System and method for detecting an intensity of light

• US 7,348,542 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phaedrus, LLC
• Original Assignee: Phaedrus, LLC
• Inventors: Engstrand, Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): Rose; Kiesha L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BENNETT, JENNIFER D
• Application Number:
  US11/455,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20070075229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 2502311-23118, 250/573, 250/239, 92/5.R, 91/1, 731/19.A, 340/870.31
• US Class Current: 250/231.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/34 the beams of light being detected by photocells

Abstract

A system and a method detect an intensity of light within an interior of a compartment and/or of an end cap to locate a position of a movable element within the interior of the compartment. A platform is attached to interior walls of the end cap for positioning a light source within the interior of the compartment and a first light detector within the interior of the end cap. A second light detector is attached to the interior walls of the end cap which is adjacent to the platform. The platform is located between the light source and the first light detector and/or the second light detector to prevent light transmitted by the light source from being directed inwardly with respect to the first light detector and/or the second light detector. A bottom surface of the end cap reflects or diffuses light within the interior of the end cap inwardly with respect to the first light detector and/or the second light detector. The first light detector and/or the second light detector measures and detects the intensity of the light within the interior of the end cap which was attenuated by the movable element and/or by the interior walls of the compartment. The intensity of the light detectable by the first light detector and/or by the second light detector corresponds to the position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment.

Claims

1. A system for detecting light, the system comprising:

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

a cap having a bottom surface and walls wherein the walls are connected to the bottom surface wherein the cap is connected to the first end of the compartment;

a platform attached to the walls of the cap wherein the platform is located at the first end of the compartment wherein the bottom surface of the cap, the walls of the cap and the platform define an interior of the cap wherein the interior of the compartment is adjacent to the interior of the cap wherein the platform is located between the interior of the compartment and the interior of the cap;

a light source connected to the platform wherein the light source is located within the interior of the compartment wherein the light source emits light into the interior of the compartment wherein the interior surface of the compartment absorbs and diffuses an amount of the light emitted from the light source within the interior of the compartment; and

a first detector located within the interior of the cap wherein the first detector detects an intensity of the light within the interior of the cap wherein the intensity of the light within the interior of the cap corresponds to an intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment which is not absorbed or diffused by the interior surface of the compartment and further wherein the intensity of the light with the interior of the compartment corresponds to the amount of the light not absorbed or diffused by the interior surface of the compartment wherein the cap and the compartment prevents diffraction of the light within the interior of the compartment and the interior of the cap.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a movable element within the interior of the compartment wherein a position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment corresponds to the intensity of the light detected by the first sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second detector located within the interior of the cap wherein the second detector measures the intensity of the light within the interior of the cap.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first detector is connected to the platform.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first detector is connected to a first side of the platform, the light source is connected to a second side of the platform and the first side is located in a position opposite to the second side.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a microprocessor connected to the first detector wherein the microprocessor is in communication with the first detector.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a coating on the interior surface of the compartment wherein the coating absorbs or diffuses the amount of the light emitted from the light source.

8. A system for detecting light, the system comprising:

a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end of the compartment wherein the compartment has a movable element within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element moves within the interior of the compartment from a first position to a second position wherein the interior surface prevents diffraction of light emitted within the interior of the compartment;

a cap having bottom surface and walls wherein the walls are connected to the bottom surface wherein the cap is connected to the first end of the compartment;

a platform attached to the walls of the cap wherein the platform is located at the first end of the compartment wherein the bottom surface of the cap, the walls of the cap and the platform define an interior of the cap;

a first light detector located within the interior of the cap wherein the platform is located between the interior of the compartment and the first detector; and

a second light detector connected to the walls of the cap wherein the second detector is located within the interior of the cap wherein the first detector or the second detector detects an intensity of the light within the interior of the cap wherein the intensity of the light within the interior of the cap corresponds to the first position or the second position of the movable element within the interior of the cap; and

wherein the first detector is connected to the platform.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a surface formed on the movable element wherein the surface absorbs or diffuses an amount of light within the interior of the compartment.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the bottom surface reflects or diffuses the light within the interior of the cap inwardly with respect to the first detector or the second detector.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a light source connected to the platform wherein the light source emits light within the interior of the compartment.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a coating on the interior surface of the compartment wherein the coating absorbs and diffuses the amount of the light emitted from the light source.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the first detector is attached to a first side of the platform, a light source is connected to a second side of the platform and the first side is located in a position opposite to the second side.

14. A method for detecting light, 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 defined between a first end and a second end;

positioning a movable element within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element is located at a first position within the interior with respect to the second end of the compartment wherein the movable element and the interior surface of the compartment attenuate light emitted within the interior of the compartment;

connecting a cap to the first end of the compartment wherein the cap has a bottom surface and walls;

connecting a platform at the first end of the apartment wherein the bottom surface, the walls and the platform define an interior of the cap wherein the platform is located between the interior of the compartment and the interior of the cap wherein the walls of the cap diffuse light emitted within the interior of the cap;

connecting a first light detector to the platform wherein the first light detector is located within the interior of the cap; and

detecting an intensity of the light within the interior of the cap wherein the intensity of the light corresponds to an amount of the light not absorbed or diffused by the interior surface of the compartment wherein the amount of the light not absorbed or diffused by the interior surface of the compartment corresponds to the first position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

connecting a second light detector to the walls of the cap wherein the second light detector is located within the interior of the cap.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

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

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

connecting a light source to the platform wherein the light source emits light within the interior of the compartment.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

attaching the first detector to a first side of the platform; and

attaching a light source to a second side of the platform wherein the first side is located in a position opposite to the second side.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

forming a surface on the interior surface of the compartment or the movable element wherein the surface attenuates the light emitted within the interior of the compartment.