×

Rotationally actuated position sensor

  • US 5,794,355 A
  • Filed: 06/03/1996
  • Issued: 08/18/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

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.

View all claims
  • 4 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×