Power transfer device with contactless optical encoder and pitched reflective surface
First Claim
1. An angular rotation identification device, comprising:
- an optical device including a light generating element and a light sensor; and
a reflective surface having a generally semicircular perimeter shape and a continuously varying surface height from a first end of the surface to a second end of the surface;
wherein an electrical voltage generated by light from the light generating element being reflected back to the sensor upon angular rotation of the reflective surface with respect to the optical device is proportional to a wavelength of the reflected light being directly proportional to a distance between the reflective surface and the optical device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An angular offset sensing device includes an optical encoder having a light generating element and a light sensor. An armature includes a reflective surface having a generally semicircular shape and a surface height continuously increasing from a first end of the surface to a second end of the surface. A housing encloses both the optical encoder and the armature and rotationally supports the armature. An electrical voltage is generated when light from the light generating element is reflected back to the sensor from the reflective surface. The voltage is proportional to a wavelength of the reflected light and is indicative of an angular rotation of the armature relative to the optical encoder. The voltage is corrected for linearity and used for example to signal a vehicle transfer case shift.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. An angular rotation identification device, comprising:
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an optical device including a light generating element and a light sensor; and a reflective surface having a generally semicircular perimeter shape and a continuously varying surface height from a first end of the surface to a second end of the surface; wherein an electrical voltage generated by light from the light generating element being reflected back to the sensor upon angular rotation of the reflective surface with respect to the optical device is proportional to a wavelength of the reflected light being directly proportional to a distance between the reflective surface and the optical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An optical angular offset sensing device, comprising:
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an optical encoder including a light generating element and a light sensor; an armature including a reflective surface, the reflective surface having a generally semicircular shape and a continuously varying surface height from a first end of the surface to a second end of the surface; and a housing operable to enclose both the optical encoder and the armature and rotationally support the armature; wherein an electrical voltage generated by light from the light generating element being reflected back to the sensor from the reflective surface is proportional to a wavelength of the light reflected from the reflective surface to the optical encoder and is indicative of an angular rotation of the armature relative to the optical encoder. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An optical angular offset sensing system, the system comprising:
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an optical device including a light generating element and a light sensor; a reflective surface having a generally semicircular perimeter shape and a continuously varying surface height from a first end of the surface to a second end of the surface; a rotatable shaft operable to support the reflective surface; wherein an electrical voltage generated by light from the light generating element being reflected back to the sensor from the reflective surface is proportional to the wavelength of the light reflected to the optical device during rotation of the rotatable shaft. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. An optical angular offset sensing system, the system comprising:
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an optical device including a light generating element and a light sensor; a curving reflective surface having a generally semicircular perimeter shape and a continuously varying height from a first end of the surface to a second end of the surface; a wavelength of light reflected from the curving reflective surface continuously increases between the first and second ends; an electrical voltage generated by light from the light generating element being received by the sensor after reflection from the reflective surface; and a discrete circuit separate from the optical device operable to convert the electrical voltage to a linear voltage indicative of a device angular offset. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An optical angular offset sensing system, the system comprising:
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an optical device including a light generating element and a light sensor; a reflective surface having a generally semicircular perimeter shape and a height continuously increasing from a first end of the surface to a second end of the surface such that an electrical voltage is generated by light from the light generating element being received by the sensor after reflection from the reflective surface; a wavelength of the light reflected from the reflective surface continuously increasing between the first and second ends; and an electronic control module connected to the optical device, the electronic control module operable to receive the electrical voltage generated by the light sensor and utilize the electrical voltage to control a shift position of an automotive transfer case. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for controlling a power transfer device using an optical device having a light generating element and a photoelectric device, and a reflective surface, the method comprising:
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producing an output light from the light generating element; continuously increasing a height of the reflective surface from a first end of the reflective surface to a second end of the reflective surface; rotatably positioning the reflective surface to reflect the light from the reflective surface to the photoelectric device such that a wavelength of the reflected light continuously increases as the optical device changes position between the first and second ends; generating an electrical voltage using the photoelectric device, the electrical voltage being proportional to the wavelength of the reflected light; and utilizing the electrical voltage to control a shift position of the power transfer device. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification