Encoder for measuring the absolute position of moving elements
First Claim
1. An encoding system for determining the absolute position of a movable member relative to a stationary member, including in combination:
- an encoding band supported by one said member comprising a series of bar-code symbols disposed at regular intervals along said band, each said symbol being distinctly different from every other said symbol and each comprising a pattern of bars and spaces for encoding the absolute position corresponding to the location of its symbol along said band,reading means rigidly supported by the other said member for scanning said bar-code symbols on said encoding band including means for generating an analog signal voltage,said movable member being capable of both discrete and continuous motion in two directions, anddecoding means actuated by said analog signal voltage for determining the absolute position of said movable member relative to said stationary member,whereby said absolute position can be determined solely from said system without dependence on any additional information external to said system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical encoding system for determining the absolute position of a movable member relative to a stationary member. For example, a bar-code scanner may be supported by a stationary member for scanning bar-code symbols in its field of view. An encoding band may be supported by the movable member so that a portion of the band is scanned by the bar-code scanner. Affixed to or otherwise marked on the band is a sequential series of bar-code symbols, each symbol encoding the absolute position of its location on the band. A bar-code decoding system, actuated by the signals produced by the bar-code scanner, decodes the bar-code symbol scanned by the scanner, and determines the absolute position of a movable member relative to the stationary member.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An encoding system for determining the absolute position of a movable member relative to a stationary member, including in combination:
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an encoding band supported by one said member comprising a series of bar-code symbols disposed at regular intervals along said band, each said symbol being distinctly different from every other said symbol and each comprising a pattern of bars and spaces for encoding the absolute position corresponding to the location of its symbol along said band, reading means rigidly supported by the other said member for scanning said bar-code symbols on said encoding band including means for generating an analog signal voltage, said movable member being capable of both discrete and continuous motion in two directions, and decoding means actuated by said analog signal voltage for determining the absolute position of said movable member relative to said stationary member, whereby said absolute position can be determined solely from said system without dependence on any additional information external to said system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An encoding system for determining the absolute position of a rotatable telescope dome relative to a stationary telescope dome building having a cylindrical supporting wall, including in combination:
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an encoding band supported by said rotatable telescope dome comprising a series of bar-code symbols disposed at regular intervals along said band, each said symbol being distinctly different from every other said symbol and each comprising a pattern of bars and spaces for encoding the absolute position corresponding to the location of its symbol along said band, reading means rigidly supported by said supporting wall for scanning said bar-code symbols on said encoding band including means for generating an analog signal voltage, said rotatable dome being capable of both discrete and continuous motion in two directions, and decoding means actuated by said analog signal voltage for determining the absolute position of said rotatable dome relative to said stationary supporting wall, whereby said absolute position can be determined solely from said system without dependence on any additional information external to said system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification