Optical decoder systems and corresponding methods

• US 20050253053A1
• Filed: 05/12/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mason Electric Co. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mason Electric Co. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Feigenbaum, Ray, Lingua, Matt, Chalyan, Anatoliy, Hawrylo, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,199,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/231.140
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/34738 Axles; Driving or coupling means

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed toward optical encoder systems and corresponding methods. One aspect of the invention is directed toward an optical encoder system that includes an optical encoder device having an input wheel. The optical encoder device further includes at least one light emitter and at least one light sensor to detect rotational movement of the input wheel. In a further aspect, the optical encoder device is coupled to a vehicle. In a still further aspect, the optical encoder device can be coupled to a control inceptor in a vehicle. In yet a further aspect, optical encoder device can include a housing so that the optical encoder device is couplable to structure as a single modular unit.

Claims

1. An aircraft optical encoder system, comprising:

a fuselage;

a cockpit, at least a portion of the cockpit positioned in a portion of the fuselage;

a control inceptor positioned in the cockpit and having a portion for receiving at least a portion of an operator'"'"'s hand;

an optical encoder device having an input wheel, at least one light emitter, and at least one light sensor, the at least one light emitter and the at least one light sensor being located proximate to the input wheel to detect rotational movement of the input wheel, the optical encoder device being coupled to the control inceptor, the input wheel being positioned to be actuated by the operator'"'"'s hand.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a computer to receive an output from the optical encoder, the computer being supported by the aircraft.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical encoder device includes a housing supporting the input wheel, the at least one light emitter, and the at least one light sensor so that the optical encoder device is coupled to the control inceptor as a single modular unit.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the optical encoder device includes a switch located proximate to the input wheel, the input wheel being operatively coupled to the switch so that a selected radial force on the input wheel activates the switch.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the optical encoder device includes a ratchet mechanism operatively coupled to the input wheel to provide the input wheel with at least one detented rotational position.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the optical encoder device includes a housing supporting the input wheel, the at least one light emitter, and the at least one light sensor so that the optical encoder device is coupled to the control inceptor as a single modular unit, the housing being positioned to resist at least one of electromagnetic interference between the optical encoder system and at least one other aircraft system, foreign material from entering the optical encoder device, and an effect of a high intensity radiated field on the optical encoder device.

7. A vehicle optical encoder system, comprising:

a vehicle; and

an optical encoder device coupled to the vehicle, the optical encoder device including;

an input wheel, the input wheel positioned to be actuated by an operator;

at least one light emitter; and

at least one light sensor, the at least one light emitter and the at least one light sensor being located proximate to the input wheel to detect rotational movement of the input wheel.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the vehicle includes a control inceptor and the optical encoder device is coupled to the control inceptor.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a computer to receive an output from the optical encoder device, the computer being supported by the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the optical encoder device includes a housing supporting the input wheel, the at least one light emitter, and the at least one light sensor so that the optical encoder device is coupled to the vehicle as a single modular unit.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the optical encoder device includes at least one circuit board and wherein at least one of the at least one light emitter and the at least one light sensor is located on the circuit board.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the input wheel includes at least one spoke proximate to the at least one light emitter and the at least one light sensor.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein the input wheel includes at least one reflective section proximate to the at least one light emitter and the at least one light sensor.

14. The system of claim 7 wherein the input wheel includes at least one optically coded section proximate to the at least one light emitter and the at least one light sensor.

15. The system of claim 7 wherein the optical encoder device includes a switch located proximate to the input wheel, the input wheel being operatively coupled to the switch so that a selected radial force on the input wheel activates the switch.

16. The system of claim 7 wherein the optical encoder device includes a switch located proximate to the input wheel, the input wheel being operatively coupled to the switch so that a selected radial movement of the input wheel activates the switch.

17. The system of claim 7 wherein the optical encoder device includes:

a switch located proximate to the input wheel, the input wheel being operatively coupled to the switch so that at least a portion of a selected radial force on the input wheel is transferred to the switch; and

a spring operatively coupled between the input wheel and the switch to provide resistance to the selected radial pressure.

18. The system of claim 7 wherein the optical encoder device includes a ratchet mechanism operatively coupled to the input wheel to provide the input wheel with at least one detented rotational position.

19. The system of claim 7 wherein the optical encoder device includes a ratchet mechanism operatively coupled to the input wheel to provide the input wheel with at least one detented rotational positions, the ratchet mechanism including:

a detent wheel coupled to the input wheel;

at least one detent arm to engage the detents in the detent wheel; and

at least on detent spring operatively coupled to the detent arm to urge the detent arm to engage the detents in the detent wheel.

20. The system of claim 7 wherein the optical encoder device includes a housing supporting the input wheel, the at least one light emitter, and the at least one light sensor so that the optical encoder device is coupled to the vehicle as a single modular unit, the housing being positioned to resist at least one of electromagnetic interference between the optical encoder device and at least one other vehicle system, foreign material from entering the optical encoder device, and an effect of a high intensity radiated field on the optical encoder device.

21. The system of claim 7 wherein the optical encoder device includes a housing to resist electromagnetic interference between the optical encoder device and at least one other vehicle system, and wherein the optical encoder device further includes at least one of a shield, a gasket, a seal, a cable, and a filter to resist electromagnetic interference between the optical encoder device and at least one other vehicle system.

22. The system of claim 7 wherein the optical encoder device includes a housing to resist foreign material from entering the optical encoder device, and wherein the optical encoder device further includes at least one of a shield, a gasket, and a seal to resist foreign material from entering the optical encoder device.

23. The system of claim 7 wherein the optical encoder device includes a housing to resist an effect of a high intensity radiated field on the optical encoder device, and wherein the optical encoder device further includes at least one of a shield, a gasket, a seal, a cable, and a filter to resist the effect of the high intensity radiated field on the optical encoder device.

24. An optical encoder system, comprising an optical encoder device including:

an input wheel;

at least one light emitter;

at least one light sensor, the at least one light emitter and the at least one light sensor being located proximate to the input wheel to detect rotational movement of the input wheel; and

a housing surrounding the input wheel, the at least one light emitter, and the at least one light sensor so that the optical encoder device is couplable to structure as a single modular unit.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the optical encoder is coupled to a vehicle.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the optical encoder device is coupled to a control inceptor.

27. The system of claim 24, further comprising a computer to receive an output from the optical encoder device.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the optical encoder device includes at least one circuit board and wherein at least one of the at least one light emitter and the at least one light sensor is located on the circuit board.

29. The system of claim 24 wherein the input wheel includes at least one spoke proximate to the at least one light emitter and the at least one light sensor.

30. The system of claim 24 wherein the input wheel includes at least one reflective section proximate to the at least one light emitter and the at least one light sensor.

31. The system of claim 24 wherein the input wheel includes at least one optically coded section proximate to the at least one light emitter and the at least one light sensor.

32. The system of claim 24 wherein the optical encoder device includes a switch located proximate to the input wheel, the input wheel being operatively coupled to the switch so that a selected radial force on the input wheel activates the switch.

33. The system of claim 24 wherein the optical encoder device includes a switch located proximate to the input wheel, the input wheel being operatively coupled to the switch so that a selected radial movement of the input wheel activates the switch.

34. The system of claim 24 wherein the optical encoder device includes:

a switch located proximate to the input wheel, the input wheel being operatively coupled to the switch so that at least a portion of a selected radial force on the input wheel is transferred to the switch; and

a spring operatively coupled between the input wheel and the switch to provide resistance to the selected radial pressure.

35. The system of claim 24 wherein the optical encoder device includes a ratchet mechanism operatively coupled to the input wheel to provide the input wheel with at least one detented rotational position.

36. The system of claim 24 wherein the optical encoder device includes a ratchet mechanism operatively coupled to the input wheel to provide the input wheel with at least one detented rotational positions, the ratchet mechanism including:

a detent wheel coupled to the input wheel;

at least one detent arm to engage the detents in the detent wheel; and

at least on detent spring operatively coupled to the detent arm to urge the detent arm to engage the detents in the detent wheel.

37. The system of claim 24, wherein the housing surrounds the input wheel, the at least one light emitter, and the at least one light sensor to resist at least one of electromagnetic interference between the optical encoder device and an external electromagnetic source, foreign material from entering the optical encoder device, and an effect of a high intensity radiated field on the optical encoder device.

38. The system of claim 24 wherein the housing surrounds the input wheel, the at least one light emitter, and the at least one light sensor to resist electromagnetic interference between the optical encoder device and an external electromagnetic source, and wherein the optical encoder device further includes at least one of a shield, a gasket, a seal, a cable, and a filter to resist electromagnetic interference between the optical encoder device and the external electromagnetic source.

39. The system of claim 24 wherein the housing surrounds the input wheel, the at least one light emitter, and the at least one light sensor to resist foreign material from entering the optical encoder device, and wherein the optical encoder device further includes at least one of a shield, a gasket, and a seal to resist foreign material from entering the optical encoder device.

40. The system of claim 24 wherein the housing surrounds the input wheel, the at least one light emitter, and the at least one light sensor to resist an effect of a high intensity radiated field on the optical encoder device, and wherein the optical encoder device further includes at least one of a shield, a gasket, a seal, a cable, and a filter to resist the effect of the high intensity radiated field on the optical encoder device.