Patent · US Expired

Electronic caliper using a self-contained, low power inductive position transducer

US5973494A · kind A · utility

76Cited by
62References
51Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 13, 1996
Grant dateOct 26, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 13, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01D5/2046
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An electronic caliper using a low power induced current position transducer includes a slider assembly mounted on an elongated beam with first and second measuring jaws projecting from the main beam and slider assembly. The position of the slider assembly on the beam is indicative of the distance between the first and second jaws. A depth bar is also attached to, and projects from, the slider assembly. Relative movement between the measuring jaws is determined by an inductive read head mounted on the slider assembly that couples to flux modulators on the beam. The read head includes a transmitter winding and a pair of receiver windings carried by a common printed circuit board. The flux modulators, which can include both flux disrupters and flux enhancers, are carried by the beam and modulate the magnetic fields produced by the transmitter. Thus, the receiver windings produce output voltages corresponding to the overlap between the modulators and the receiver windings. Signal processing electronics are connected to the read head and determine the relative positions of the jaws by monitoring the output of the receiver windings. A digital display displays the determined position. In …

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