Patent ID: 6777666
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: G01B,G01D

Abstract:
A position sensor comprisinga light-source-and-light-emitting structure operable to emit light from each of an emitter plurality of light emitters disposed along an emitting length; a first light detector having a first-light-detector light output; a first light-collecting optical fiber in a parallel but spaced-apart relation to the emitting length of the light-source-and-light-emitting structure and having a first-light-collecting-optical-fiber extraction end that provides a first light output to the first light detector, and a first plurality of first-light-collecting-optical-fiber light collectors disposed along a first-light-collecting-optical-fiber collecting length of a first-light-collecting-optical-fiber lateral surface of the first light-collecting optical fiber in a facing relation to a first group of the respective light emitters of the light-source-and-light-emitting structure; a second light detector having a second-light-detector light output; a second light-collecting optical fiber in a parallel but spaced-apart relation to the emitting length of the light-source-and-light-emitting structure and having a second-light-collecting-optical-fiber extraction end that provides a second light output to the second light detector, and a second plurality of second-light-collecting-optical-fiber light collectors disposed along a second-light-collecting-optical-fiber collecting length of a second-light-collecting-optical-fiber lateral surface of the second light-collecting optical fiber in a facing relation to a second group of the respective light emitters of the light-source-and-light-emitting structure, wherein the first group and the second group of light emitters of the light-source-and-light-emitting structure are different; and an opaque light shield disposed between and movable relative to the light-source-and-light-emitting structure and the light-collecting optical fibers, wherein a length of the opaque light shield measured parallel to the light-source-and-light-emitting structure is such that at least some of the first group and at least some of the second group of light collectors are not facing the light shield for at least some positions of the light shield.