Digital pointer position detector
US4631539A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 19, 1983 |
| Grant date | Dec 23, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 19, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01D13/26
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A mechanical dial indicating gauge or meter that, without mechanical loading, optoelectronically detects and encodes the pointer position as a digital signal by use of a technique of distributed point position latching. Counter means drives a circuit which cylically sequentially lights LED's along a scale and the count is latched that corresponds to current counter position when a detector on the scale pointer is activated during the sequential lighting. This latched count provides the digital signal of pointer position. This digital signal may then by transmitted to remote indicators, controllers, computers, and/or may be compared to preset values yielding set point outputs. An electrical lead for the detector includes a spiral loosely surrounding the pointer stem.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.