Optical methods for determining positions of optical discs in tightly packed cylindrical arrays
US9651360B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 21, 2015 |
| Grant date | May 16, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 21, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S901/47
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A cylindrical array of tightly spaced optical discs is arranged such that all optical discs in the array share the same axis of symmetry. An optical system is aligned with the optical disc array. The optical system includes a light source, such as a diffuse reflector, and a photo detector, such as a photo detector. The photo detector is aligned to receive either light transmitted through the optical disc array or light reflected off the optical disc array. Illumination directed at the optical disc array results in a pattern of alternating light and dark illuminations, or bands. The photo detector focusing on the cylinder surfaces of the optical discs detects the light/dark transitions and thus enables counting of discrete optical discs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.