Apparatus, system and method for detecting a position and/or an intensity of emitted light

• US 20070069163A1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motion Controls
• Original Assignee: Motion Controls
• Inventors: Engstrand, Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 7,388,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/559.290
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 using multiple transmitters or receivers

Abstract

The apparatus, the system and the method measure a distance and/or an intensity of emitted light. The apparatus and the system have a compartment, a movable element and/or a sensor array in an interior of the compartment. The sensor array emits light, detects light detects temperature of air and/or detects pressure of the air inside the interior of the compartment. The movable element and/or the interior surface of the compartment absorbs emitted light from the sensor array in the compartment. The sensor array determines and/or measures an intensity of the emitted light from the sensor array which is not absorbed by the movable element and/or an interior surface of the compartment. The intensity of emitted light is based on, corresponds to and/or is indicative of a position P of the movable element in the interior of the compartment. A microprocessor may detect, may measure and/or may calculate the position P of the movable-element in the compartment based on the intensity of emitted light detected by the sensor array.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring a position, the apparatus comprising:

a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface, an exterior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end;

a movable element within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element is located at a position in the interior;

a first wall at the first end wherein the first wall abuts the body of the compartment; and

a first sensor array on the first wall wherein the first sensor array extends inward with respect to the interior of the compartment wherein the first sensor array emits a light into the interior wherein the first sensor array detects an intensity of emitted light within the interior and further wherein the first sensor array detects a strength of the light emitted into the interior wherein the intensity of emitted light corresponds to the position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a second wall attached to the second end of the compartment.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a spring attached to the movable element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a magnet coupled to the movable element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a groove attached to the exterior surface of the compartment.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a hole in the compartment extending from the interior surface to the exterior surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a tab attached to the interior surface of the compartment.

8. A system for measuring a position, the system comprising:

a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface, an exterior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end;

a first wall at the first end wherein the first wall abuts the body of the compartment;

a movable element connected to the compartment wherein the movable element moves inward or outward with respect to the first wall wherein the movable element is located at a position with respect to the first wall;

a first sensor array on the first wall wherein the first sensor array extends inward with respect to the interior of the compartment wherein the first sensor array emits a light into the interior wherein the first sensor array detects intensity of emitted light within the interior and further wherein the first sensor array detects a strength of the light emitted into the interior wherein the intensity of emitted light corresponds to the position of the movable element; and

a microprocessor in communication with the first sensor array wherein the microprocessor determines the position of the movable element based on the intensity of emitted light detected by the first sensor array.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the movable element is insertable into the interior of the compartment.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising

a second sensor array located within the interior of the compartment.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a magnet coupled to the movable element.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a spring attached to the movable element.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

an output device connected to the microprocessor.

14. A method for determining a position, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface, an exterior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein the compartment has a first wall at the first end wherein the first wall abuts the body of the compartment;

connecting a movable element to the compartment wherein the movable element is located at a first position with respect to the first wall;

emitting a light into the interior; and

detecting an intensity of emitted light within the interior and a strength of the light emitted into the interior.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

determining the first position of the movable element based on the intensity of emitted light within the interior.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

detecting a pressure of air within the interior of the compartment or a temperature of the air within the interior of the compartment.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

moving the movable element to a second position with respect to the first wall of the compartment.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

compensating the strength of light emitted into the interior of the compartment or the intensity of emitted light within the interior of the compartment.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

inserting the movable element into the interior of the compartment.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

displaying information based on the intensity of emitted light within the interior of the compartment.