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Shaft Position Optical SensorThe present invention is an optical sensor that senses the movement of a shaft. Detection of radial movement is made when a portion of light incident on the shaft sensor-target is blocked. For detection of axial movement, a disk with flat surface is mounted and used to block a portion of light. The variation in the amount of light allowed to pass through is a measure of the position of the shaft. As proposed by this invention, significant improvement is made with respect to sensitivity and linearity of the system when the light is permanently partially blocked. To accomplish this goal this invention adds a boss to the system. To eliminate possible drift of system performance due to LED degradation or temperature variation, a feedback feature is added to the system.
Document ID
20010110767
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Other - Patent
External Source(s)
GSC-13988-3
Authors
Kenneth A Blumenstock (Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, United States)
Claef F Hakum (Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, United States)
Clarence S Johnson (Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 23, 2001
Publication Information
Publisher: United States Patent and Trademark Office
Subject Category
Optics
Report/Patent Number
Patent Number: US-Patent-6,177,997
Patent Application Number: US-Patent-Appl-SN-376000
Patent Application Number: US-Patent-Appl-SN-097083
Patent Number: NASA-Case-GSC-13988-3
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Patent
US-Patent-6,177,997
Patent Application
US-Patent-Appl-SN-376000|US-Patent-Appl-SN-097083

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