Optical displacement sensor utilizing optical diffusion

Claim 2

An optical displacement transducer, comprising: an elongated hollow housing having a central chamber therein; a partition dividing the central chamber into a first portion and a second portion, said partition having a central opening therein; a light emitting means mounted in the first portion of the central chamber; a light receiving means mounted opposite said light emitting means in the first portion of the central chamber; and an axially movable light blocking means extending between the light emitting means and the light receiving means for intermittently, at least partially, blocking the light emitted by said light emitting means.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1, wherein said light blocking means moves between a fully extended position, allowing substantially all light emitted by the light emitting means to travel to the light receiving means, and a second position at least partially blocking the light.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1, further comprising a compressible means positioned within the second portion of the central chamber.

Claim 5

The device of claim 3, wherein said light blocking means has an inner end, and said compressible means contacts said inner end, continuously urging the light blocking means into a fully extended position.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1, wherein said light blocking means comprises an elongated rod having a light transmitting window made adjacent to one of its ends.

Claim 7

The device of claim 5, wherein said central opening is sized and shaped to receive the rod in a sliding engagement therethrough.

Claim 8

The device of claim 5, wherein said housing has a closed end blocked by an end plate having an opening, through which the rod protrudes outwardly from the housing.

Claim 9

The device of claim 5, wherein said elongated rod has an inner end which carries an end plate thereon, said end plate frictionally contacting inner walls of the housing.

Claim 10

The device of claim 8, wherein said end plate contacts the partition, said partition limiting movement of the rod outwardly.

Claim 11

The device of claim 1, wherein said light emitting means comprises a light emitting diode.

Claim 12

The device of claim 10, wherein said diode is an infrared light emitting diode.

Claim 13

The device of claim 10, wherein said light emitting means further comprises an emitter light pipe housing the light emitting diode therein.

Claim 14

The device of claim 12, wherein said emitter light pipe has a surface which faces the light blocking means, said surface having a translucent portion allowing light to travel out of the emitter light pipe.

Claim 15

The device of claim 1, wherein said light receiving means comprises a phototransistor.

Claim 16

The device of claim 14, wherein said phototransistor is an infrared phototransistor.

Claim 17

The device of claim 14, wherein said light receiving means further comprises a receiving light pipe which houses the phototransistor therein.

Claim 18

The device of claim 16, wherein said receiving light pipe has a surface which faces the light blocking means, said surface having a translucent portion allowing light to travel to the phototransistor through the receiving light pipe.

Claim 19

An optical displacement transducer, comprising: an elongated hollow housing having a central chamber therein; a partition dividing the central chamber into a first portion and a second portion, said partition having a central opening therein; a light emitting means mounted in the first portion of the central chamber, said light emitting means comprising a light emitting diode mounted within an emitter light pipe; a light receiving means mounted opposite said light means in the first portion of the central chamber, said light receiving means comprising a phototransistor and a receiving light pipe; an axially movable light blocking means extending between the emitter light pipe and the receiving light pipe, said light blocking means comprising an elongated rod having a light transmitting window made adjacent to one of its ends, an inner end of the rod carrying an end plate which contacts the partition to limit travel of the rod outwardly from the housing, said elongated rod moving between a first position, when said light transmitting window is in alignment with the emitter light pipe and the receiving light pipe, and a second position when said light transmitting window is in at least partial misalignment with the emitter light pipe and the receiving light pipe.

Claim 20

An optical displacement transducer, comprising: an elongated hollow housing having a central chamber therein; a partition dividing the central chamber into a first portion and a second portion, said partition having a central opening therein; a light emitting means mounted in the first portion of the central chamber, said light emitting means comprising a light emitting diode mounted within an emitter light pipe; a light receiving means mounted opposite said light means in the first portion of the central chamber, said light receiving means comprising a phototransistor and a receiving light pipe; an axially movable light blocking means extending between the emitter light pipe and the receiving light pipe, said light blocking means comprising an elongated rod having a light transmitting window made adjacent to one of its ends, an inner end of the rod carrying an end plate which contacts the partition to limit travel of the rod outwardly from the housing, said elongated rod moving between a first position, when said light transmitting window is in alignment with the emitter light pipe and the receiving light pipe, and a second position when said light transmitting window is in at least partial misalignment with the emitter light pipe and the receiving light pipe.

Claim 21

The device of claim 18, wherein said emitter light pipe has a surface which faces the elongated rod, at least a portion of said surface being translucent to allow light to travel out of the emitter light pipe.

Claim 22

The device of claim 19, wherein said receiving light pipe has a surface which faces the elongated rod, at least a portion of said surface being translucent to allow light to travel into the receiving light pipe.

Claim 23

The device of claim 18, wherein said light emitting diode is an infrared light emitting diode.

Claim 24

The device of claim 18, wherein said phototransistor is an infrared phototransistor.

Claim 25

The device of claim 18, wherein said central opening in the partition is sized and shaped to receive the rod in a sliding engagement therethrough.

Claim 26

The device of claim 18, wherein said housing has a closed end blocked by an end plate having an opening, through which the rod protrudes outwardly from the housing.

Claim 27

An optical displacement transducer, comprising: an elongated hollow housing having a central chamber therein; a partition dividing the central chamber into a first portion and a second portion, said partition having a central opening therein; a compressible means positioned within the second portion of the central chamber; a light emitting means mounted in the first portion of the central chamber; a light receiving means mounted opposite said light emitting means in the first portion of the central chamber; and an axially movable light blocking means extending between the light emitting means and the light receiving means for intermittently, at least partially, blocking the light emitted by said light emitting means.

Claim 28

An optical displacement transducer, comprising: an elongated hollow housing having a central chamber therein; a partition dividing the central chamber into a first portion and a second portion, said partition having a central opening therein; a compressible means positioned within the second portion of the central chamber; a light emitting means mounted in the first portion of the central chamber; a light receiving means mounted opposite said light emitting means in the first portion of the central chamber; and an axially movable light blocking means extending between the light emitting means and the light receiving means for intermittently, at least partially, blocking the light emitted by said light emitting means.

Claim 29

The device of claim 25, wherein said light blocking means has an inner end, and said compressible means contacts said inner end, continuously urging the light blocking means into a fully extended position.

Claim 30

The device of claim 25, wherein said light blocking means is adapted for movement between a fully extended position, allowing substantially all light emitted by the light emitting means to travel to the light receiving means, and a second, compressed position, at least partially blocking the light.

Claim 31

The device of claim 25, wherein said light blocking means comprises an elongated rod having a light transmitting window adjacent to one of its ends.

Claim 32

The device of claim 28, wherein said elongated rod has an inner end which carries an inner end plate thereon, said inner end plate frictionally contacting the inner walls of the housing.

Claim 33

The device of claim 29, wherein said inner end plate has a surface, which contacts the partition, said partition limiting movement of the rod outwardly.

Claim 34

The device of claim 28, wherein said housing has a closed end blocked by an outer end plate which has an opening, through which the rod protrudes outwardly from the housing.

Claim 35

The device of claim 25, wherein said diode is an infrared light emitting diode.

Claim 36

The device of claim 32, wherein said light emitting means further comprises an emitter light pipe housing the light emitting diode therein.

Claim 37

The device of claim 33, wherein said emitter light pipe has a surface which faces the light blocking means, said surface having a translucent portion which allows light to travel out of the emitter light pipe.

Claim 38

The device of claim 34, wherein said light receiving means comprises a phototransistor.

Claim 39

The device of claim 35, wherein said phototransistor is an infrared phototransistor.

Claim 40

The device of claim 35, wherein said light receiving means further comprises a receiving light pipe which houses the phototransistor therein.

Claim 41

The device of claim 37, wherein said receiving light pipe has a surface which faces the light blocking means, said surface having a translucent portion which allows light to travel to the phototransistor through the receiving light pipe.

Claim 42

An optical displacement transducer device comprising: a light emitting means for emitting a light flow; a light receiving means for receiving the light flow mounted opposite said light emitting means; and a means for intermittently blocking at least in part, the light flow from said light emitting means; and a means associated with at least said light emitting means for distributing the light flow by diffusion.

Claim 43

An optical displacement transducer device comprising: a light emitting means for emitting a light flow; a light receiving means for receiving the light flow mounted opposite said light emitting means; and a means for intermittently blocking at least in part, the light flow from said light emitting means; and a means associated with at least said light emitting means for distributing the light flow by diffusion.

Claim 44

An optical displacement transducer device, comprising: a light emitting means for emitting a light flow; a light receiving means for receiving the light flow mounted opposite said light emitting means, wherein said light emitting means comprises a housing having a light source positioned therein, said housing having a light permeable face in at least that portion thereof which faces the light receiving means; and a means for intermittently blocking, at least in part, the light flow from said light emitting means.

Claim 45

An optical displacement transducer device, comprising: a light emitting means for emitting a light flow; a light receiving means for receiving the light flow mounted opposite said light emitting means, wherein said light emitting means comprises a housing having a light source positioned therein, said housing having a light permeable face in at least that portion thereof which faces the light receiving means; and a means for intermittently blocking, at least in part, the light flow from said light emitting means.

Claim 46

The device of claim 40, wherein said housing has a rectangular solid shape, and an opening is formed in one end thereof for receiving said light source therein.

Claim 47

The device of claim 40, wherein said light permeable face has a perimeter, at least a portion of which is defined by a straight edge.

Claim 48

The device of claim 40, wherein said light receiving means comprises at least one body having a light sensor mounted therein, and a light permeable face formed in that portion of the body which faces the light permeable face of the light emitting housing.

Claim 49

The device of claim 43, wherein said light sensor is positioned in an end of the light receiving housing distant from the light permeable face.

Claim 50

An optical displacement transducer comprising: a light emitting means for emitting a light flow; a light receiving means for receiving the light flow mounted opposite said light emitting means, wherein said light emitting means comprises a housing and a light source connected to the housing in light transferring relationship, said housing being light permeable in at least a portion thereof for transmitting the light flow from said light source to an exterior of the housing; and a means for intermittently blocking, at least in part, the light flow from said light emitting means.

Claim 51

An optical displacement transducer comprising: a light emitting means for emitting a light flow; a light receiving means for receiving the light flow mounted opposite said light emitting means, wherein said light emitting means comprises a housing and a light source connected to the housing in light transferring relationship, said housing being light permeable in at least a portion thereof for transmitting the light flow from said light source to an exterior of the housing; and a means for intermittently blocking, at least in part, the light flow from said light emitting means.

Claim 52

The device of claim 45, wherein said light source is positioned in an end of the housing distant from said light permeable face.

Claim 53

The device of claim 45, wherein said light receiving means comprises at least one light receiving body having a light sensor mounted therein and a light permeable face formed in that portion of the body which faces the light permeable face of the light emitting means, the light flow travelling from the light source to the light sensor along a path having a generally C-shaped configuration.

Claim 54

An optical displacement transducer device, comprising: a light emitting means for emitting a light flow; a light receiving means for receiving the light flow mounted opposite said light emitting means, wherein said light receiving means comprises at least one body having a light permeable face formed in at least that portion of said at least one body which faces the light emitting means; and a means for intermittently blocking, at least in part, the light flow from said light emitting means.

Claim 55

An optical displacement transducer device, comprising: a light emitting means for emitting a light flow; a light receiving means for receiving the light flow mounted opposite said light emitting means, wherein said light receiving means comprises at least one body having a light permeable face formed in at least that portion of said at least one body which faces the light emitting means; and a means for intermittently blocking, at least in part, the light flow from said light emitting means.

Claim 56

The device of claim 48, wherein said at least one body has a generally rectangular solid shape, one end of said at least one body being provided with an opening for retaining the light sensor therein.

Claim 57

The device of claim 48, wherein said light permeable face of said at least one body has a perimeter, at least a portion of which is defined by a straight edge.

Claim 58

An optical displacement transducer device comprising: a light emitting means for emitting a light flow; a light receiving means for receiving the light flow mounted opposite said light emitting means; and a means for intermittently blocking, at least in part, the light flow from said light emitting means, wherein said light blocking means comprises at least one solid light impermeable member moving between a first position, at least partially blocking the light flow from the light emitting means and a second position, allowing substantially entire light flow to pass to the light receiving means.

Claim 59

An optical displacement transducer device comprising: a light emitting means for emitting a light flow; a light receiving means for receiving the light flow mounted opposite said light emitting means; and a means for intermittently blocking, at least in part, the light flow from said light emitting means, wherein said light blocking means comprises at least one solid light impermeable member moving between a first position, at least partially blocking the light flow from the light emitting means and a second position, allowing substantially entire light flow to pass to the light receiving means.

Claim 60

The device of claim 51, wherein said at least one solid member moves between said light emitting means and said light receiving means.

Claim 61

The device of claim 51, wherein said at least one solid member is provided with a window which is moved in general co-alignment with the light flow when the solid member is in the first position to permit the light flow to pass therethrough.

Claim 62

The device of claim 53, wherein said at least one solid member is adapted for a linear movement in a plan generally parallel to normal axes of the light emitting means and the light receiving means.

Claim 63

The device of claim 53, wherein said window is generally sized and shaped to permit substantially entire light flow to pass therethrough.

Claim 64

The device of claim 53, wherein said window is generally sized and shaped to permit only a limited light flow to pass therethrough.

Claim 65

The device of claim 53, wherein said window has a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the solid member, and of said light emitting means and said light receiving means.

Claim 66

An optical displacement transducer, comprising: a light emitting means comprising a housing having an interior chamber formed therein for housing a light source and a translucent face for channeling a light flow emitted by the light source to an exterior of the housing; a light receiving means mounted opposite the housing and comprising a light receiving body having an interior chamber formed therein for receiving a light sensor therein to detect the amount of light received by the body, said body having a translucent face for channeling the light to the light sensor; and a light blocking means mounted between the housing and the light receiving body and movable in a linear direction for intermittently blocking the light flow from the light source to the light sensor, said light blocking means comprising a solid member having a window therein to allow the light flow to pass therethrough.

Claim 67

An optical displacement transducer, comprising: a light emitting means comprising a housing having an interior chamber formed therein for housing a light source and a translucent face for channeling a light flow emitted by the light source to an exterior of the housing; a light receiving means mounted opposite the housing and comprising a light receiving body having an interior chamber formed therein for receiving a light sensor therein to detect the amount of light received by the body, said body having a translucent face for channeling the light to the light sensor; and a light blocking means mounted between the housing and the light receiving body and movable in a linear direction for intermittently blocking the light flow from the light source to the light sensor, said light blocking means comprising a solid member having a window therein to allow the light flow to pass therethrough.

Claim 68

The device of claim 58, wherein the light flow is channeled along a path having a general "C"-shape.