Optoelectric transducers which utilize a single light source to produce both analog and digital outputs

Claim 2

A transducer for detecting a physical variable and converting a force produced by such physical variable to an electrical output, said transducer comprising movable means being movable responsive to the force produced by said physical variable, single radiation emitting means emitting desired levels of radiation, radiation sensitive means located to receive the radiation from said radiation emitting means, means forming a first path for the radiation from said single radiation emitting means to become incident on a first section of said radiation sensitive means and means forming a second path for the radiation from said single radiation emitting means to become incident on a second section of said radiation sensitive means, and radiation interrupter means operatively connected to said movable means and controlling the form of radiation in said first path to produce an electrical analog output from the first section of said radiation sensitive means responsive to the position of said movable means, said radiation interrupter means also controlling the form of radiation in said second path to produce an electrical digital output from the second section of said radiation sensitive means responsive to movement of said movable means simultaneously with the Production of said electrical analog output.

Claim 3

A combination analog-digital transducer for detecting a physical variable and converting a force produced by such physical variable to an electrical output, said transducer comprising movable means being movable responsive to the force produced by said physical variable, single radiation emitting means emitting desired levels of radiation first and second radiation sensitive means located to receive the radiation from said single radiation emitting means, radiation interrupter means operatively connected to said movable means and movable thereby, an opaque interrupting element on said radiation interrupting means and being movable with said interrupter means from a position said opaque element substantially blocks all radiation with respect to said first radiation sensitive means to a position where said opaque interrupting element substantially provides no radiation interference with respect to said radiation sensitive means, said opaque interrupting element also being movable to positions intermediate said first two named positions to control the amount of radiation incident on said first radiation sensitive means to thereby produce an electrical analog output from said first radiation sensitive means responsive to the position of said movable means, a somewhat transparent interrupting element on said radiation interrupting means and being movable therewith, a first set of rulling on said somewhat transparent interrupting element and being disposed between said single radiation emitting means and said second radiation sensitive means, a second set of rullings located in juxtaposition to said first set of rullings and cooperating therewith for producing a Moire fringe effect when moved with respect to each other and to thereby control the radiation incident on said second radiation sensitive means, digitizing means operatively associated with said second radiation sensitive means to produce a digital output in the form of discrete pulses from the radiation form incident on said second radiation sensitive means responsive to the movement of said movable means simultaneously with the production of said electrical analog output.

Claim 4

A combination analog-digital transducer for detecting a physical variable and converting a force produced by such physical variable to an electrical output, said transducer comprising movable means being movable responsive to the force produced by said physical variable, single radiation emitting means emitting desired levels of radiation first and second radiation sensitive means located to receive the radiation from said single radiation emitting means, radiation interrupter means operatively connected to said movable means and movable thereby, an opaque interrupting element on said radiation interrupting means and being movable with said interrupter means from a position said opaque element substantially blocks all radiation with respect to said first radiation sensitive means to a position where said opaque interrupting element substantially provides no radiation interference with respect to said radiation sensitive means, said opaque interrupting element also being movable to positions intermediate said first two named positions to control the amount of radiation incident on said first radiation sensitive means to thereby produce an electrical analog output from said first radiation sensitive means responsive to the position of said movable means, a somewhat transparent interrupting element on said radiation interrupting means and being movable therewith, a first set of rulling on said somewhat transparent interrupting element and being disposed between said single radiation emitting means and said second radiation sensitive means, a second set of rullings located in juxtaposition to said first set of rullings and cooperating therewith for producing a Moire fringe effect when moved with respect to each other and to thereby control the radiation incident on said second radiation sensitive means, digitizing means operatively associated with said second radiation sensitive means to produce a digital output in the form of discrete pulses from the radiation form incident on said second radiation sensitive means responsive to the movement of said movable means simultaneously with the production of said electrical analog output.

Claim 5

The transducer of claim 2 further characterized in that selective means is operatively associated with said digitizing means and said movable means to cause an addition of discrete pulses when said movable means moves in one direction and a subtraction of discrete pulses when said movable means moves in a reverse direction.

Claim 6

A direct proximate and remote readout gauge system for recording a readout of a physical variable, said system comprising sensing means to measure said physical variable, a first movable element which moves in response to a change in a physical variable, a gauge element connected to said first movable element and movable in response to said first movable element and providing a proximate readout, a transducer for also detecting said physical variable and converting a force produced by such physical variable to an analog type electrical output, said transducer comprising movable means being movable responsive to the force produced by said physical variable, single radiation emitting means emitting desired levels of radiation, radiation sensitive means located to receive the radiation from said single radiation emitting means, radiation interrupter means having a portion opaque to said radiation, said interrupter means being operatively connected to said movable means and being movable thereby from a position where the opaque portion substantially blocks all radiation with respect to said radiation sensitive means to a position where said opaque portion provides no radiation interference with respect to said radiation sensitive means, said interrupter means also being movable to positions intermediate said first two named positions to control the amount of radiation incident on said radiation sensitive means to produce an electrical analog output from said radiation sensItive means responsive to the position of said movable means and radiation interrupter means, and remote readout means operatively connectable to said radiation sensitive means to provide a remote readout of said physical variable.

Claim 7

A direct proximate and remote readout gauge system for recording a readout of a physical variable, said system comprising sensing means to measure said physical variable, a first movable element which moves in response to a change in a physical variable, a gauge element connected to said first movable element and movable in response to said first movable element and providing a proximate readout, a transducer for also detecting said physical variable and converting a force produced by such physical variable to an analog type electrical output, said transducer comprising movable means being movable responsive to the force produced by said physical variable, single radiation emitting means emitting desired levels of radiation, radiation sensitive means located to receive the radiation from said single radiation emitting means, radiation interrupter means having a portion opaque to said radiation, said interrupter means being operatively connected to said movable means and being movable thereby from a position where the opaque portion substantially blocks all radiation with respect to said radiation sensitive means to a position where said opaque portion provides no radiation interference with respect to said radiation sensitive means, said interrupter means also being movable to positions intermediate said first two named positions to control the amount of radiation incident on said radiation sensitive means to produce an electrical analog output from said radiation sensItive means responsive to the position of said movable means and radiation interrupter means, and remote readout means operatively connectable to said radiation sensitive means to provide a remote readout of said physical variable.

Claim 8

The system of claim 4 further characterized in that the force produced by said physical variable force is a mechanical or fluid force.

Claim 9

The system of claim 4 further characterized in that: a. said single radiation emitter means is an emitter light, b. said radiation sensitive means is a photocell, c. said radiation interrupter means is a shutter mechanism located to affect the light incident on said photocell.

Claim 10

The system of claim 4 further characterized in that means is located in said transducer to form a first path for the radiation from said single radiation emitting means and means is located in said transducer to form a second path for the radiation from said single radiation emitting means, a first element on said radiation interrupter means to properly characterize the radiation in said first path incident on said radiation sensitive means to produce an analog output in the form of a continuous signal and the radiation in said second path to produce a digital output in the form of discrete pulses from said radiation sensitive means responsive to movement of said movable means.

Claim 11

A direct proximate and remote readout gauge system for providing a readout of a physical variable, said system comprising sensing means to measure said physical variable, a first movable element which moves in response to a change in a physical variable, a gauge element connected to said first movable element and movable in response to said first movable element and providing a proximate readout, a digital transducer for also detecting said physical variable and converting a force produced by such physical variable to an electrical output, said transducer comprising movable means being movable responsive to the force produced by said physical variable, single radiation emitting means emitting desired levels of radiation, radiation sensitive means located to receive the radiation from said single radiation emitting means, a first set of rullings disposed between said radiation emitting means and radiation sensitive means, radiation interrupter means operatively connected to said movable means and being movable thereby, a second set of rullings associated with said radiation interrupter means and being located in juxtaposition to said first set of rullings and cooperating therewith for producing a Moire fringe effect when moved with respect to each other, and to thereby control the radiation incident on said radiation sensitive means, digitizing means operatively associated with said radiation sensitive means to produce a digital output in the form of discrete pulses from the radiation form incident on said radiation sensitive means responsive to movement of said movable means, selective means operatively associated with said digitizing means and said movable means to cause an addition of discrete pulses when said movable means moves in one direction and a subtraction of pulses when said movable means moves in a reverse direction, and remote readout means operatively connected to said radiation sensitive means to provide a remote readout of said physical variable.

Claim 12

A direct proximate and remote readout gauge system for providing a readout of a physical variable, said system comprising sensing means to measure said physical variable, a first movable element which moves in response to a change in a physical variable, a gauge element connected to said first movable element and movable in response to said first movable element and providing a proximate readout, a digital transducer for also detecting said physical variable and converting a force produced by such physical variable to an electrical output, said transducer comprising movable means being movable responsive to the force produced by said physical variable, single radiation emitting means emitting desired levels of radiation, radiation sensitive means located to receive the radiation from said single radiation emitting means, a first set of rullings disposed between said radiation emitting means and radiation sensitive means, radiation interrupter means operatively connected to said movable means and being movable thereby, a second set of rullings associated with said radiation interrupter means and being located in juxtaposition to said first set of rullings and cooperating therewith for producing a Moire fringe effect when moved with respect to each other, and to thereby control the radiation incident on said radiation sensitive means, digitizing means operatively associated with said radiation sensitive means to produce a digital output in the form of discrete pulses from the radiation form incident on said radiation sensitive means responsive to movement of said movable means, selective means operatively associated with said digitizing means and said movable means to cause an addition of discrete pulses when said movable means moves in one direction and a subtraction of pulses when said movable means moves in a reverse direction, and remote readout means operatively connected to said radiation sensitive means to provide a remote readout of said physical variable.

Claim 13

The system of claim 8 further characterized in that the force produced by said physical variable force is a mechanical or fluid force.

Claim 14

The system of claim 8 further characterized in that: a. said single radiation emitter means is an emitter light, b. said radiation sensitive means is a photocell, c. said radiation interrupter means is a shutter mechanism located to effect the light incident on said photocell.

Claim 15

The system of claim 8 further characterized in that pulse counting means is operatively connected to said digitizing means to count the discrete pulses from said digitizing means.

Claim 16

The system of claim 8 further characterized In that the first rulling is a diffraction grating and the second rulling is a diffraction grating.

Claim 17

The system of claim 8 further characterized in that the selective means comprises a pair of contact elements operatively associated with said movable means and a contactor element which enables an addition of pulses when in electrical contact with one contact element and a subtraction of pulses when in contact with the other contact element.

Claim 18

A condition responsive device for providing a digital output signal in response to a motion producing force, said device comprising detecting means for detecting the motion producing force and being responsive thereby, a radiation active element capable of causing conversion of said motion producing force to an electrical output, output means operatively associated with said radiation active element to produce a Moire type fringe pattern with respect to said radiation active element, pulse producing means operatively connected to said output means to produce an electrical output in discrete pulses in response to said motion producing force, and compensating means including a force controlling element operatively connected to said pulse producing means and detecting means and providing for interruption of the detecting means and preventing said detecting means from being responsive to said motion producing force upon power failure conditions to said device, said compensating means also including a time delay element to prevent operation of said pulse producing means for a predetermined period of time after initiation of power conditions to said device.

Claim 19

A condition responsive device for providing a digital output signal in response to a motion producing force, said device comprising detecting means for detecting the motion producing force and being responsive thereby, a radiation active element capable of causing conversion of said motion producing force to an electrical output, output means operatively associated with said radiation active element to produce a Moire type fringe pattern with respect to said radiation active element, pulse producing means operatively connected to said output means to produce an electrical output in discrete pulses in response to said motion producing force, and compensating means including a force controlling element operatively connected to said pulse producing means and detecting means and providing for interruption of the detecting means and preventing said detecting means from being responsive to said motion producing force upon power failure conditions to said device, said compensating means also including a time delay element to prevent operation of said pulse producing means for a predetermined period of time after initiation of power conditions to said device.

Claim 20

The device of claim 14 further characterized in that the force controlling element is a solenoid control valve.

Claim 21

A digital transducer for detecting a physical variable and converting a force produced by such physical variable to an electrical output, said transducer comprising movable means being movable responsive to the force produced by said physical variable, radiation emitting means emitting desired levels of radiation, radiation sensitive means located to receive the radiation from said radiation emitting means, a first set of rullings disposed between said radiation emitting means and radiation sensitive means, radiation interrupter means operatively connected to said movable means and being movable thereby a second set of rullings associated with said radiation interrupter means and being located in juxtaposition to said first set of rullings and cooperating therewith for producing a Moire fringe effect when moved with respect to each other, and to thereby control the radiation incident on said radiation sensitive means, digitizing pulse producing means operatively associated with said radiation sensitive means to produce a digital output in the form of discrete pulses from the radiation form incident on said radiation sensitive means responsive to movement of said movable means, selective means operatively associated with said digitizing pulse producing means and said movable means to cause an addition of discrete pulses when said movable means moves in one direction and a subtraction of pulses when said movable means move in a reverse direction, and compensating means including a force controlling element operatively connected to said pulse producing means and providing for interruption of the pulse producing means and preventing said radiation sensitive means and pulse producing means from being responsive to said motion producing force upon power failure condition to said device, said compensating means also including a time delay element to prevent operation of said pulse producing means for a predetermined period of time after initiation of power conditions to said device.

Claim 22

A digital transducer for detecting a physical variable and converting a force produced by such physical variable to an electrical output, said transducer comprising movable means being movable responsive to the force produced by said physical variable, radiation emitting means emitting desired levels of radiation, radiation sensitive means located to receive the radiation from said radiation emitting means, a first set of rullings disposed between said radiation emitting means and radiation sensitive means, radiation interrupter means operatively connected to said movable means and being movable thereby a second set of rullings associated with said radiation interrupter means and being located in juxtaposition to said first set of rullings and cooperating therewith for producing a Moire fringe effect when moved with respect to each other, and to thereby control the radiation incident on said radiation sensitive means, digitizing pulse producing means operatively associated with said radiation sensitive means to produce a digital output in the form of discrete pulses from the radiation form incident on said radiation sensitive means responsive to movement of said movable means, selective means operatively associated with said digitizing pulse producing means and said movable means to cause an addition of discrete pulses when said movable means moves in one direction and a subtraction of pulses when said movable means move in a reverse direction, and compensating means including a force controlling element operatively connected to said pulse producing means and providing for interruption of the pulse producing means and preventing said radiation sensitive means and pulse producing means from being responsive to said motion producing force upon power failure condition to said device, said compensating means also including a time delay element to prevent operation of said pulse producing means for a predetermined period of time after initiation of power conditions to said device.

Claim 23

The transducer of claim 16 further characterized in that the selective means comprises a pair of contact elements operatively associated with said movable means and a contactor element which enables an addition of pulses when in electrical contact with one contact element And a subtraction of pulses when in contact with the other contact element.