초록 ▼

There is provided herein a sensor for determining relative displacement between two surfaces which utilizes two optically conductive members that have been mounted in proximity to each other, whereby the amount of displacement between the two surfaces may be determined by measurement of the magnitud

There is provided herein a sensor for determining relative displacement between two surfaces which utilizes two optically conductive members that have been mounted in proximity to each other, whereby the amount of displacement between the two surfaces may be determined by measurement of the magnitude of the intensity of light transmitted through them. The instant invention preferably utilizes two planar light transmitting surfaces--an emitter and a receiver--which are free to move laterally with respect to each other and are positioned so that when light is introduced into the emitter some proportion of that light falls on the receiver. By electronically monitoring the intensity of light impinging on the receiver an estimate of the amount of overlap between the two optical surfaces and, thus, an estimate of the relative displacement between them, may be obtained.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An optical displacement sensor, comprising: (a) a first optical line, said first optical line being positionable to be in optical communication with an illumination source; (b) a sensor emitter, said sensor emitter having at least one emitting surface, (b1) wherein said sens

What is claimed is: 1. An optical displacement sensor, comprising: (a) a first optical line, said first optical line being positionable to be in optical communication with an illumination source; (b) a sensor emitter, said sensor emitter having at least one emitting surface, (b1) wherein said sensor emitter is in optical communication with said first optical line, (b2) wherein said sensor emitter is non-diffracting and optically conductive, and, (b3) wherein at least a portion of any light originating from said illumination source is emitted from said at least one emitting surfaces; (c) a sensor receiver, said sensor receiver having at least one receiving surface, said sensor receiver being positioned to be proximate to said sensor emitter and in optical communication therewith, (c1) wherein said sensor receiver is non-diffracting and optically conductive, (c2) wherein at least one of said receiving surfaces is in optical communication with at least one of said emitting surfaces, (c3) wherein at least a portion of any light emitted from said emitting surface is received by said receiving surface, and, (c4) wherein said sensor receiver and said sensor emitter are movable with respect to each other, wherein an amount of light received by said receiving surface varies with any such movement, and wherein said amount of light received by said receiving surface is representative of an amount of displacement between said emitting surface and said receiving surface; and, (d) a second optical line, said second optical line being in optical communication with said sensor receiver, said second optical line being at least for transmitting at least a portion of any light received by said receiving surface. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor receiver and said sensor emitter are both a same size. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor receiver and said sensor emitter are both a same size square. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said receiving surface has a plurality of different colored regions thereon, each of said plurality of different colored regions permitting light of a different limited wavelength band to pass therethrough and to said second optical conduit. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said emitting surface and said receiving surface are substantially parallel with each other. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: (e) at least one photo sensitive element in optical communication with said second optical line, said photosensitive element for converting at least a portion of any light transmitted from said receiving surface into an electronic signal. 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sensor receiver receiving surface includes a plurality of regions thereon, each of said different regions permitting a different frequency band of light to pass therethrough. 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein there are a plurality of photo sensitive elements in optical communication with said second optical line, and wherein each of said plurality of photo sensitive elements is responsive to a different band of light frequencies. 9. An optical displacement sensor, comprising: (a) a first optical line, said first optical line being positionable to be in optical communication with at least one illumination source; (b) a sensor emitter, said sensor emitter having at least one emitting surface, (b1) wherein said sensor emitter is in optical communication with said first optical line, (b2) wherein said sensor emitter is non-diffracting and optically conductive, and, (b3) wherein at least a portion of any light originating from said illumination source is emitted from said at least one emitting surfaces; (c) a sensor receiver, said sensor receiver having at least one receiving region, said sensor receiver being positioned to be proximate to said sensor emitter and in optical communication therewith, (c1) wherein said sensor receiver is non-diffracting and optically conductive, (c2) wherein at least one of said receiving regions is in optical communication with at least one of said emitting surfaces, (c3) wherein at least a portion of any light emitted from said emitting surface is received by at least one of said receiving regions, and, (c4) wherein said sensor receiver and said sensor emitter are movable with respect to each other, wherein an amount of light received by said receiving region varies with any such movement, and wherein said amount of light received by said receiving surface is representative of an amount of displacement between said emitting surface and said receiving surface; and, (d) at least one sensing optical line, said sensing optical line being in optical communication with said sensor receiver, said sensing optical line being at least for transmitting at least a portion of any light received by said receiving surface. 10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein there are a plurality of receiving regions on said receiving surface and wherein there are a corresponding plurality of sensing optical lines, each of said plurality of sensing optical lines being in optical communication with at least one of said receiving regions. 11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each of said sensing optical lines is in optical communication with a photosensitive element, each of said photosensitive elements for converting at least a portion of any light transmitted from said receiving surface into an electronic signal. 12. An optical displacement sensor, comprising: (a) a first optical line, said first optical line being positionable to be in optical communication with an illumination source; (b) a non-diffracting and substantially translucent sensor emitter, said sensor emitter having at least one emitting surface, (b1) wherein said sensor emitter is in optical communication with said first optical line, (b2) wherein said sensor emitter is optically conductive, and, (b3) wherein at least a portion of any light originating from said illumination source is emitted from said at least one emitting surfaces; (c) a non-diffracting and substantially translucent sensor receiver, said sensor receiver having at least one receiving surface, said sensor receiver being positioned to be proximate to said sensor emitter and in optical communication therewith, (c1) wherein said sensor receiver is optically conductive, (c2) wherein at least one of said receiving surfaces is in optical communication with at least one of said emitting surfaces, (c3) wherein at least a portion of any light emitted from said emitting surface is received by said receiving surface, and, (c4) wherein said sensor receiver and said sensor emitter are movable with respect to each other, wherein a magnitude of light received by said receiving surface varies with any such movement, and wherein said magnitude light received by said receiving surface is representative of an amount of displacement between said emitting surface and said receiving surface; and, (d) a second optical line, said second optical line being in optical communication with said sensor receiver, said second optical line being at least for transmitting at least a portion of any light received by said receiving surface. 13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said sensor receiver and said sensor emitter are both a same size. 14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said sensor receiver and said sensor emitter are both a same size square. 15. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said receiving surface has a plurality of different colored regions thereon, each of said plurality of different colored regions permitting light of a different limited wavelength band to pass therethrough and to said second optical conduit. 16. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said emitting surface and said receiving surface are substantially parallel with each other. 17. An apparatus according to claim 12, farther comprising: (e) at least one photo sensitive element in optical communication with said second optical line, said photosensitive element for converting at least a portion of any light transmitted from said receiving surface into an electronic signal. 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said sensor receiver receiving surface includes a plurality of regions thereon, each of said different regions permitting a different frequency band of light to pass therethrough. 19. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein there are a plurality of photo sensitive elements in optical communication with said second optical line, and wherein each of said plurality of photo sensitive elements is responsive to a different band of light frequencies.