Position sensor with resistive element
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a resistive element having a plurality of discrete portions;
a plurality of leads, at least one lead from the plurality of leads configured to provide a voltage to a uniquely associated portion from the plurality of portions of the resistive element;
a contact element configured to contact the resistive element at a contact position, the contact element being configured to detect a voltage at the contact position, the detected voltage being associated with a position of the contact element relative to the resistive element; and
a position detector configured to determine which portion of the resistive element from the plurality of portions is associated with the contact position, the position detector being further configured to associate a position range with the portion associated with the contact position, the position detector being further configured to determine a location within the position range associated with the contact position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A position sensor comprises a resistive element positionable on a first surface. A pair of leads are on the resistive element, the pair of leads adapted to supply a first voltage, such as by being grounded. An intermediate lead is positioned on the resistive element between the pair of leads, the intermediate lead being adapted to provide a second voltage. A contact element is positionable on a second surface, the contact element adapted to contact at least a portion of the resistive element to detect a voltage at a contact position, the detected voltage being related to the position or movement of the second surface relative to the first surface. In another version, a position sensor comprises a resistive element comprising first and second resistive strips. A plurality of leads are positioned on each resistive strip to provide a voltage to each resistive strip.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a resistive element having a plurality of discrete portions; a plurality of leads, at least one lead from the plurality of leads configured to provide a voltage to a uniquely associated portion from the plurality of portions of the resistive element; a contact element configured to contact the resistive element at a contact position, the contact element being configured to detect a voltage at the contact position, the detected voltage being associated with a position of the contact element relative to the resistive element; and a position detector configured to determine which portion of the resistive element from the plurality of portions is associated with the contact position, the position detector being further configured to associate a position range with the portion associated with the contact position, the position detector being further configured to determine a location within the position range associated with the contact position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A processor-readable medium comprising code representing instructions to cause a processor to perform a method, the code comprising code to:
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receive a voltage of a resistive element at a first position; receive a voltage of the resistive element at a second position; determine a number of voltage changes associated with movement of a voltage sensor relative to the resistive element between the first position and the second position; determine a coarse position associated with the determined number of voltage changes; and determine a fine position associated with the voltage of the resistive element at the second position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first resistive element; a plurality of resistive elements separated from one another, the plurality of resistive elements not including the first resistive element; a plurality of leads associated with the first resistive element configured to provide a voltage to the first resistive element; a plurality of leads associated with the plurality of resistive elements configured to provide a voltage to each resistive element from the plurality of resistive elements; a contact element associated with the first resistive element configured to contact the first resistive element at a position associated with the first resistive element, the contact element associated with the first resistive element being configured to detect a voltage associated with the first resistive element at the contact position associated with the first resistive element, the detected voltage associated with the first resistive element being associated with a position of the contact element associated with the first resistive element relative to the first resistive element; a contact element associated with the plurality of resistive elements configured to contact at least one of the plurality of resistive elements at a contact position associated with the plurality of resistive elements, the contact element associated with the plurality of resistive elements being configured to detect a voltage associated with at least one of the plurality of resistive elements at a contact position associated with the plurality of resistive elements, the detected voltage being associated with a position of the contact element associated with the plurality of resistive elements relative to at least one of the plurality of resistive elements; and a position detector configured to determine the contact position associated with the first resistive element based on the detected voltage associated with the first resistive element, the position detector being configured to determine a plurality of possible contact positions associated with the plurality of resistive elements. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A processor-readable medium comprising code representing instructions to cause a processor to:
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receive a voltage of a first resistive element; receive a voltage of a second resistive element, the second resistive element being different from the first resistive element; determine a position of a contact element detecting the voltage associated with the first resistive element; determine at least one possible position of a contact element detecting the voltage associated with the second resistive element; compare the position of the contact element detecting the voltage associated with the first resistive element and the at least one possible position of the contact element detecting the voltage associated with the second resistive element; and determine, at least partially based on the comparison, the location of the contact element detecting the voltage associated with the second resistive element.
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20. A processor-readable medium comprising code representing instructions to cause a processor to:
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receive a voltage of a first resistive element; receive a voltage of a second resistive element, the second resistive element being different from the first resistive element; determine if the voltage of the first resistive element is substantially equivalent to a maximum voltage of the first resistive element; determine if the voltage of the first resistive element is substantially equivalent to a minimum voltage of the first resistive element; if the voltage of the first resistive element is substantially equivalent to a maximum voltage of the first resistive element, then determine the position of a contact element detecting the voltage associated with the second resistive element; and if the voltage of the first resistive element is substantially equivalent to a minimum voltage of the first resistive element, then determine the position of a contact element detecting the voltage associated with the second resistive element.
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Specification