Patent · US Active

Displacement sensor employing discrete light pulse detection

US7485847B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
43References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 8, 2005
Grant dateFeb 3, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 17, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB33Y80/00
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Optical sensors, and methods for operating optical sensors, are disclosed. One such sensor may include: a reflector positioned a distance from a reflective diffraction grating and a light source for providing light. A first portion of the light can be reflected from the reflective diffraction grating and a second portion of the light passes through the grating to the reflector and is reflected back through the diffraction grating. The sensor may further include a detector for sensing an intensity of light in an interference pattern formed by the first portion of the light reflected from the diffraction grating and the second portion of the light reflected from the reflector. The sensor includes a controller configured to modulate an emission of the light.

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