High resolution encoder within a swivel

• US 20080189072A1
• Filed: 02/01/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nescom Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nescom Incorporated
• Inventors: Cardello, Paul S.
• Application Number:
  US11/700,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20080189072A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/158
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/22 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/125 Means for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/32 Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles

Abstract

A rotational positioning system is disclosed. The rotational position system includes a housing, a body rotatable with respect to the housing, and a target eccentrically mounted on the body. A first sensor is mounted on the housing. The first sensor is adapted to transmit a first signal based on a distance of the target relative to the first sensor. The first signal varies according to a rotational position of the body with respect to the housing. A processor is electrically coupled to the first sensor and is adapted to read the first signal from the first sensor. A method of determining a rotational position of a body relative to a fixed point is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A rotational positioning system comprising:

a housing;

a body rotatable with respect to the housing;

a target eccentrically mounted on the body;

a first sensor mounted on the housing, the first sensor adapted to transmit a first signal based on a distance of the target relative to the first sensor, the first signal varying according to a rotational position of the body with respect to the housing; and

a processor electrically coupled to the first sensor and adapted to read the first signal from the first sensor.

2. The rotational positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor is removably mounted on the housing.

3. The rotational positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor extends from the housing toward the target.

4. The rotational positioning system according to claim 1, further comprising a second sensor mounted on the housing adapted to transmit a second signal to the processor based on the distance of the target relative to the second sensor.

5. The rotational positioning system according to claim 4, wherein the second sensor is mounted on the housing at a position approximately 90 degrees from the first sensor.

6. The rotational positioning system according to claim 4, wherein the second sensor is electrically coupled to the processor such that the processor processes signals transmitted from each of the first and second sensors, the signals determining the rotational position of the body with respect to the housing.

7. The rotational positioning system according to claim 1, further comprising a second sensor mounted on the housing adapted to transmit a second signal to the processor based on a rotational direction of the target relative to the housing.

8. The rotational positioning system according to claim 1, further comprising an interlock operationally coupled to the body to prevent rotation of the body relative to the housing if the rotational position of the target with respect to the housing reaches a predetermined value.

9. The rotational positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the target has an eccentricity relative to the body of approximately 0.5 inches.

10. The rotational positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the body is mounted within a periphery of the housing.

11. A rotational positioning system comprising:

a housing;

a body rotationally mounted with respect to the housing;

a first sensor coupled to one of the housing and the body, the first sensor adapted to transmit a first signal based on a rotational position of the body relative to the housing; and

a processor electrically coupled to the first sensor to determine the rotational position of the body with respect to the housing based on the signal transmitted by the first sensor.

12. The rotational positioning system according to claim 11, wherein the body comprises a target eccentrically mounted to the body.

13. The rotational positioning system according to claim 11, further comprising a second sensor coupled to one of the housing and the body, the second sensor adapted to transmit a second signal based on a location of the body relative to the housing.

14. The rotational positioning system according to claim 13, wherein the processor is electrically coupled to the second sensor and is configured to process the signals transmitted by each of the first and second sensors to determine the rotational position of the body with respect to the housing.

15. A rotational positioning system for determining a rotational position of a body relative to a fixed point comprising:

means for obtaining a first position value;

means for obtaining a second position value;

means for determining a rotational position value based on the first position value and the second position value; and

means for determining the rotational position of the body relative to the fixed point based on the rotational position value.

16. The rotational positioning system according to claim 15, further comprising means for preventing rotation of the body when the rotational position value reaches a predetermined value.

17. A method for use with a first sensor and a second sensor of determining a rotational position of a body relative to a fixed point comprising:

a) obtaining a first output value from the first sensor;

b) obtaining a second output value from the second sensor;

c) determining a rotational position value based on the first output value and the second output value; and

d) determining the rotational position of the body relative to the fixed point based on the rotational position value.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising, between steps a) and c), adjusting the first output value by a constant to obtain a first calculated value.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising, between steps b) and c), adjusting the second output value by the constant to obtain a second calculated value.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising dividing the first calculated value by the second calculated value to obtain a ratio.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising using the ratio to determine the rotational position value.

22. The method according to claim 17, further comprising rotating the body relative to the fixed point and repeating steps a) through d).

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising, after determining the rotational position of the body based on the rotational position value, determining whether to continue rotating the body relative to the fixed point.