Patent ID: 6246049
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: G01C,G01D,G01P

Abstract:
An optical transducer, comprising:a light source for emitting radiant energy;an elongate light collector positioned relative to the light source for receiving radiant energy from the light source, the light collector having opposite ends and being formed such that radiant energy incident on a length of the light collector from the light source can be transmitted to the light collector ends, the intensity of radiant energy at one of the light collector ends increasing as the incident radiant energy travels along the length of the light collector towards the one end;a light blocking member extending between the light source and at least a portion of the elongate light collector for blocking at least a portion of the radiant energy from the light collector, the light blocking member and light collector being relatively movable for varying the position of the radiant energy incident on the light collector to thereby vary the amount of radiant energy transmitted to at least the one light collector end; andat least one photosensor positioned for detecting the amount of radiant energy transmitted to at least the one end;wherein the intensity of radiant energy received by the one light collector end and detected by the photosensor is indicative of the relative movement.