Patent ID: 6194709
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: B62D,G01D

Abstract:
A rotary position sensor for sensing the position of a shaft comprising:(a) a rotor disposed for rotation on a housing structure, said rotor having at least a portion thereof formed of color filtering material having transmittances of two discrete chromaticities disposed in a color gradient in a circumferential direction, said rotor having an annular configuration and adapted to have said shaft received therethrough;(b) a circuit board means disposed adjacent one axial side of said rotor, said circuit board means including a source of light of said two discrete chromaticities, and a photodetector spaced from said source;(c) said housing structure defining a reflective surface disposed adjacent an axial side of said rotor opposite said one side;(d) said source and said detector disposed such that said reflective surface reflects light from said source through said color gradient filter and filtered light is transmitted therefrom directly to said detector; and,(e) said circuit board means including circuit means operative to provide a signal indicative of the proportion of transmitted light of one chromaticity.