Apparatus, system and method for detecting a position of a movable element in a compartment

• US 7,388,188 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motion Controls
• Original Assignee: Motion Controls, LLC
• Inventors: Engstrand, Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US11/238,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20070069163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 250/208.2, 250/222.1, 250/227.11, 250/221, 250/239, 250/559.29, 250/559.3, 250/548, 91/1, 913/61, 92/5.R, 71/1, 713/61, 123/193.1, 356/622
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 using multiple transmitters or receivers

Abstract

The apparatus, the system and the method measure a distance and/or an intensity of emitted light. The apparatus and the system have a compartment, a movable element and/or a sensor array in an interior of the compartment. The sensor array emits light, detects light detects temperature of air and/or detects pressure of the air inside the interior of the compartment. The movable element and/or the interior surface of the compartment absorbs emitted light from the sensor array in the compartment. The sensor array determines and/or measures an intensity of the emitted light from the sensor array which is not absorbed by the movable element and/or an interior surface of the compartment. The intensity of emitted light is based on, corresponds to and/or is indicative of a position P of the movable element in the interior of the compartment. A microprocessor may detect, may measure and/or may calculate the position P of the movable element in the compartment based on the intensity of emitted light detected by the sensor array.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring a position, the apparatus comprising:

a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface, an exterior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein the first end has an interior wall and an exterior wall wherein the exterior wall is in a position opposite to the first interior wall;

a movable element within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element is located at a first position in the interior and moves to a second position in the interior;

a first sensor array connected to the interior wall of the first end of the compartment wherein the first sensor array extends inward with respect to the interior of the compartment wherein the first sensor array emits a light into the interior wherein the first sensor array detects a first intensity of light within the interior and a second intensity of light within the interior wherein the first intensity of the light within the interior corresponds to the first position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment and the second intensity of light within the interior corresponds to the second position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment; and

a microprocessor in communication with the first sensor array wherein the first sensor array transmits signals indicating the first intensity of light and the second intensity of light to the microprocessor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a wall attached to the second end of the compartment.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an air temperature sensor connected to the sensor array.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an air pressure sensor connected to the sensor array.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a groove attached to the exterior surface of the compartment wherein a magnet coupled to the movable element is located within the groove.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a hole in the compartment extending from the interior surface to the exterior surface wherein the hole connects the interior of the compartment to an interior of a second compartment.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a tab attached to the interior surface of the compartment wherein the tab extends outward into the interior of the compartment and further wherein the tab is located between the sensor array and the movable element.

8. A system for measuring a position, the system comprising:

a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface, an exterior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein the first end has an interior wall and an exterior wall wherein the exterior wall is in a position opposite to the interior wall;

a movable element connected to the compartment wherein the movable element moves inward or outward with respect to the first end of the compartment wherein the movable element is located at a first position with respect to the first end of the compartment and moves to a second position with respect to the first end of the compartment;

a first sensor array connected to the interior wall of the first end of the compartment wherein the first sensor array extends inward with respect to the interior of the compartment wherein the first sensor array emits a light into the interior wherein the first sensor array detects a first intensity of light within the interior and a second intensity of light within the interior wherein the first intensity of the light within the interior corresponds to the first position of the movable element and the second intensity of the light within the interior corresponds to the second position of the movable element; and

a microprocessor in communication with the first sensor array wherein the microprocessor determines the position of the movable element based on the intensity of the light within the interior detected by the first sensor array.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the movable element is insertable into the interior of the compartment.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising

a second sensor array located within the interior of the compartment.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a groove in the body of the compartment wherein a magnet coupled to the movable element is located within the groove.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a spring attached to the movable element.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

an output device connected to the microprocessor.