Research/Patents/US 5237391
US 5237391Tier 1 — UAP Program Assignee

MULTITRACK MULTILEVEL SENSING SYSTEM

Assignee

Boeing

Filed as: BOEING COMPANY, THE

Filed

Aug 31, 1990

Granted

Aug 17, 1993

Location

MERCER ISLAND WA US

Abstract

An optical sensor in which both analog and digital techniques are employed. The sensor comprises an encoder and a detector. The encoder includes a plurality of tracks extending along a sensing axis. Each track has a property that varies along the sensing axis, such that the property can have one of three or more distinguishable levels. The detector detects the levels of the tracks at a position along the sensing axis, and produces corresponding output signals. The levels vary in a manner such that the output signals encode the position of the encoder with respect to the detector. The levels may vary in steps or continuously. For stepwise variable tracks, preferably only one track changes its level at any given position, and all changes in level occur in single steps. Both optical and electrical implementations are described.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Imposed

Dec 19, 1990

Rescinded

May 6, 1991

Duration

4 months

Inventor

  • 1RAYMOND W. HUGGINS

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Back to patent indexSource: USPTO 35 USC §181 secrecy order records