Optical sensor method, system and apparatus
US7038192B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 23, 2002 |
| Grant date | May 2, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 18, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/8242
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical sensor system and method for determining the position, displacement and/or angle of a member (for example, a seal plate or valve gate) within a system (for example, a valve assembly in an aircraft turbine engine system or environmental control system). The system has, in one embodiment, a controller in communication with an encoder via a fiber optic line or similar light transmitter and the encoder further has an optically layered element. The optically layered element has at least one coating whose optical characteristics vary over the angles (or distance) of interest to provide feedback based on the position displacement and/or angle of the valve member. The system may communicate and/or be controlled by a computing system via a data communication network.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.