Transmissive apparatus and method for optically sensing relative torque employing moire fringes
First Claim
1. A method for analyzing the performance of a system wherein light is directed from at least one light source to an encoded portion of a rotating member of said system, said method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a portion of the light to said encoded portion of said rotating member;
detecting a transmitted portion of the light; and
recovering information from said transmitted portion of the light containing performance characteristic data of said system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for analyzing the performance of a system having at least one rotating member therein are disclosed. Light is directed from a light source to intercept an encoded portion of the rotating member. A portion of the light is transmitted from the encoded portion of the rotating member. The transmitted portion of the light can be then detected to recover performance information maintained therein, wherein the performance information contains performance characteristics of the system. A mechanism for transmitting a portion of the light from the encoded portion of the rotating member is also provided. A diffracted portion of the light can be detected to recover performance information. The light source can be configured as a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). The encoded portion of rotating members thereof may comprise a dual layer bar code. Images from a first encoded surface may interact with an image from a second encoded surface after the light beam is transmitted through the second rotating surface to produce Moirè fringes.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for analyzing the performance of a system wherein light is directed from at least one light source to an encoded portion of a rotating member of said system, said method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a portion of the light to said encoded portion of said rotating member;
detecting a transmitted portion of the light; and
recovering information from said transmitted portion of the light containing performance characteristic data of said system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for analyzing the performance of a system having a rotating member therein, said apparatus comprising:
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at least one directing element that directs light from a light source in order to intercept an encoded portion of said rotating member;
at least one transmitting element that transmits a transmitted portion of said light from said encoded portion of said rotating member; and
at least one detector that detects the transmitted portion of said light to recover performance information maintained therein, wherein said performance information contains performance characteristics of said system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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17. An apparatus for detecting the relative motion between at least two rotating members in a system having a light source for generating a light beam, said apparatus comprising:
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transmissive mechanism located on a first rotating member for the transmission of said light beam from an encoded portion of said first rotating member;
transmissive mechanism located on a second rotating member for the transmission of said light beam through said encoded portion of said first rotating member; and
a detector for detecting Moirè
fringes formed as a result of the interaction of images from said first and second encoded portions of said first and second rotating members, wherein said detection mechanism is located proximate to said system.
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Specification