Photoelastic sensing device
First Claim
1. A photoelastic sensing device comprising a photoelastic member of transparent material, first means for providing light fluxes to the member for transmission therethrough as polarized light fluxes along respective first and second paths, second means for respectively receiving and detecting the light fluxes transmitted along the first and second paths, the light fluxes respectively transmitted along the first and second paths of the member each being responsive to stresses in the member along its path, and third means for applying stresses to the member in response to the application thereto of force, which force is variable and has a magnitude and a direction represented by its respective components along first and second vector coordinates defining a two dimensional space, the second means providing an output signal which is representative of the force and responsive to each of the components of the force applied to the third means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A photoelastic sensing device comprising a photoelastic member of transparent material, first means for supplying polarized light fluxes to the member for transmission therethrough along a plurality of respective paths, and second means for receiving and detecting the transmitted light fluxes. A third means applies stresses to the member in response to the application thereto of force which is variable and has a magnitude and direction represented by its components along a plurality of vector coordinates which define a space of at least two dimensions. The light fluxes which are transmitted respectively along the plurality of paths of the member are each responsive to the stresses in the member along its path, and the second means provides an output signal which is responsive to the force and to each of the components of the force applied to the third means. The output signal is representative of and provides a measure and indication of the force and each of its components applied to the sensing device, and is responsive to the magnitude and direction of the applied force for providing control means.
12 Citations
51 Claims
- 1. A photoelastic sensing device comprising a photoelastic member of transparent material, first means for providing light fluxes to the member for transmission therethrough as polarized light fluxes along respective first and second paths, second means for respectively receiving and detecting the light fluxes transmitted along the first and second paths, the light fluxes respectively transmitted along the first and second paths of the member each being responsive to stresses in the member along its path, and third means for applying stresses to the member in response to the application thereto of force, which force is variable and has a magnitude and a direction represented by its respective components along first and second vector coordinates defining a two dimensional space, the second means providing an output signal which is representative of the force and responsive to each of the components of the force applied to the third means.
- 34. A photoelastic sensing device comprising a photoelastic member of transparent material, first means for providing light fluxes to the member for transmission therethrough as polarized light fluxes along respective first, second and third paths, second means for respectively receiving and detecting the light fluxes transmitted along the first, second and third paths, the light fluxes respectively transmitted along the first, second and third paths of the member each being responsive to stresses in the member along its path, and third means for applying stresses to the member in response to the application thereto of force which is variable and has a magnitude and a direction represented by its respective components along first, second and third vector coordinates defining a three dimensional space, the second means providing an output signal which is responsive to each of the components of the force applied to the third means.
Specification