System and method for detecting a position of a movable element

• US 7,294,823 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Phaedrus, LLC
• Original Assignee: Phaedrus, LLC
• Inventors: Engstrand, Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Thanh X.
• Application Number:
  US11/242,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20060065822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 250/231.1, 250/221, 250/573, 92/5.R, 91/1, 73/11.9, 73/12.2
• US Class Current: 250/231.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/28 with deflection of beams of light, e.g. for direct optical indication G01D5/40 takes precedence; mechanical adjustment G01D5/264

Abstract

A system and a method detect a position of a movable element within an interior of a compartment. The interior of the compartment has a light source, a light sensor, a base, a support and/or a movable element. The base is located between and/or is connected to the light source, the light sensor and/or the interior surface of the compartment. The base prevents the light source from being directed towards the light sensor. The light sensor detects an intensity of an emitted light in the interior of the compartment. The intensity of the emitted light detected by the light sensor corresponds to a position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment. The light sensor detects, measures, calculates and/or determines the position of the movable element based on the intensity of the emitted light within the interior of the compartment.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a position, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface and a length wherein the length is defined between a first end and a second end wherein the compartment has a first wall at the first end wherein the first wall abuts the body of the compartment;

connecting a movable element to the compartment wherein the movable element is located at a first position with respect to the first wall;

connecting a base to the interior surface of the compartment wherein the base has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side wherein the first side of the base faces the first end of the compartment and the second side of the base faces the second end of the compartment;

emitting a light from the first side of the base; and

detecting an intensity of emitted light within the interior from the second side of the base.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

determining the first position of the movable element based on the intensity of emitted light within the interior.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

moving the movable element to a second position with respect to the first wall of the compartment.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

inserting the movable element into the interior of the compartment.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

displaying information based on the intensity of emitted light within the interior of the compartment.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

enclosing the second end of the compartment.