System and method for detecting a position of a movable element
First Claim
1. A system for detecting a position of a movable element wherein the movable element has a surface, 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 movable element moves within the interior of the compartment between the first end and the second end of the compartment;
a cap having bottom surface and walls defining an interior of the cap wherein the walls are connected to the bottom surface wherein the cap is connected to the first end of the compartment wherein the interior of the compartment is adjacent to the interior of the cap;
a film connected to the walls of the cap wherein the film encloses the interior of the cap wherein the film diffuses light emitted into the interior of the compartment; and
a sensor connected to the cap wherein the sensor is adjacent to the first end of the compartment wherein the sensor detects an intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment which is attenuated by the interior surface of the compartment or by the surface of the movable element wherein the intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment corresponds to the position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and a method detect a position of a movable element within the interior of the compartment via a light source and/or a light sensor. The light sensor is connected to a platform and/or to a film for detecting an intensity of a light within the interior of the compartment. The film, a bottom surface of an end cap and/or a surface of the movable element and/or the compartment attenuate light within the interior of the compartment and/or within an interior of the end cap. The intensity of the light detectable by the light sensor corresponds to the position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment. The position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment is detected by the light sensor via the intensity of the light detectable by the light sensor. The film, the platform, the bottom surface of the end cap and/or the surface of the movable element and/or of the compartment minimize diffraction of the light within the interior of the compartment and/or within the interior of the end cap.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A system for detecting a position of a movable element wherein the movable element has a surface, 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 movable element moves within the interior of the compartment between the first end and the second end of the compartment;
a cap having bottom surface and walls defining an interior of the cap wherein the walls are connected to the bottom surface wherein the cap is connected to the first end of the compartment wherein the interior of the compartment is adjacent to the interior of the cap;
a film connected to the walls of the cap wherein the film encloses the interior of the cap wherein the film diffuses light emitted into the interior of the compartment; and
a sensor connected to the cap wherein the sensor is adjacent to the first end of the compartment wherein the sensor detects an intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment which is attenuated by the interior surface of the compartment or by the surface of the movable element wherein the intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment corresponds to the position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system for detecting a position of a movable element, 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 cap having a bottom surface and walls defining an interior of the cap wherein the walls are connected to the bottom surface wherein the cap is connected to the first end of the compartment;
a light source connected to the cap wherein the light source transmits light into the interior of the cap and the interior of the compartment wherein the interior surface of the compartment attenuates the light within the interior of the compartment;
a film connected to the walls of the cap wherein the film separates the interior of the cap and the interior of the compartment wherein the film diffuses light transmitted into the interior of the cap and the interior of the compartment; and
a sensor connected to the walls of the cap wherein the sensor detects an intensity of the light within the interior of the cap or the interior of the compartment wherein the intensity of the light corresponds to the light attenuated by the interior surface of the compartment wherein the light attenuated by the interior surface of the compartment corresponds to the position of the movable element. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for detecting a position of a movable element, 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;
positioning a movable element within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element moves within the interior of the compartment between the first end and the second end of the compartment;
connecting a film to the first end of the compartment wherein the film encloses the interior of the compartment wherein the film diffuses light emitted from the first end of the compartment into the interior of the compartment; and
detecting an intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment wherein the intensity of the light corresponds to an amount of the light attenuated by the interior surface of the compartment and the movable element wherein the amount of light attenuated corresponds to the position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification