Compact column gage
First Claim
1. A part sizing system comprising:
- a bar graph display device having a series of light sources which are energized by sequentially scanning portions thereof;
first means for automatically providing an electrical signal indicative of an upper tolerance limit for a part being sized and including adjustment means for varying the signal to represent various upper tolerance limits;
second means for automatically providing an electrical signal indicative of a lower tolerance limit for a part being sized and including means for varying the signal to represent various lower tolerance limits;
reset means for generating a reset signal for reinitializing the scanning of the bar graph display; and
switch means for alternately coupling the output of said first and second signal means to the bar graph display depending on the number of reset signals generated so as to superimpose visual indications of said upper and lower tolerance limits on said display, with each tolerance limit being distinguishable from the other by different light intensities.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A part sizing system in which the upper and lower tolerance limits are illuminated on the same bar graph display. Electrical representations of the upper and lower tolerance limits are alternately coupled to the bar graph display so as to superimpose visual indications of both limits on one another, with each limit being distinguishable from each other by different light intensities. In one embodiment this bar graph display is disposed adjacent another bar graph display in the same housing. The other bar graph display is utilized to provide a visual indication of the output of at least one variable reluctance transducer which measures the size of the part under test. Improved transducer excitation circuitry is also provided for insuring accurate measurements.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A part sizing system comprising:
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a bar graph display device having a series of light sources which are energized by sequentially scanning portions thereof; first means for automatically providing an electrical signal indicative of an upper tolerance limit for a part being sized and including adjustment means for varying the signal to represent various upper tolerance limits; second means for automatically providing an electrical signal indicative of a lower tolerance limit for a part being sized and including means for varying the signal to represent various lower tolerance limits; reset means for generating a reset signal for reinitializing the scanning of the bar graph display; and switch means for alternately coupling the output of said first and second signal means to the bar graph display depending on the number of reset signals generated so as to superimpose visual indications of said upper and lower tolerance limits on said display, with each tolerance limit being distinguishable from the other by different light intensities. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A part sizing system comprising:
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at least one variable reluctance transducer means for providing a first output signal as a function of the size of the part being measured; limit setting means for automatically generating second and third electrical signals respectively proportional to upper and lower tolerance limits, said limit setting means including means for varying the second and third signals to represent various upper and lower tolerance limits; display means including first and second bar graph displays having a series of light sources which are energized by sequentially scanning portions thereof; reset means for generating a reset signal for reinitializing the scanning of the display means; and interface means coupling said first signal, said second signal, and said third signal to the display means, with the first signal being coupled to one bar graph display, and the second and third signals being alternately coupled to the other bar graph display depending on the number of reset signals generated so as to visually superimpose visual indications of both the upper and lower tolerance limits on the same bar graph display. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A part sizing system comprising:
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at least one variable reluctance transducer; transducer excitation means coupled to each transducer; signal conditioning means coupled to each system transducer output and to the excitation means, operative to generate at an output a first DC potential that is a function of the system transducer outputs; limit setting means for generating second and third DC potentials respectively proportional to upper and lower tolerance limits for a part being measured; display means including first and second continuous bar graph indicating means having a series of light sources which are energized by sequentially scanning portions thereof; reset means for generating a reset signal to reinitialize the scanning of the display means; and interface means coupled to the signal conditioning means and to the limit setting means, operative to convert the first, second, and third DC potentials into corresponding pluralities of digital control signals, said interface means coupling said digital control signals associated with said first DC potential to the first bar graph means to provide a visual indication that is a function of the transducer outputs, with the interface circuit alternately coupling the digital control signals associated with said second and third DC potentials to said second bar graph means depending upon the number of reset signals generated so as to provide visually superimposed indications of the upper and lower tolerance limits, each limit indication being distinguishable from the other by different light intensities. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An electronic column gauge comprising:
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first and second variable reluctance transducers, transducer excitation means and switch means coupling the excitation means to inputs of the first and second transducers; signal conditioning means coupled to outputs of the first and second transducers and to the excitation means, including means for summing the transducer outputs whenever the switch means is in a first position and for subtracting the second transducer output from the first transducer output whenever the switch means is in a second position, demodulation means for generating a first DC potential proportional to a signal generated by the means for summing and subtracting; limit setting means having an input coupled to an output of the signal conditioning means, means for generating selectively variable second and third DC potentials respectively proportional to upper and lower tolerance limits for a part being sized, and a window comparator operative to generate a system output signal whenever the first DC potential is not between the second DC potential and the third DC potential; interface means coupled to the signal conditioning means and to the limit setting means, operative to convert the first, second, and third DC potentials into corresponding pluralities of digital control signals; and display means including first and second bar graph indicating means having a plurality of gas plasma light sources, said display means coupled to corresponding pluralities of digital control signals and operative to provide a visual indication on the first bar graph means of a level proportional to the first DC potential, and to visually superimpose indications on the second bar graph means of second and third levels respectively proportional to the second and third DC potentials. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification