Steering center indicator device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A shaft position indicator, comprising:
- a position indicator disk, the position indicator disk operatively connected to and moving in accordance with the shaft, the position indicator disk having a notch formed therein, the notch having a bottom, reflective surface;
a light source for generating a light signal in the direction of the position indicator disk, the light signal being reflected by the bottom surface of the notch when the shaft is in a predetermined orientation, the light source being positioned a predetermined distance from the bottom of the notch;
a light sensor for detecting light reflected from the bottom surface of the notch, the light sensor being positioned the predetermined distance from the bottom of the notch; and
a circuit for activating the light source and indicating when the light sensor detects light reflected from the bottom of the notch,wherein the predetermined distance is the focal length of the light sensor, and the light sensor substantially only detects light at the focal length, so that only light reflected from the bottom of the notch is detected by the light sensor.
21 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shaft position indicator in which a collar is formed on and moves on in accordance with a shaft. The collar is placed opposite an optical sensor and includes a notch which activates an optical sensor when the notch is located opposite the sensor. When the notch is opposite the sensor, a driving circuit outputs a voltage. When the notch is not opposite the sensor, the driving circuit outputs 0 voltage. The light source and sensor are placed a distance from the collar equal to the focal length to substantially eliminate interference from ambient light.
62 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A shaft position indicator, comprising:
-
a position indicator disk, the position indicator disk operatively connected to and moving in accordance with the shaft, the position indicator disk having a notch formed therein, the notch having a bottom, reflective surface; a light source for generating a light signal in the direction of the position indicator disk, the light signal being reflected by the bottom surface of the notch when the shaft is in a predetermined orientation, the light source being positioned a predetermined distance from the bottom of the notch; a light sensor for detecting light reflected from the bottom surface of the notch, the light sensor being positioned the predetermined distance from the bottom of the notch; and a circuit for activating the light source and indicating when the light sensor detects light reflected from the bottom of the notch, wherein the predetermined distance is the focal length of the light sensor, and the light sensor substantially only detects light at the focal length, so that only light reflected from the bottom of the notch is detected by the light sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification