US3783277A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light responsive sensor system
Assignee: CENTURY FLIGHT SYSTEMS Inc A TX CORP
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Filing: 1972-06-02
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1992-06-02
Abstract
Abstract Relative movement between a barrier positioned with relation to light sources and light sensors produces a signal at the light sensors related to the barrier movement. Two light sources are alternately energized from a regulated voltage controlled current source to provide two sources of light of equal intensity with system perturbations minimized. Two light sensors positioned from the light sources respond to light from both of the alternately energized sources. A signal from a first of the light sensors connects to a voltage follower amplifier that provides a system output signal that varies with and is related to barrier movement. The second light sensor provides a signal to a regulator circuit that controls the current source to the light sources. This signal from the second light sensor is compared with a signal from a reference source to provide light source regulation. As an alternate embodiment, signals from both light sensors are coupled to voltage follower amplifiers each having an output signal related to the barrier movement. These two output signals are summed for a system output signal.
Inventors
- 👤 J Younkin
- 👤 J Nixon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/26; G01D5/32; G01D5/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A sensor system which comprises: first and second light sources alternately energized, first and second light sensors positioned from said light sources and each responsive to light from both of said sources, a barrier positioned for relative movement with respect to said light sensors adapted primarily to selectively shield and vary the relative amount of light falling on a first of said sensors from said sources, a first circuit responsive to the first of saId sensors to supply a system output signal, and a second circuit responsive to the second of said sensors to regulate the light output from said two light sources.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A sensor system which comprises: first and second light sources alternately energized, first and second light sensors positioned from said light sources and each responsive to light from both of said sources, a barrier positioned for relative movement with respect to said light sensors adapted primarily to selectively shield and vary the relative amount of light falling on a first of said sensors from said sources, a first circuit responsive to the first of saId sensors to supply a system output signal, and a second circuit responsive to the second of said sensors to regulate the light output from said two light sources.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sensor system as set forth in claim 1 including a voltage supply having an output connected to the second source to be compared with the signal from the second of said sensors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A sensor system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the second circuit includes an amplifier responsive to the second sensor and connected to said voltage supply and having an output driving a voltage controlled current amplifier for regulating said light sources.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sensor system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first circuit includes a voltage follower amplifier having one input responsive to the first sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
131 words
A sensor system which comprises: first and second light sources alternately energized, first and second sensors positioned from said light sources and each responsive to light from both of the sources, a barrier positioned for relative movement with respect to said sensors adapted primarily to selectively shield and vary the relative amount of light falling on a first of said sensors from said sources, a first circuit including a voltage follower amplifier having one input responsive to the first of said sensors to supply a system output signal, a second circuit responsive to the second of said sensors to regulate the light output from said two sources, and a voltage source having an output for comparison with the signal from the second of said sensors and connected to the second circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
131 words
A sensor system which comprises: first and second light sources alternately energized, first and second sensors positioned from said light sources and each responsive to light from both of the sources, a barrier positioned for relative movement with respect to said sensors adapted primarily to selectively shield and vary the relative amount of light falling on a first of said sensors from said sources, a first circuit including a voltage follower amplifier having one input responsive to the first of said sensors to supply a system output signal, a second circuit responsive to the second of said sensors to regulate the light output from said two sources, and a voltage source having an output for comparison with the signal from the second of said sensors and connected to the second circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A sensor system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the second circuit includes an amplifier responsive to the second sensor and connected to said voltage source and having an output driving a voltage controlled current amplifier for regulating said light sources.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
A sensor system which comprises: first and second light sources alternately energized, first and second sensors positioned from said light sources and each responsive to light from both of said sources, a barrier positioned for relative movement with respect to said light sensors adapted primarily to selectively shield and vary the relative amount of light falling on the first and second sensors from said light sources, a first circuit responsive to said first and second sensors to supply a system output signal, and a second circuit responsive to the second of said sensors to regulate the light output from said two light sources.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
A sensor system which comprises: first and second light sources alternately energized, first and second sensors positioned from said light sources and each responsive to light from both of said sources, a barrier positioned for relative movement with respect to said light sensors adapted primarily to selectively shield and vary the relative amount of light falling on the first and second sensors from said light sources, a first circuit responsive to said first and second sensors to supply a system output signal, and a second circuit responsive to the second of said sensors to regulate the light output from said two light sources.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A sensor system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said barrier includes means for selectively shielding the light falling on a first of said sensors for a first pre-established movement of said barrier and second means for selectively shielding the relative amount of light falling on the second of said sensors over a second pre-established movement of said barrier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sensor system as set forth in claim 7 including a voltage source having an output for comparison with the signal from the second of said sensors and connected to the second circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
74 words
A sensor system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first circuit includes a first voltage follower amplifier having one input responsive to the first sensor and providing an output signal and a second voltage follower amplifier having one input responsive to the second sensor and also providing an output signal, and circuit means for summing the output signals from said first and second voltage follower amplifiers to supply a system output signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
172 words
A sensor system which comprises: first and second light sources alternately energized, first and second light sensors positioned from said light sources and each responsive to light from both of said sources, a barrier positioned for relative movement with respect to said light sensors adapted primarily to selectively shield and vary the relative amount of light falling on said first and second sensors from said sources, a first circuIt including a first voltage follower amplifier having one input responsive to the first such sensor and providing an output signal, a second voltage follower amplifier having one input responsive to the second sensor and providing an output signal and circuit means for combining the output signals of the first and second voltage follower amplifier to supply a system output signal, a second circuit responsive to the second of said sensors to regulate the light output from said two sources, and a voltage source having an output for comparison with the signal from the second of said sensors and connected to the second circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
172 words
A sensor system which comprises: first and second light sources alternately energized, first and second light sensors positioned from said light sources and each responsive to light from both of said sources, a barrier positioned for relative movement with respect to said light sensors adapted primarily to selectively shield and vary the relative amount of light falling on said first and second sensors from said sources, a first circuIt including a first voltage follower amplifier having one input responsive to the first such sensor and providing an output signal, a second voltage follower amplifier having one input responsive to the second sensor and providing an output signal and circuit means for combining the output signals of the first and second voltage follower amplifier to supply a system output signal, a second circuit responsive to the second of said sensors to regulate the light output from said two sources, and a voltage source having an output for comparison with the signal from the second of said sensors and connected to the second circuit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
A sensor system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said barrier includes means for selectively shielding the light falling on a first of said sensors for a first pre-established movement of said barrier and second means for selectively shielding the relative amount of light falling on the second of said sensors over a second pre-established movement of said barrier.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |