Optical Stroke Detection via Light Attenuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to accurately detect the end or beginning of a stroke within a compartment due to contact between the movable element and sensors, leading to inaccurate positioning, wear, and potential damage, while also being unable to detect wear or damage to the movable element or rod, which can cause failure.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a switch and insulator connected to the compartment, a light source and sensors to measure light intensity, and a microprocessor to detect the position of the movable element, preventing contact and using light attenuation to determine the element's position without causing damage, and detecting wear or damage to prevent failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor is used to detect the position of the movable element, then the position can be measured, but contact between the sensor and movable element causes inaccurate detection, wear, and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based sensor system with an optical detection system. A light source emits light through the movable element to a light sensor, which detects light intensity variations to determine position. This non-contact optical method eliminates mechanical wear and contact damage while maintaining position detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light as an intermediary between the movable element and the detection system. The light passes through the movable element, and its attenuation provides information about the element's position without requiring direct contact. This intermediary approach allows indirect measurement that avoids the harmful contact effects.
2Loss of information
If contact between the movable element and sensor is allowed for position detection, then position information can be obtained, but wear and damage to the movable element occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mechanical contact detection method with an optical transmission method. The light source and light sensor detect position through light intensity changes as the movable element moves, eliminating the need for physical contact between the sensor and movable element, thus preventing wear and damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses light as a disposable, non-material medium for detection. Light can be continuously emitted and detected without degradation, unlike physical sensors that wear out. This approach treats the detection medium (light) as effectively inexhaustible and non-damaging to the movable element.
3Measurement precision
If the movable element contacts the sensor for detection, then position can be detected, but the sensor becomes inoperable or inaccurate over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact sensor with a non-contact optical sensor system. The light sensor detects position through light intensity variations without physical contact, eliminating the wear and degradation that would reduce sensor lifespan and accuracy over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system is self-calibrating because light intensity variations directly correspond to movable element position without requiring mechanical adjustment or calibration. The system maintains its detection accuracy automatically throughout its operational life without degradation.
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
Accurately detects the end or beginning of a stroke without causing damage, and identifies wear or damage to the movable element or rod, preventing failure by using a non-contact method and light-based positioning.
Implementation Method 1
an amount of light emitted by the light source which may correspond to a position of the movable element between the end of and the beginning of the stroke
Implementation Method 2
Interior walls of the compartment and/or a surface of the movable element may absorb, may diffuse and/or may attenuate an amount of light emitted by the light source
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method detect that a movable element within an interior of a compartment is at an end of a stroke and/or a beginning of the stroke within the interior of the compartment. A switch and/or an electrical circuit is connected to the compartment for detecting that the movable element may be at the beginning of and/or at the end of the stroke. A microprocessor is connected to the switch or to the electrical circuit for detecting that the movable element is at the end of and/or at the beginning of the stroke within the interior of the compartment. An end cap having a light detector is connected to the compartment to measure an intensity of the light within an interior of the end cap which is attenuated by and/or is diffused by a surface of the movable element and/or of the compartment. The intensity of the light within the interior of the end cap corresponds to a position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment. The light detector determines the position of the movable element which is at the end of the stroke, at the beginning of the stroke and/or between the end of the stroke and the beginning of the stroke via the intensity of light within the interior of the end cap.