Apparatus and method of using a light conduit in a position detector
First Claim
1. A position detector comprising:
- an optical source;
an optical sensor;
control circuits coupled to the source and the sensor wherein the circuits energize the source with a predetermined pulsed, signal; and
a radiant energy conduit with first and second ends, one end is coupled to the source when the conduit is in a first position relative to the source, and the other is coupled to the sensor, and wherein if the one end moves from the first position, the coupling is disrupted; and
wherein the control circuits are configured to determine if an amplitude parameter of a selected, received pulse of the pulsed signal is greater than a predetermined threshold, and if so, those circuits determine if an amplitude parameter of a subsequently received pulse is less than a predetermined amplitude, and if not, an alarm is output.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A position detector includes a source of radiant energy, such as infrared light. A sensor is spaced from the source. The source and the sensor can be carried spaced apart from one another by a housing. Control circuits, carried by the housing, are coupled to the source and the sensor. Pulsed radiant energy, emitted by the source is incident on the sensor only when transmitted by a solid optical medium which has a predetermined orientation relative to the housing. When the medium has the predetermined orientation, the sensor receives transmitted radiant energy from the source. When the medium moves from the predetermined orientation, the sensor ceases to receive the transmitted radiant energy from the source, and the control circuits can generate an alarm indication.
32 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A position detector comprising:
-
an optical source; an optical sensor; control circuits coupled to the source and the sensor wherein the circuits energize the source with a predetermined pulsed, signal; and a radiant energy conduit with first and second ends, one end is coupled to the source when the conduit is in a first position relative to the source, and the other is coupled to the sensor, and wherein if the one end moves from the first position, the coupling is disrupted; and wherein the control circuits are configured to determine if an amplitude parameter of a selected, received pulse of the pulsed signal is greater than a predetermined threshold, and if so, those circuits determine if an amplitude parameter of a subsequently received pulse is less than a predetermined amplitude, and if not, an alarm is output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A position detector comprising:
-
a source of radiant energy, such as infrared light, wherein a sensor is carried spaced apart from the source by a housing; control circuits, carried by the housing, and coupled to the source and the sensor the control circuits drive the source to emit coded pulsed, radiant energy, wherein the radiant energy, emitted by the source is incident on the sensor only when transmitted by a solid optical medium which has a predetermined orientation relative to the housing, when the medium has the predetermined orientation, the sensor receives transmitted radiant energy from the source;
when the medium moves from the predetermined orientation, the sensor ceases to receive the transmitted radiant energy from the source; andwherein the control circuits are configured to determine if an amplitude parameter of a selected, received pulse of the pulsed signal is greater than a predetermined threshold, and if not an alarm is output, and, the control circuits determine if an amplitude parameter of a subsequently received pulse of the pulsed signal is greater than a predetermined threshold then an alarm is output. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
Specification