Patent · US Expired

Positioning apparatus and movement sensor

US5291112A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
28References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 7, 1992
Grant dateMar 1, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 7, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02K2201/18
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A movement sensor for a multi-bar positioner includes a first section having a curved corner reflector (76), a second section (70), and a third section with an analog position-sensitive-photodiode (84). The second section (70) has three LEDs (72, 82) and four photodetectors (74). Two of the LEDs (72) and the four photodetectors (74) face a first direction towards the corner reflector (76). The third LED (82) faces a second direction, different than the first direction, towards the position-sensitive-photodiode (84). The second section can be mounted on an arm of the positioner and used in conjunction with the first and third sections to determine movement or position of that arm.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.