Angular Position Measuring Device Using Intensity-Modulated Radiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing angular position measurement devices relying on mechanical vibration for amplitude modulation are prone to malfunctions and wear, making them unreliable and costly, and struggle to accurately detect point or bar-type objects.
Innovation Solution
The method and device replace mechanical vibration with intensity-modulated radiation, using optical sensors and a detection circuit to calculate the relative angular position based on the difference-to-sum ratio of temporally filtered signals from overlapping reception fields, eliminating the need for mechanical actuators and enhancing reliability and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical vibration is used for amplitude modulation of transducer signals, then angular position measurement can be achieved, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to mechanical actuators subject to wear and malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical vibration actuators with optical intensity modulation. Instead of mechanically vibrating the transducers to achieve amplitude modulation, the invention uses intensity-modulated radiation that interacts with the object to produce amplitude-modulated signals in the receivers. This substitution eliminates mechanical wear and malfunction while achieving the same measurement function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the mechanical actuator component from the system. By using intensity-modulated radiation instead of mechanical vibration, the patent takes out the unreliable mechanical part while retaining the essential amplitude modulation function needed for hyperacuity measurement.
2Ease of manufacture
If mechanical actuators are used for transducer vibration, then amplitude modulation is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases and ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical vibration systems with a simpler optical intensity modulation approach. This substitution significantly reduces manufacturing complexity and cost, as intensity-modulated radiation sources are easier and cheaper to implement than precision mechanical actuators.
3Measurement precision
If overlapping reception fields from multiple transducers are used, then measurement precision with hyperacuity is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reception fields of multiple transducers to create overlapping measurement zones. This combination allows the system to achieve hyperacuity measurement precision by comparing signals from multiple receivers, while the use of intensity-modulated radiation keeps the overall system simpler than mechanical alternatives.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides a more reliable, cost-effective, and simpler method for measuring angular positions, with improved accuracy and reduced risk of malfunctions, capable of detecting point or bar-type objects effectively.
Implementation Method 1
the method comprises the step of illuminating said object with a radiation such that said reception of said radiation occurs by reflection from said object into said field of view
Implementation Method 2
said transducers are optical sensors, such as photoelectric sensors
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a method for measuring the relative angular position of an object (E) and an angular position measuring device (10) comprising at least a first and a second transducers (D1, D2) delimiting respectively a first and a second reception fields, the first and second reception fields overlapping in area defined as the field of view of the device (10), the method comprising the following steps: a) carrying out an amplitude modulation of the signals delivered by the first and the second transducers (D1, D2); and b) calculating an output signal (A) starting from the amplitude modulated signals (Ph1, Ph2) delivered by the first and the second transducers (D1, D2) as a function of said relative angular position, characterized in that step a) is done by receiving radiation (M), whose intensity is modulated in time at a known frequency, from said object (E) with said transducers (D1, D2) within the field of view.