Abstract:
The present invention is a signal detecting device, which includes a casing, drive unit, feeding strip and transmitting strip. The signal detecting section of transmitting strip coincides with the movement path of the transmitting section of the conducting disc, and the transmitting strip is also fitted with some spacing grooves and flanges. Thus, the conducting signal will occur if the transmitting section of the conducting disc is aligned with the flanges or grooves. So, digital signal output is guaranteed to significantly improve the section detecting accuracy. Based upon the detecting unit, it is possible to ensure real-time error detection and automatic correction or resetting.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not applicable. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a signal detecting device, and more particularly to an innovative one which ensures digital signal output for a higher degree of section detecting accuracy. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Signal detecting devices are commonly applied to detect signals for a variety of applications, for example, detecting resistance signals of magnetic controllers of fitness equipment. In such cases, the signal detecting device is mounted into a motor drive mechanism of a magnetic wheel, such that it can sense the operating state of this mechanism and transmit a signal to a predefined controller, and then convert it into some segment data (e.g. 1, 2, 3 , , , ). The signal detecting device is typically used to input a voltage, and with the help of a variable resistance, generate an analog signal output due to action of voltage drop. For such a conventional signal detecting device, signal acquisition is achieved by sensing the resistance value. However, linear characteristics of resistance often lead to instability and loss of sensing linearity for a resistance value. And, there is not an obvious sectional division among variable resistance values. Thus, a bigger error of sectional values will likely occur if a controller interprets and converts analog signals. This cannot satisfy the demands of this industry for high-end and economical products. 
   For this reason, a sensing error cannot be detected and located through this structural design on a real-time basis. In such case, progressive errors will lead to a sharp difference of sectional values of a controller versus actual operating sections of a mechanism. In the case of failure of a typical signal detecting device, the controller should be manually reset (e.g. “reset” button), leading to the shortcoming of poor time efficiency and untimely troubleshooting. 
   Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve the efficacy. 
   To this end, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Based upon innovative design of a signal detecting device of the present invention, grooves and flanges are alternatively arranged at the movement path of a conducting disc. A conducting signal will occur if a transmitting section of the conducting disc is aligned with the flanges or grooves. This makes it possible to output digital signals and improve significantly the section detecting accuracy. 
   In addition, the present invention is additionally designed with a detecting unit. So, when the transmitting section of the conducting disc is contacted with detecting terminal of the detecting unit, the detecting unit will output this signal to a predefined controller via signal output terminal, thus enabling real-time error detection and automatic correction or resetting of sections by the controller. 
   Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of signal detecting device of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows an exploded partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of signal detecting device of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  shows a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of signal detecting device of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  shows an isolated perspective view of the operation of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  shows another isolated perspective view of the operation of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  shows an isolated schematic view of the flange embedded into the casing in the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  shows a schematic view of the feeding strip, transmitting strip, and detecting unit of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  shows a schematic view of the operation of the detecting unit of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  shows another schematic view of the operation of the detecting unit of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  shows another exploded perspective view (corresponding to  FIG. 7 ) of the feeding strip, transmitting strip, and detecting unit of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  shows a sectional view of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 12  shows another perspective view of the feeding strip, transmitting strip, and detecting unit of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  shows a schematic view of the feeding strip, transmitting strip, and detecting unit of the present invention. 
       FIG. 14  shows a schematic view of the feeding strip, transmitting strip, and detecting unit of the present invention. 
       FIG. 15  shows a perspective view of the feeding strip, transmitting strip, and detecting unit of the present invention. 
       FIG. 16  shows a vertical schematic view of the feeding strip, transmitting strip, and detecting unit of the present invention. 
       FIG. 17  shows a lateral schematic view of the feeding strip, transmitting strip, and detecting unit of the present invention. 
       FIG. 18  shows another vertical schematic view of the transmitting strip of the present invention. 
       FIG. 19  shows another lateral schematic view of the transmitting strip of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  depict preferred embodiments of the present invention, which are provided for only explanatory purposes with regard to the claims. 
   The signal detecting device comprises a casing  10 , which is designed into a cylinder with a chamber  11 . 
   The present invention includes a rotary drive unit  20 , which consists of a drive axle  21  protruding from casing  10 , and a swivel base  22  within chamber  11  of casing  10 . The swivel base  22  is equipped with a conducting disc  30  that rotates synchronously with swivel base  22 . A feeding section  31  and a transmitting section  32  are oppositely placed at a predefined cycle of conducting disc  30 . 
   A feeding strip  40  consists of a feeding terminal  41  and a conducting section  42 . The conducting section  42  is designed to coincide with the circular path of feeding section  31  of the conducting disc  30  (conducting section  42  is a ring in the present invention), such that conducting section  42  of feeding strip  40  is normally contacted with feeding section  31  of conducting disc  30 . 
   A transmitting strip  50  consists of a transmitting terminal  51  and a signal detecting section  52 . The curved signal detecting section  52  is designed to coincide with the circular path of transmitting section  32  of the conducting disc  30 , and is also fitted with some spacing grooves  53  and spacing flanges  54 . When transmitting section  32  of conducting disc  30  is aligned with the flange  54  or groove  53 , a digital signal output (1 or 0) is generated. 
   At least a detecting unit  60  consists of a detecting terminal  61  and a signal output terminal  62 . The detecting terminal  61  is aligned with a predefined position on transmitting section  32  of conducting disc  30 , but not connected with signal detecting section  52  of transmitting strip  50 . When transmitting section  32  of conducting disc  30  is contacted with detecting terminal  61  of detecting unit  60 , the detecting unit  60  will output this signal to a predefined controller via signal output terminal  62 , thus making it possible to detect the signal and enable resetting by a controller. 
   Based upon above-specified structural design, the present invention is operated as described below. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , when the signal detecting device of the present invention is used to detect a resistance signal of a magnetic controller of fitness equipment, the drive axle  21  of rotary drive unit  20  is linked to the drive mechanism of the magnetic controller. Meanwhile, feeding terminal  41  of feeding strip  40 , transmitting terminal  51  of transmitting strip  50  and signal output terminal  62  of detecting unit  60  are linked to the controller of the fitness equipment. When the fitness equipment is activated, the drive axle  21  of signal detecting device will be driven to actuate the swivel base  22  and conducting disc  30 . In such case, feeding section  31  of conducting disc  30  is normally in contact with conducting section  42  of feeding strip  40 . But, the contact state between transmitting section  32  of conducting disc  30  and signal detecting section  52  of transmitting strip  50  differs a little due to alignment with flange  54  or groove  53 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , transmitting section  32  of conducting disc  30  is aligned with flange  54  of signal detecting section  52 . In such a case, an input signal will be fed back to the controller via transmitting terminal  51  of transmitting strip  50 . As also illustrated in  FIG. 5 , transmitting section  32  of conducting disc  30  is aligned with groove  53  of signal detecting section  52 . In such a case, the input signal cannot be fed back to the controller due to signal interruption. Since flange  54  and groove  53  arranged alternatively will rotate with conducting disc  30 , the controller can obtain a digital signal of 0, 1, 0, 1, thereby achieving accurate segment data through accumulative computation. As illustrated in  FIG. 6  (referring also to  FIG. 3 ), the flange  54  of signal detecting section  52  of transmitting strip  50  can be embedded into casing  10 . So, when transmitting section  32  of conducting disc  30  is aligned with the groove  53  of signal detecting section  52 , the inner wall of casing  10  is contacted. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 , and  3 , the feeding strip  40  and transmitting strip  50  are coaxially but alternatively arranged, such that conducting disc  30  is axially placed into feeding strip  40  and transmitting strip  50 . Feeding section  31  of conducting disc  30  and feeding strip  40 , or transmitting section  32  and transmitting strip  50  are radially and oppositely arranged, while conducting section  42  of feeding strip  40  and the flange  54  of transmitting strip  50  and detecting unit  60  are axially extended. 
   Referring also to  FIGS. 7 ,  10 ,  11 , conducting section  42  of feeding strip  40 B and the flange  54  of transmitting strip  50 B and detecting unit  60 B are axially extended. 
   One preferred embodiment of signal detecting unit is described in  FIGS. 7 ,  10 , and  11 . First, the detecting unit  60 B is mounted onto the end of signal detecting section  52  of transmitting strip  50 B. Referring to  FIG. 8 , detecting unit  60 B,  60 C is separately mounted onto the end and top of signal detecting section  52  of transmitting strip  50 B. Referring also to  FIG. 9 , detecting unit  60 D is mounted onto middle section of signal detecting section  52  of transmitting strip  50 B. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 12 ,  13 ,  14 , another preferred embodiment of signal detecting device is characterized by a translational drive unit  70 , which consists of a drive section  71  and a conducting section  72 . The translational drive unit  70  reciprocates along a predefined path. 
   The feeding strip  80  consists of a feeding terminal  81  and a conducting section  82 , of which the conducting section  82  is installed to coincide with the shifting path of the translational drive unit  70 , such that conducting section  82  of feeding strip  80  is normally in contact with conducting section  72  of translational drive unit  70 . 
   The transmitting strip  90  consists of a transmitting terminal  91  and a signal detecting section  92 , of which the signal detecting section  92  is installed to coincide with the path of conducting section  72  of the translational drive unit  70 , and also fitted with some spacing grooves  93  and spacing flanges  94 . 
   At least a detecting unit  100  consists of a detecting terminal  101  and a signal output terminal  102 , of which the detecting terminal  101  is aligned with a predefined location on the path of conducting section  72  of translational drive unit  70 . When conducting section  72  of translational drive unit  70  is in contact with detecting terminal  101  of detecting unit  100 , the detecting unit  100  can output the signal to a predefined controller via signal output terminal  102 . 
   In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the feeding strip  80  and transmitting strip  90  are horizontally but alternatively arranged. Also, the feeding strip  80 , transmitting strip  90  and detecting unit  100  are mounted onto the first object A (as illustrated in  FIG. 14 ), while translational drive unit  70  is mounted onto the second object B. Owing to relative reciprocating movement of two objects A, B, it is possible to enable a predefined reciprocating movement of translational drive unit  70 . The above-specified objects A, B are a fixed part and a mobile part of a magnetic member of fitness equipments. 
   In another preferred embodiment of signal detecting device, the translational drive unit  70 , feeding strip  80 , transmitting strip  90  and detecting unit  100  are contact-type structural members. As such, the translational drive unit  70  is electrically linked to feeding strip  80  and transmitting strip  90 , or feeding strip  80  and detecting unit  100 . Referring to  FIGS. 15 ,  16 ,  17 , translational drive unit  70 B comprises a drive section  71 B and a detecting section, of which the detecting section is a magnetic sucker  73  in the present invention. The conducting section  82  of feeding strip  80 B is placed oppositely to magnetic sucker  73  of translational drive unit  70 B in a non-contact state. The transmitting strip  90 B is placed at one side of feeding strip  80 B far away from magnetic sucker  73  in a similar way. And, signal detecting section  92  of transmitting strip  90 B presents magnetic property or magnetic conductivity. Therefore, when magnetic sucker  73  of translational drive unit  70 B is aligned with flange  94  of signal detecting section  92 , the end of flange  94  will be stopped at conducting section  82  of feeding strip  80 B, thus enabling electrical connection of transmitting strip  90 B and feeding strip  80 B (generating digital signal  1 )(referring to  FIG. 17 ). When magnetic sucker  73  is aligned with groove  93  of signal detecting section  92 , the end of flange  94  will be separated from conducting section  82  of feeding strip  80 B (generating digital signal  0 ). 
   The above-specified detecting unit  100  and translational drive unit  70 B can also be designed into a non-contact state. So, the detecting unit  100  is mounted laterally onto feeding strip  80 B far away from magnetic sucker  73 . The detecting terminal  101  presents magnetic property or magnetic conductivity. Therefore, when magnetic sucker  73  is aligned with detecting terminal  101  of detecting unit  100 , the detecting terminal  101  will be stopped at conducting section  82  of feeding strip  80 B, thus enabling electrical connection of detecting unit  100  and feeding strip  80 B. Then, the detecting unit  100  will output the signal via its signal output terminal. 
   In another preferred embodiment of signal detecting device, the groove  93  and flange  94  of transmitting strip  90 B can be placed at one side (referring to  FIGS. 15-17 ), or placed at both sides (referring to  FIG. 18 ). In such case, magnetic sucker  73 B of translational drive unit  70 B is designed into a bull-head structure (referring to  FIG. 19 ). This benefit of this structure is that the number of magnetic sucker  73 B can be increased at the same induction point to alleviate the probability of poor inductivity and signal tripping.