System and method for detecting an end of and/or a beginning of a stroke

• US 20070075227A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phaedrus, LLC
• Original Assignee: Phaedrus, LLC
• Inventors: Engstrand, Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 7,456,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/231.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/28 with deflection of beams of light, e.g. for direct optical indication G01D5/40 takes precedence; mechanical adjustment G01D5/264
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/34 the beams of light being detected by photocells

Abstract

A system and a method detect that a movable element within an interior of a compartment is at an end of a stroke and/or a beginning of the stroke within the interior of the compartment. A switch and/or an electrical circuit is connected to the compartment for detecting that the movable element may be at the beginning of and/or at the end of the stroke. A microprocessor is connected to the switch or to the electrical circuit for detecting that the movable element is at the end of and/or at the beginning of the stroke within the interior of the compartment. An end cap having a light detector is connected to the compartment to measure an intensity of the light within an interior of the end cap which is attenuated by and/or is diffused by a surface of the movable element and/or of the compartment. The intensity of the light within the interior of the end cap corresponds to a position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment. The light detector determines the position of the movable element which is at the end of the stroke, at the beginning of the stroke and/or between the end of the stroke and the beginning of the stroke via the intensity of light within the interior of the end cap.

Claims

1. A system for detecting an end of a stroke or a beginning of the stroke, the system comprising:

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

a movable element within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element moves within the interior of the compartment between a first position and a second position wherein the second position is adjacent to the first end of the compartment wherein the first position is located between the second position of the movable element and the second end of the compartment;

a switch connected to the first end of the compartment wherein the switch is located within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element at the second position within the interior of the compartment moves the switch from an opened position to a closed position wherein the switch in the closed position identifies that the movable element is located at the second position within the interior of the compartment; and

a first detector connected to the first end of the compartment wherein an amount of light emitted within the interior of the compartment is attenuated and diffused by the movable element and the interior surface of the compartment wherein the first detector detects an intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment wherein the first detector identifies that the movable element is in the first position via the intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a cap attached to the first end of the compartment wherein the first detector is located within the cap.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second detector connected to the first end of the compartment wherein the second detector measures the intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment which is not attenuated by the movable element and the interior surface of the compartment.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a magnet attached to the first end of the compartment wherein the magnet connects the switch to the compartment.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a light source connected to the first end of the compartment wherein the light source emits light into the interior of the compartment.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a microprocessor connected to the first detector wherein the microprocessor detects that the movable element is located at the first position or the second position within the interior of the compartment.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an insulator attached to the interior surface of the compartment wherein the insulator is located between the switch and the interior surface of the compartment.

8. A system for detecting an end of a stroke or a beginning of the stroke, the system comprising:

a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end of the compartment wherein the compartment has a movable element within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element moves within the interior of the compartment between a first position and a second position wherein the second position is adjacent to the first end of the compartment;

an electrical circuit connected to the first end of the compartment wherein the electrical circuit has a total capacitance value wherein the movable element is moved to the second position within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element connects to the electrical circuit at the second position wherein the movable element increases the total capacitance value of the electrical circuit;

a first detector connected to the first end of the compartment wherein the first detector determines an intensity of light emitted within the interior of the compartment wherein the intensity of the light detected within the compartment corresponds to the first position of the movable element within the compartment; and

a microprocessor connected to the electrical circuit and the first detector wherein the microprocessor detects that the movable element is located at the first position within the compartment via the intensity of the light detected within the interior of the compartment which is not attenuated by the interior surface of the compartment or the movable element wherein the microprocessor detects that the movable element is located at the second position within the interior of the compartment via the second total capacitance of the electrical circuit.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a tube connected to the interior surface of the compartment wherein the tube is connected to the electrical circuit.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a surface formed on the movable element wherein the surface of the movable element or the interior surface of the compartment attenuates and diffuses the light emitted within the interior of the compartment.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a light source connected to the first end of the compartment wherein the light source emits the light into the interior of the compartment.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a second detector connected to the first end of the compartment wherein the second detector determines the intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a tab connected to the movable element wherein the tab prevents the light from illuminating the interior of the compartment.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein an amount of the light emitted within the compartment is attenuated by the interior surface of the compartment wherein the amount of the light attenuated corresponds to the first position of the movable element within the compartment.

15. A method for detecting an end of a stroke or a beginning of the stoke, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein the compartment has a movable element located within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element moves between a first position and a second position within the interior of the compartment wherein the second position of the movable element is adjacent to the first end of the compartment wherein the first position of the movable element is located between the second position of the movable element and the second end of the compartment;

connecting a cap to the first end of the compartment wherein the cap has a bottom surface and walls defining an interior of the cap;

detecting an intensity of light within the interior of the cap corresponding to an intensity of light within the interior of the compartment which is not attenuated by the interior surface of the compartment and the movable element wherein the light within the interior of the compartment is diffused by the interior surface of the compartment wherein the intensity of the light detected within the interior of the cap corresponds to the first position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment; and

detecting that the movable element is located at the second position within the interior of the compartment.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

determining the first position or the second position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment via a microprocessor wherein the microprocessor is connected to the compartment.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

identifying that the movable element is located at the second position within the interior of the compartment via a switch wherein the switch is located within the interior of the compartment.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

moving the movable element between the first position and the second position within the interior of the compartment.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

connecting an electrical circuit to the first end of the compartment wherein the electrical circuit identifies that the movable element is located at the second position within the interior of the compartment.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

forming a tab on the movable element wherein the tab prevents the light from illuminating the interior of the compartment.