Contact detecting device for positioning relatively movable elements
First Claim
1. A contact device for detecting a relative position between first and second elements by repeatedly applying a detection voltage to a gap between said first element and said second element and detecting contact of said first and second elements in accordance with a change of said detection voltage, comprising:
- means for generating a low-duty, asymmetrical bipolar pulse voltage having positive component and a negative component, one of said components of said pulse voltage having a duration which is substantially shorter than the other component of said pulse voltage;
means for applying said low-duty pulse voltage to said gap; and
means for detecting a change in said low-duty pulse-voltage across said gap.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for positioning a first and second conductive elements and, in particular, detecting contact at a gap therebetween without causing damage to either element. A pulse voltage, having a low duty, is applied to the gap. The occurrence of a contact is identified by a voltage drop at the gap, which is detected by comparing the gap voltage to a reference. A control circuit, comprising a flip-flop or one-shot operative in synchronism with the source of pulse voltage, generates a contact identification signal in response to the detection of a voltage drop at the gap.
21 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A contact device for detecting a relative position between first and second elements by repeatedly applying a detection voltage to a gap between said first element and said second element and detecting contact of said first and second elements in accordance with a change of said detection voltage, comprising:
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means for generating a low-duty, asymmetrical bipolar pulse voltage having positive component and a negative component, one of said components of said pulse voltage having a duration which is substantially shorter than the other component of said pulse voltage; means for applying said low-duty pulse voltage to said gap; and means for detecting a change in said low-duty pulse-voltage across said gap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A device for detecting the relative position of between first and second conductive elements, comprising:
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means for providing an asymmetrical bipolar pulse voltage, having a predetermined cycle, to a gap between said elements, said pulse voltage having a positive component and a negative component, one of said components of said pulse voltage having a duration that is substantially shorter than the other component of said pulse voltage; contact judging means for detecting a level of said asymmetrical bipolar pulse voltage applied to said gap in synchronization with said cycle and for judging whether or not said elements are making contact with each other from the characteristics of said peak level. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of detecting the relative position of a first and second elements, comprising:
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applying a first signal voltage to a gap between said elements, said first signal voltage comprising a low-duty, asymmetrical bipolar pulse voltage having a predetermined period; detecting said first signal voltage at said gap; gating said detected first signal voltage in response to a second signal synchronized with said first signal to generate a contact identifying signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A contact detecting device for repeatedly applying a detection voltage to a gap between a first element and a second element and detecting contact of said first and second elements in accordance with a change in said detection voltage, comprising:
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means for generating a low-duty asymmetrical bipolar pulse voltage having a positive component and a negative component, one of said components having a duration which is substantially shorter than the other of said components; means for applying said pulse voltage to said gap; and means for detecting a change in said pulse voltage across said gap, said detecting means comprising a voltage source outputting a reference voltage, a comparator circuit connected to said voltage source and said means for generating said pulse voltage so as to generate a comparison output signal when a peak of said pulse voltage exceeds said reference voltage and control means synchronized with said pulse voltage for generating a control signal in response to said comparison output signal for identifying a contacting state between said first and second elements. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification