Patent ID: 6424928
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: G01D

Abstract:
A device for detecting the positional state of an incrementing multi-gear assembly, comprising:an assembly of components in geared relationship, each component disposed to rotate, said geared relationship enabling the rotation of one component to increment a next component in sequence; a plurality of said components each including a system further comprising: a source affixed to the component and traveling along a predefined circular path as said component rotates; and an array of at least three sensors deployed equidistantly around the path of the source, different combinations of sensors within the array disposed to become activated and deactivated via sensory communication with the source as the source travels its path, said different combinations ranging from one sensor to multiple sensors activated by the source at different times during travel along the path by the source; and a converter, the converter disposed to convert current combined activation/deactivation states of sensors in each system into a digital signal representative of a current overall positional state for the assembly, the converter periodically referring to a prior known positional state for the assembly in converting current combined activation/deactivation states of sensors in each system into a digital signal representative of a current overall positional state for the assembly.