Positioning system for an observation device using a tensioned filament and locator ball
US6045272A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 17, 1997 |
| Grant date | Apr 4, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 17, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/18848
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A cable drive apparatus is presented which has minimal cable slippage and backlash. Such a cable drive is particularly well suited for systems requiring accurate positioning and repositioning capabilities, such as motorized camera orientation systems. To achieve minimal slippage on a cable driven pulley, one or more positioning balls are located at fixed locations on the cable, and corresponding positioning holes are located on either pulley. Tensioning means are also provided to remove slack, to minimize the backlash which may result from the stretching of the cable over time. A two pulley system is presented wherein the cable is fixedly attached to one pulley, travels over the other pulley which has the slippage constraining positioning holes, and then to tensioning means which also fixedly attached to the first pulley.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.