Digital input and control device
US5739775A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 20, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03M1/285
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An absolute position encoder converts absolute mechanical position to a digital output value. A single-track, rotary embodiment of the encoder includes several conductive pick-up segments that are symmetrically arranged along a circular pick-up track, with each pick-up segment connected to a respective output terminal. A metallic rotor of the encoder comprises a plurality of contacts that are positioned in alignment with the pick-up track such that the contacts slidably contact different pick-up segments as the rotor is rotated. The contacts on the rotor are conductively interconnected, and are maintained at a common voltage via a sliding connection between the rotor and a collector ring. The output of the encoder is a cyclical Gray code sequence, which may be used in combination with a ROM look-up table accurately track position. Linear and multi-track embodiments are also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.