Displacement detecting device power supply and data communication device

• US 6,573,707 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Inventors: Shimomura, Toshitaka, Kiriyama, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Strecker, Gerard R.
• Application Number:
  US09/943,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20020024335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 324/207-5-2, 324/207.24, 336/45, 336/115, 336/116, 336/118, 336/130, 336/131, 340/870.32, 340/870.33, 340/870.35, 340/870.36
• US Class Current: 324/207.17
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2086 by movement of two or more coils with respect to two or more other coils

Abstract

A scale and a detecting head each include input/output connectors. Either of the input/output connectors is connected to receiving-side connector. By connecting the receiving-side connector to either of the scale and the detecting head, which is fixed in use, there is no change that a receiving-side cable will be disconnected by movement of the counterpart of the fixed member. This results in improvement of the reliability. Additionally, device is operable at high speed since the cable does not restrict motion of the movable member.

Claims

1. A displacement detecting device for detecting a relative displacement between a first member and a second member, wherein said first member includes a first output connector for outputting a displacement signal based upon the relative displacement, and said second member includes a second output connector for outputting the displacement signal, and wherein the first and second output connectors are adapted to be connected to a receiving-side connector that receives the output displacement signal.

2. The displacement detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said first member includes a displacement signal generating section for generating the displacement signal and a transmitting circuit for transmitting the displacement signal, and said second member includes a receiving circuit for receiving the displacement signal from the transmitting circuit.

3. The displacement detecting device according to claim 2, further comprising non-contact signal transmitting means for transmitting the displacement signal.

4. The displacement detecting device according to claim 3, wherein said non-contact signal transmitting means is based on an electromagnetic induction.

5. The displacement detecting device according to claim 3, wherein said non-contact signal transmitting means is based on a capacitance.

6. The displacement detecting device according to claim 3, wherein said non-contact signal transmitting means is based on an optical signal.

7. The displacement detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second members each include displacement signal generating sections for generating the displacement signal on the basis of the relative displacement.

8. The displacement detecting device according to claim 1, wherein one of said first and second members includes a power supplying section for supplying electric power from said one of said first and second members to the other of said first and second members.

9. The displacement detecting device according to claim 8, wherein the power supply is performed by non-contact signal transmitting means.

10. The displacement detecting device according to claim 9, wherein said non-contact signal transmitting means is based on an electromagnetic induction.

11. The displacement detecting device according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second output connectors include a signal terminal and a power feeding terminal.

12. A displacement detecting device for detecting a relative displacement between a detecting head and a scale extending over and confronted with the entire range of a locus representative of a movement of said detecting head, wherein said scale includes a connector, said connector incorporating therein an input terminal and an output terminal, said input terminal receives electric power and feeds electric power to said detecting head, and said output terminal receives a displacement signal from said detecting head.

13. The displacement detecting device according to claim 12, wherein said detecting head includes a displacement signal generating section and a transmitting circuit, said displacement signal generating section generating the displacement signal based upon the relative displacement between the detecting head and the scale, and said transmitting circuit transmitting the displacement signal to the scale, and said scale includes a receiving circuit and a power supplying section, said receiving circuit receiving the displacement signal from the transmitting circuit and said power supplying section supplying electric power to said detecting head.

14. The displacement detecting device according to claim 13, wherein the displacement signal transmission is performed by non-contact signal transmitting means.

15. The displacement detecting device according to claim 14, wherein said non-contact signal transmitting means is based on an electromagnetic induction.

16. A displacement detecting device for detecting a relative displacement between a first member and a second member, wherein said first member includes a displacement signal generating section for generating a displacement signal on the basis of the relative displacement and a signal transferring section for transferring the displacement signal to said second member, each of said first and second members including input/output connectors, said input/output connectors having an exciting terminal for receiving an exciting signal and a signal terminal for outputting the displacement signal on the basis of the relative displacement, and wherein an output of the displacement signal generating section is branched and connected to the signal terminal and to the signal transferring section, said input/output connectors being adapted to be fit to a receiving-side connector that receives said output displacement signal.