Positioning Device Scanning Unit Amplitude Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing position measuring devices face challenges in providing clear and interpretable feedback on the amplitude of scanning signals, as users struggle to determine the actual amplitude level from simple light source indications, such as green or red lighting, which does not effectively convey the amplitude information.

Innovation Solution

A scanning unit with a control device that adjusts the lighting state of a display unit based on the amplitude of the scanning signal, using a combination of light source luminosity changes and interruptions to provide a digital-like indication of the amplitude, allowing operators to interpret the amplitude level through counting interruptions at consistent intervals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the display unit only signals correct or incorrect attachment by illuminating a green or red light source, then the device complexity is low, but the information provided to the user is insufficient for determining the actual amplitude level

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamplitude informationVSAvoiddisplay complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by using successive interruptions of the light source at equal time intervals, where the number of interruptions serves as a discrete measure of the amplitude. This converts continuous amplitude information into countable periodic events, providing detailed amplitude information while maintaining simple display hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Loss of information

If the luminosity of a light source is varied as a function of the deviation from nominal amplitude, then continuous amplitude information is provided, but it is difficult for the user to assign luminous intensity to amplitude height

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamplitude informationVSAvoidinterpretation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces continuous luminosity variation with periodic interruptions of the light source. The number of successive interruptions at equal time intervals provides discrete, countable information that is easy to interpret. This transforms the difficult-to-interpret continuous luminosity signal into easily countable discrete events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the continuous amplitude range into discrete levels represented by different numbers of light interruptions. This segmentation makes the information more interpretable by converting a continuous physical quantity into discrete, countable units that the human brain can more easily process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If the number of successive light state changes is used as a measure of amplitude, then detailed amplitude information is provided, but the display unit complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamplitude measurement precisionVSAvoiddisplay unit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device uses the scanning signal itself to generate the interruption pattern, where the signal's amplitude directly determines the number of interruptions. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional complex display mechanisms, as the measurement signal directly controls the display pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2325609B1Sampling unit of a positioning device
Publication Date: 2015.10.14 DR JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
  • EP2325609B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2325609B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2325609B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5c

AI summary

The invention relates to a scanning unit (2) of a position measuring device, which includes a control device (4) for monitoring the amplitude (A) of phase-shifted periodic scanning signals (S1, S2). The control device (4) has a control unit (41) which changes the luminance of a green light source (51) and a red light source (52) inversely with respect to each other, depending on the amplitude (A). The control device (4) has a further control unit (42) which interrupts the illumination of the two light sources (51, 52) depending on the amplitude (A), wherein the number of successive interruptions is a measure of the amplitude (A).