Patent · US Expired

Fiber optic encoder for position sensing

US7196320B1 · kind B1 · utility

3Cited by
37References
18Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 14, 2005
Grant dateMar 27, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 14, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01P3/486
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A passive all fiber optic encoder that will be able to determine speed, position, and direction of movement of a movable object. The all passive encoder utilizes no electronics within the sensing part and therefore is deployable in harsh environments, electrical, electromagnetic and radiation fields, otherwise not possible with conventional electronic encoders. The system utilizes a multiwavelength light source and one optical fiber leading to the encoder sensor housing which has a shutter, a light filter assembly and reflective mirror. The movement of the shutter produces a sequential series of light impulses sequenced proportional to the movement of the shutter. The light filter assembly utilizes a minimum of two different filters each of which passes or rejects light within a certain space and wavelength range.

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