Rotationally actuated position sensor
First Claim
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1. A position sensor comprising:
- inner and outer curved surfaces substantially concentrically aligned to form a container therebetween, wherein the container is filled with a viscous fluid and a lighter-weight fluid such that a bubble of the lighter-weight fluid is created that changes position within the container as the sensor is moved, and wherein the bubble is in contact with both the inner and the outer curved surfaces;
a source of electro-magnetic radiation positioned to illuminate substantially all the container at one time so that a portion of the radiation is transmitted through the bubble; and
a radiation detector positioned opposite the radiation source so that the portion of the radiation transmitted through the bubble activates a section of the detector corresponding to the position of the bubble within the container.
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Abstract
A position sensor comprises two curved surfaces concentrically aligned to form a container which is filled with a viscous fluid and a bubble of a lighter-weight fluid and placed between a radiation source and a radiation detector. The bubble changes position within the container when the sensor is moved, transmitting a beam of radiation from the radiation source through the bubble to activate a section of the radiation detector while the remainder of the radiation is blocked by the fluid. Position sensing circuitry translates a signal from the activated section of the radiation detector into position coordinates for point in space corresponding to the position of the bubble in the container.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A position sensor comprising:
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inner and outer curved surfaces substantially concentrically aligned to form a container therebetween, wherein the container is filled with a viscous fluid and a lighter-weight fluid such that a bubble of the lighter-weight fluid is created that changes position within the container as the sensor is moved, and wherein the bubble is in contact with both the inner and the outer curved surfaces; a source of electro-magnetic radiation positioned to illuminate substantially all the container at one time so that a portion of the radiation is transmitted through the bubble; and a radiation detector positioned opposite the radiation source so that the portion of the radiation transmitted through the bubble activates a section of the detector corresponding to the position of the bubble within the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of generating position coordinates for points in a two-dimensional coordinate system in a curved container with a viscous fluid and a lighter-weight fluid so that a bubble of the lighter-weight fluid is formed that contacts both surfaces of the curved container and that changes position within the container in response to movements of the container, comprising the steps of:
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rotating the container in at least one direction corresponding to the curvature of the container; illuminating substantially all the container at one time with radiation from a radiation source so that a portion of the radiation is transmitted through the bubble and remaining portions of the radiation is blocked by the viscous fluid; activating a section of a radiation detector with the radiation transmitted through the bubble; and translating a signal from the activated section of the radiation detector into position coordinates for the point corresponding to the position of the bubble in the container.
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Specification