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Optical torque sensor

  • US 7,591,195 B2
  • Filed: 09/12/2007
  • Issued: 09/22/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A torque sensor comprising:

  • a sensor housing;

    a sensor input member at least partially received in the sensor housing;

    a sensor output member at least partially received in the sensor housing;

    a torsionally resilient coupling member that couples the sensor input member to the sensor output member; and

    an optical sensor system that includes a light source, at least one encoder and at least one optical sensor, the at least one encoder periodically transmitting light between the light source and the at least one optical sensor based on an amount of relative rotation between the sensor input member and the sensor output member;

    the sensor input member and the sensor output member being rotatably disposed about a common axis;

    the at least one encoder including an annular ring with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart teeth.

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