 125 words
A method of providing angular position signals corresponding to an angular position of a rotating rotor, said rotating rotor having a plurality of reference markings thereon, said method comprising the steps of: using a detector, detecting the presence and absence of a reference marking on a rotating rotor; outputting a first signal when the presence of a reference marking is detected; using an interpolator responsive to said first signal, outputting a maximum of N interpolated position pulses between occurrences of said first signal, where the value of N changes and is dependent on angular distance between said reference markings; using an angle counter responsive to said first signal and to said interpolated position pulses, generating an angle position signal indicating angular position of said rotor.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 125 words
A method of providing angular position signals corresponding to an angular position of a rotating rotor, said rotating rotor having a plurality of reference markings thereon, said method comprising the steps of: using a detector, detecting the presence and absence of a reference marking on a rotating rotor; outputting a first signal when the presence of a reference marking is detected; using an interpolator responsive to said first signal, outputting a maximum of N interpolated position pulses between occurrences of said first signal, where the value of N changes and is dependent on angular distance between said reference markings; using an angle counter responsive to said first signal and to said interpolated position pulses, generating an angle position signal indicating angular position of said rotor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said interpolator includes correction means for detecting acceleration and deceleration of said rotor and for controlling a rate of output of said interpolated position pulses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said value of N is programmed in said interpolator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said angle position signals are in engineering units.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 285 words
A circuit comprising: a detector for detecting the presence and absence of a reference marking on a rotating rotor, said detector outputting a first signal when the presence of a reference marking is detected; a high frequency clock generator for generating a clock signal of frequency F1; an interpolated angle clock coupled to said detector and to said high frequency clock generator, said interpolated angle clock responsive to said first signal and said clock signal, said interpolated angle clock outputting a maximum of N interpolated pulses between occurrences of said first signal at a rate dependent on the rate of occurrence of said first signal; a correcting circuit coupled to said detector, said interpolated angle clock and to said high frequency clock, said correcting circuit responsive to said first signal, said interpolated pulses and to said clock signal, said correcting circuit outputting a corrected interpolated pulse signal, and adding additional corrected interpolated pulse signals when necessary until the number of additional corrected interpolated pulse signals is equal to the number of interpolated pulses that have occurred since the last occurrence of said first signal; a programmable delta angle counter coupled to said correcting circuit, said programmable delta angle counter responsive to said corrected interpolated pulse signal, said programmable delta angle counter for counting said corrected interpolated pulse signals and causing said correcting circuit to provide additional corrected interpolated pulse signals so that N corrected interpolated pulse signals are provided after each occurrence of said first signal; an angle counter coupled to said correcting circuit and to said programmable delta angle counter, said angle counter responsive to said corrected interpolated pulse signal, said angle counter outputting angle position signals indicative of angular position of said rotor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 285 words
A circuit comprising: a detector for detecting the presence and absence of a reference marking on a rotating rotor, said detector outputting a first signal when the presence of a reference marking is detected; a high frequency clock generator for generating a clock signal of frequency F1; an interpolated angle clock coupled to said detector and to said high frequency clock generator, said interpolated angle clock responsive to said first signal and said clock signal, said interpolated angle clock outputting a maximum of N interpolated pulses between occurrences of said first signal at a rate dependent on the rate of occurrence of said first signal; a correcting circuit coupled to said detector, said interpolated angle clock and to said high frequency clock, said correcting circuit responsive to said first signal, said interpolated pulses and to said clock signal, said correcting circuit outputting a corrected interpolated pulse signal, and adding additional corrected interpolated pulse signals when necessary until the number of additional corrected interpolated pulse signals is equal to the number of interpolated pulses that have occurred since the last occurrence of said first signal; a programmable delta angle counter coupled to said correcting circuit, said programmable delta angle counter responsive to said corrected interpolated pulse signal, said programmable delta angle counter for counting said corrected interpolated pulse signals and causing said correcting circuit to provide additional corrected interpolated pulse signals so that N corrected interpolated pulse signals are provided after each occurrence of said first signal; an angle counter coupled to said correcting circuit and to said programmable delta angle counter, said angle counter responsive to said corrected interpolated pulse signal, said angle counter outputting angle position signals indicative of angular position of said rotor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 14 words
The circuit of claim 9 wherein said angle position signals are in engineering units.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 11 words
The circuit of claim 9 wherein N is a programmable value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 16 words
The circuit of claim 9 wherein said correcting circuit monitors acceleration and deceleration of said rotor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 18 words
The circuit of claim 9 wherein N changes and is dependent on angular distance between said reference markings.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 243 words
A method of providing angular position signals corresponding to an angular position of a rotating rotor, said rotating rotor having a plurality of reference markings thereon, said method comprising the steps of: using a detector, detecting the presence and absence of a reference marking on said rotating rotor; outputting a first signal when the presence of a reference marking is detected; using a high frequency clock generator, generating a clock signal of frequency F1; using an interpolated angle clock responsive to said first signal and said clock signal, outputting a maximum of N interpolated pulses between occurrences of said first signal at a rate dependent on the rate of occurrence of said first signal; using a correcting circuit responsive to said first signal, said interpolated pulses and to said clock signal, for outputting a corrected interpolated pulse signal; using a programmable delta angle counter responsive to said corrected interpolated pulse signal, for counting said corrected interpolated pulse signals; adding additional corrected interpolated pulse signals so that N corrected interpolated pulse signals are provided after each occurrence of said first signal; adding additional corrected interpolated pulse signals when necessary until the number of additional corrected interpolated pulse signals is equal to the number of interpolated pulses that have occurred since the last occurrence of said first signal; using an angle counter responsive to said first signal and to said interpolated position pulses, for generating an angle position signal indicating angular position of said rotor.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 243 words
A method of providing angular position signals corresponding to an angular position of a rotating rotor, said rotating rotor having a plurality of reference markings thereon, said method comprising the steps of: using a detector, detecting the presence and absence of a reference marking on said rotating rotor; outputting a first signal when the presence of a reference marking is detected; using a high frequency clock generator, generating a clock signal of frequency F1; using an interpolated angle clock responsive to said first signal and said clock signal, outputting a maximum of N interpolated pulses between occurrences of said first signal at a rate dependent on the rate of occurrence of said first signal; using a correcting circuit responsive to said first signal, said interpolated pulses and to said clock signal, for outputting a corrected interpolated pulse signal; using a programmable delta angle counter responsive to said corrected interpolated pulse signal, for counting said corrected interpolated pulse signals; adding additional corrected interpolated pulse signals so that N corrected interpolated pulse signals are provided after each occurrence of said first signal; adding additional corrected interpolated pulse signals when necessary until the number of additional corrected interpolated pulse signals is equal to the number of interpolated pulses that have occurred since the last occurrence of said first signal; using an angle counter responsive to said first signal and to said interpolated position pulses, for generating an angle position signal indicating angular position of said rotor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said angle position signals are in engineering units.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 14 wherein N is a programmable value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said correcting circuit monitors acceleration and deceleration of said rotor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 14 wherein N changes and is dependent on angular distance between said reference markings.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4897647A Cited
US4951300A Cited
US5202842A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-05-30 1997-11-29 1998-05-31 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-05-30 2001-11-29 2002-05-31 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-05-30 2005-11-29 2006-05-31 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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