Optoelectronic position indicator for a drive system

• US 4,554,451 A
• Filed: 05/25/1983
• Issued: 11/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RENK AG (RENK GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Zahnraderfabrik RENK AG
• Inventors: Kirstein, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Application Number:
  US06/497,820
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 250/231 SE, 250/237 G, 250/211 K, 356/395, 340/347 P
• US Class Current: 250/237.00G
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/34 the beams of light being detected by photocells

Abstract

An optoelectronic system is employed for determining the position of a movable vehicle control element such as a gas pedal. The system includes an optical carrier which is linked to and moves with the control element. The carrier includes an optical indicator range which provides a continuously variable gradient of optical permeability over the limits of carrier movement. A light source and an electro-optical detector are arranged to generate an electrical signal indicative of a measure of optical permeability of a zone of the range in registry with the detector. The light source and detector may be positioned on the same or opposite sides of the carrier. A further range of the same or different configuration may be formed on the carrier and associated with a second light source-detector. The signals generated by each detector are processed to generate a signal indicative of the position of the control element. Optionally, a signal generated by a single detector comprises the position indicative signal.

Claims

1. A position indicator system for monitoring an operator settable speed control element of a drive system, the drive system further including an engine, means for supplying fuel to the engine, and means operatively interconnecting the fuel supply means with the engine, the position indicator system including a light source, an electro-optical detector, the detector including means for generating an electrical signal as a function of the luminous intensity received from the light source along an optical path, an optical carrier, the optical carrier being positioned within the optical path, the optical carrier including means forming a position indicator range, the means forming a position indicator range including means providing a continuously variable light responsive gradient, the light responsive gradient having a minimum value at one end of the range and a maximum value at the other end of the range, the optical carrier including an additional information range, the additional information range including a continuously variable light responsive gradient, the position indicator system further including a second light source and a second electro-optical detector associated with the additional information range, the additional information range being positioned within an optical path from the second light source to the second detector and means interconnecting the speed control element and the carrier for providing translational movement of the carrier as a function of movement of the speed control element, the translational movement being in a direction coincident with the light responsive gradients, each detector generating a signal indicative of a measure of the light responsiveness of a zone of its respective range in registry with its optical path, the position indicator system further including a processing circuit, means operably interconnecting each of the detectors to the processing circuit, the processing circuit including a comparator, the comparator receiving signals from each of the detectors and generating an output signal corresponding to the position of the speed control element, the drive system further including a microprocessor and means operably interconnecting the comparator with the microprocessor, the microprocessor receiving the output signal from the comparator and in response thereto generating a signal for controlling the fuel supply means, whereby fuel supply to the engine is controlled in response to the detected instantaneous position of the speed control.

2. An optoelectronic position indicator system constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical carrier is positioned between the light source and the detector.

3. An optoelectronic position indicator system constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical carrier comprises a light transmitting slab and the position indicator range is adhered to the slab.

4. An optoelectronic position indicator system constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical carrier comprises an acrylic slab.

5. An optoelectronic position indicator system constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the continuously variable light responsive gradient of the position indicator range increases linearly from a minimum value at one end to a maximum value at the other end.

6. A position indicator system for monitoring an operator settable speed control element of a drive system, the drive system further including an engine, means for supplying fuel to the engine, and means operatively interconnecting the fuel supply means with the engine, the position indicator system including a light source, an electro-optical detector, the detector including means for generating an electrical signal as a function of the luminous intensity received from the light source along an optical path, an optical carrier, the optical carrier being positioned within the optical path, the optical carrier including means forming a position indicator range, the means forming a position indicator range including means providing a continuously variable light responsive gradient, the light responsive gradient having a minimum value at one end of the range and a maximum value at the other end of the range, the optical carrier including an additional information range, the additional information range including a continuously variable light responsive gradient, the position indicator system further including a second light source and a second electro-optical detector associated with the additional information range, the additional information range being positioned within an optical path from the second light source to the second detector and means interconnecting the speed control element and the carrier for providing translational movement of the carrier as a function of movement of the speed control element, the translational movement being in a direction coincident with the light responsive gradients, each detector generating a signal indicative of a measure of the light responsiveness of a zone of its respective range in registry with its optical path, at least one light source and at least one electro-optical detector being positioned on the same side of the optical carrier and the continuously variable light responsive gradient associated with the one light source and one electro-optical detector comprising a continuously increasing light reflecting gradient, the position indicator system further including a processing circuit, means operably interconnecting each of the detectors to the processing circuit, the processing circuit including a comparator, the comparator receiving signals from each of the detectors and generating an output signal corresponding to the position of the speed control element, the drive system further including a microprocessor and means operably interconnecting the comparator with the microprocessor, the microprocessor receiving the output signal from the comparator and in response thereto generating a signal for controlling the fuel supply means, whereby fuel supply to the engine is controlled in response to the detected instantaneous position of the speed control.

7. A position indicator system constructed in accordance with claim 6 wherein both light sources and electro-optical detectors are positioned on the same side of the optical carrier.

8. A position indicator system for monitoring an operator settable speed control element of a drive system, the drive system further including an engine, means for supplying fuel to the engine, and means operatively interconnecting the fuel supply means with the engine, the position indicator system including a light source, an electro-optical detector, the detector including means for generating an electrical signal as a function of the luminous intensity received from the light source along an optical path, an optical carrier, the optical carrier being positioned within the optical path, the optical carrier including means forming a position indicator range, the means forming a position indicator range including means providing a continuously variable light responsive gradient, the light responsive gradient having a minimum value at one end of the range and a maximum value at the other end of the range, the optical carrier including an additional information range, the additional information range including a series of discrete optically readable characters, the position indicator system further including a second light source and a second electro-optical detector associated with the additional information range, the additional information range being positioned within an optical path from the second light source to the second detector and means interconnecting the speed control element and the carrier for providing translational movement of the carrier as a function of movement of the speed control element, the translational movement being in a direction coincident with the light responsive gradients, each detector generating an instantaneous signal indicative of a measure of the light responsiveness of a zone of its respective range in registry in registry with its optical path, the position indicator system further including a processing circuit, means operably interconnecting each of the detectors to the processing circuit, the processing circuit including a comparator, the comparator receiving signals from each of the detectors and generating an output signal corresponding to the position of the speed control element, the drive system further including a microprocessor and means operably interconnecting the comparator with the microprocessor, the microprocessor receiving the output signal from the comparator and in response thereto generating a signal for controlling the fuel supply means, whereby fuel supply to the engine is controlled in response to the detected instantaneous position of the speed control.

9. A position indicator system constructed in accordance with claim 8 wherein the series of optically readable characters comprises a bar code.