Power transfer device with contactless optical encoder and color reflective surface
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01D-005/34
G01D-005/26
출원번호
US-0010729
(2004-12-13)
발명자
/ 주소
Shahbazi,Iraj
Brezee,Victor L.
Adler,Randy
출원인 / 주소
Magna Powertrain USA, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Harness, Dickey &
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
25
초록▼
An angular offset sensing device includes an optical encoder having a light generating element and a light sensor. An armature includes a reflective surface having a generally semicircular shape and a spectrum of color disposed thereon varying from a first end of the surface to a second end of the s
An angular offset sensing device includes an optical encoder having a light generating element and a light sensor. An armature includes a reflective surface having a generally semicircular shape and a spectrum of color disposed thereon varying from a first end of the surface to a second end of the surface. A housing encloses both the optical encoder and the armature and rotationally supports the armature. An electrical voltage is generated when light from the light generating element is reflected back to the sensor from the reflective surface. The voltage is proportional to a wavelength of the reflected light and is indicative of an angular rotation of the armature relative to the optical encoder. The voltage is corrected for linearity and used for example to signal a vehicle transfer case shift.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. An angular rotation identification device, comprising: an optical device including a light generating element and a light sensor; and a reflective surface having a generally semicircular perimeter shape and a spectrum of color varying from a first end of the surface to a seco
What is claimed is: 1. An angular rotation identification device, comprising: an optical device including a light generating element and a light sensor; and a reflective surface having a generally semicircular perimeter shape and a spectrum of color varying from a first end of the surface to a second end of the surface; wherein an electrical voltage generated by light from the light generating element being reflected back to the sensor upon angular rotation of the reflective surface with respect to the optical device is proportional to a wavelength of the color. 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board operable to support the optical encoder. 3. The device of claim 2, further comprising: an armature integrally including the reflective surface; and a housing operable to rotatably support the armature and fixedly support the printed circuit board. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the housing further comprises: a base having a sleeve operable to support the armature; and a cover connectable to the base, the base and cover together operable to enclose both the armature and the printed circuit board. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the voltage comprises a voltage range variable between approximately 0 volts DC to approximately 5 volts DC. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the spectrum of color further comprises: a first color wavelength at the first end corresponding to the 0 volts DC voltage; and a second color wavelength at the second end corresponding to the 5 volts DC voltage. 7. The device of claim 5, wherein the voltage generated by the optical device at any location between the first and second ends is proportional to a relative position of the optical device between the first and second ends. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the light generating element further comprises a light emitting diode. 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the light sensor further comprises a detector having a collector and an emitter. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first end and the second end are spaced a predetermined number of degrees apart from each other. 11. An optical angular offset sensing device, comprising: an optical encoder including a light generating element and a light sensor; an armature including a reflective surface, the reflective surface having a generally semicircular shape and a spectrum of color disposed thereon varying from a first end of the surface to a second end of the surface; and a housing operable to enclose both the optical encoder and the armature and rotationally support the armature; wherein an electrical voltage generated by light from the light generating element being reflected back to the sensor from the reflective surface is proportional to a wavelength of the light reflected from the reflective surface to the optical encoder and is indicative of an angular rotation of the armature relative to the optical encoder. 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first and second ends are spaced a predetermined number of degrees apart from each other. 13. The device of claim 11, wherein the reflective surface comprises a variable reflectivity surface. 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the variable reflectivity surface comprises a plurality of colors having an increasing range of wavelengths between the first and second ends. 15. An optical angular offset sensing system, the system comprising: an optical device including a light generating element and a light sensor; a reflective surface having a generally semicircular perimeter shape and a spectrum of color varying from a first end of the surface to a second end of the surface; and at least one color disposable on the reflective surface having a wavelength continuously increasing between the first end and the second end; wherein an electrical voltage generated by light from the light generating element being reflected back to the sensor from the reflective surface is proportional to the wavelength of the light reflected to the optical device. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the wavelength of the light further comprises a continuously increasing wavelength between the first end and the second end. 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one color comprises a plurality of colors spectrally ranging from violet to red. 18. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one color comprises a single color having a continuously increasing color intensity along the reflective surface between the first end and the second end. 19. An optical angular offset sensing system, the system comprising: an optical device including a light generating element and a light sensor; a reflective surface having a generally semicircular perimeter shape and a spectrum of color varying from a first end of the surface to a second end of the surface; at least one color disposable on the reflective surface such that a wavelength of the color continuously increases between the first and second ends; an electrical voltage generated by light from the light generating element being received by the sensor after reflection from the reflective surface; and a discrete circuit separate from the optical device operable to convert the electrical voltage to a linear voltage indicative of a device angular offset. 20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a circuit board operable to fixedly support the optical device. 21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a base operable to support the circuit board. 22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a cover connectable to the base and operable together with the base to enclose the circuit board. 23. An optical angular offset sensing system, the system comprising: an optical device including a light generating element and a light sensor; a reflective surface having a generally semicircular perimeter shape and a spectrum of color varying from a first end of the surface to a second end of the surface such that an electrical voltage is generated by light from the light generating element being received by the sensor after reflection from the reflective surface; at least one color disposable on the reflective surface wherein a wavelength of the color continuously increases between the first and second ends; and an electronic control module connected to the optical device, the electronic module operable to receive the electrical voltage generated by the sensor and utilize the electrical voltage to control a shift position of an automotive transfer case. 24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a discrete circuit separate from the optical device operable to change the electrical voltage to a linear voltage. 25. The system of claim 23, further comprising an electrical motor connected between the electronic control module and the transfer case. 26. The system of claim 25, further comprising a gear train connected between the motor and the transfer case, the gear train operable to change the shift position of the transfer case. 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the gear train further comprises an output shaft, wherein the electrical voltage is directly proportional to an angular position of the output shaft. 28. The system of claim 23, further comprising a microcontroller connected between the electronic control module and the optical device. 29. A method for controlling a power transfer device using an optical device having a light generating element and a photo-detector device, and a reflective surface, the method comprising: producing an output light from the light generating element; applying a spectrum of color varying from a first end of the reflective surface to a second end of the reflective surface; rotatably positioning the reflective surface to reflect the light from the reflective surface to the photo-detector device such that a wavelength of the color continuously increases between the first and second ends; generating an electrical voltage using the photo-detector device, the electrical voltage being proportional to the wavelength of the color; and utilizing the electrical voltage to control a shift position of the power transfer device. 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising connecting an electronic control module to the optical device. 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising connecting a discrete circuit to the optical device. 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising changing the electrical voltage to a linear voltage using the discrete circuit. 33. The method of claim 29, further comprising applying a plurality of colors having an increasing range of wavelengths to the reflective surface between the first and second ends. 34. A method for sensing angular offset using an optical device having a light generating element and a photo-detector device, and a reflective surface, the method comprising: producing an output light from the light generating element; applying a spectrum of color varying from a first end of the reflective surface to a second end of the reflective surface such that a wavelength of the color continuously increases between the first and second ends; positioning the reflective surface to reflect the light from the reflective surface to the photo-detector device; and generating an electrical voltage using the photo-detector device, the electrical voltage being proportional to the wavelength of the color. 35. The method of claim 34, further comprising fixedly connecting the optical device to a circuit board. 36. The method of claim 35, further comprising fixedly mounting the circuit board to a base member. 37. The method of claim 36, further comprising co-molding the reflective surface to an armature. 38. The method of claim 37, further comprising rotatably mounting the armature to the base member. 39. The method of claim 36, further comprising attaching a cover to the base member, the cover and the base member together operable to enclose the circuit board. 40. The method of claim 37, further comprising rotating the armature within an angular range of approximately 155 degrees.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (25)
Charles Albert Spellman, Absolute angle sensor for multi-turn shaft.
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