Movement detector

Abstract: A movement detector includes a moving body having a slit pattern which is provided on it by forming a number of slit-shaped light transmitting parts at certain intervals in the direction of movement. As the moving body is moved, depending on the presence and absence of the light transmitting parts of the slit pattern, light images and dark images appear alternately on the light receiving surface of a semiconductor position detecting element while moving in one direction. In response to the light and dark images, the semiconductor position detecting element provides output currents, which detecting means utilizes to provide output pulses. The output pulses are utilized to detect not only the amount of movement of the moving body but also the direction of movement of the latter.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a movement detector which outputs pulse-like electrical signals as a moving body moves. One example of a conventional movement detector is a rotation detector which is designed as follows: In the rotary detector, the moving body is a rotary disk. A number of slit-shaped through-holes, namely, light transmitting parts are formed in the periphery of the rotary disk at predetermined angular intervals while leaving light intercepting parts therebetween. That is, in the periphery of the rotary disk, the light transmitting parts and the light intercepting parts occur alternately, thus forming a slit pattern. On the other hand, a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode is provided to apply light to the slit pattern of the rotary disk, and a light receiving element such as a photo-transistor is provided to receive light passed through the light transmitting parts to output pulse-like electrical signals. The electrical signals are processed to detect the rotation of the moving body. With the above-described conventional movement detector, when it is required to detect the movement of a moving body with high resolution, the detection may be achieved if the angular interval of the light transmitting parts or the light intercepting parts is decreased. However, in this case, it is essential to eliminate the interference of light between adjacent light transmitting parts. For this purpose, it is necessary to use a light projecting precise optical system such a precise lens. Hence, the conventional movement detector is rather difficult to design, and is accordingly high in manufacturing cost. Another prior art (JP-A-1 109 201) movement detector uses a position detecting element (PSD) inside an optical position sensor using a light-source, a slit pattern comprising only a sole slit and the position detecting element. This position detecting element determines the position where the ligh is passing through the sole slit. A light source driving circuit controls some value of output outputted by respective electrodes of the position detecting element to a constant value. The output currents of the electrodes generated with incident light from the light source to the photo detection surface of the position detecting element are converted into voltages, which are added by an adder of the light source driving circuit. Then added voltages are inputted to the inverted input terminal of a comparator, which compares it with a reference voltage inputted to its univerted input terminal. If the quantity of the light incident on the surface, for example, decreases for some reason, the sum value of the currents decreases and the input voltage to the inverted input terminal proportional to the sum value decreases, so the output current of the comparator increases. The brightness of the light source turned on with this output current increases, and consequently the decrement in the sum value is compensated, so that the sum value is held constant. Therefore, the sum value included in a specific expression is held constant, so the distance from the electrode to the incidence position is found by a simple arithmetic operation. In a prior art (JP-A- 63 229 324) rotatry encoder an amplification degree is adjusted in order to obtain two phases accurately shifted by 90°. The object of the invention is to provide a movement detector which can detect the movement of a moving body with high resolution and which is not difficult to design and is low in manufacturing cost. The foregoing object of the invention has been achieved by the features as claimed in the claim. In particular, the movement detector comprises: a moving body having a slit pattern which is provided by forming a number of slit-shaped light transmitting parts therein at predetermined intervals in a direction of movement of the moving body; a light emitting element for applying light to the slit pattern; a semiconductor position detecting element for receiving light beams passed through the light transmitting parts of the slit pattern, to detect the postions of light images of said light beams; and detecting means for detecting the movement of said moving body from the variations of output signals provided by the semiconductor position detecting element. With the movement detector of the invention, as the moving body moves, depending on the presence and absence of the slit-shaped light transmitting parts of the slit pattern, light images and dark images appear alternately on the light receiving surface of the semiconductor position detecting element while moving in one direction. Thus, the semiconductor position detecting element detects the movement of the light and dark images positively, so that the movement of the moving body is detected with high resolution The nature, principle, and utility of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical arrangement of a rotation detector, which constitutes one embodiment of this invention; FIGS. 2 and 3 are a vertical sectional side view and a horizontal sectional plan view, respectively, showing essential components of the rotation detector; FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional side view showing essential components of the rotation detector; FIG. 5 (A) to (E) are plan views for a description of the reception of light by a semiconductor position detecting element in the rotation detector; and FIG. 6 (a) to (e) are waveform diagrams showing the waveforms of signals at various circuit points in the block diagram of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION One preferred embodiment of this invention, a rotation detector to which the technical concept of the invention is applied, will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, a casing 1 is cylindrical, and has a shaft 2 which is extended along the central axis of the casing 1. The casing 1 incorporates a moving body, namely, a rotary disk 3, which is fixedly mounted on the shaft 2 in such a manner that the disk 3 is coaxial with the shaft 2. The rotary disk 3 is made of an opaque material. A number of slit-shaped through-holes, namely, light transmitting parts 4a are formed in the periphery of the rotary disk 3 at predetermined angular intervals while leaving light intercepting parts 4b therebetween. That is, in the periphery of the rotary disk 3, the light transmitting parts 4a and the light intercepting parts 4b occur alternately, thus forming a slit pattern 4. The casing 1 has a top wall 1a, and a bottom wall 1b. A light emitting element 5 such as a light emitting diode is provided on the inner surface of the top wall 1 a to apply light to the slit pattern 4, while a semiconductor position detecting element 6 (hereinafter referred to as "a PSD (position sensitive device) 6", when applicable) is provided on the inner surface of the bottom wall 1b in such a manner that it is confronted through the slit pattern 4 with the light emitting element. Now, the electrical arrangement of the rotation detector will be described with reference to FIG. 1. One output terminal of the PSD 6 is connected through a current-to-voltage conversion amplifier 7 to the non-inversion input terminal (+) of a comparator 8, and the other output terminal of the PSD 6 is connected through a current-to-voltage conversion amplifier 9 to the inversion input terminal (-) of the comparator 8. The output terminal of the comparator 8 is connected to an output terminal 10. The output terminals of the current-to-voltage conversion amplifiers 7 and 9 are connected to both input terminals of an addition amplifier 11, respectively. The output terminal of the addition amplifier 11 is connected to the non-inversion input terminal (+) of another comparator 12, the inversion input terminal (-) of which is connected to a reference voltage generator 13 adapted to output a reference voltage VS. The output terminal of the comparator 12 is connected to an output terminal 14. The operation of the rotation detector thus constructed will be described with reference also to FIGS. 5 and 6. It is assumed that the rotary disk 3 is turned in the direction of the arrow 15 in FIG. 3, and so in FIG. 4. As the rotary disk is turned (moved), light images 16 formed when light from the light emitting element 5 passes through the light transmitting parts 4a of the slit pattern 4, and dark images formed, in contrast to the light image, when the light is intercepted by the light intercepting parts 4b are alternately projected onto the light receiving surface of the PSD 6. The light images 16 and the dark images 17 are moved in the direction of the arrow 15 as shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the light transmitting parts are arranged at angular intervals of P, and the area ratio of the light image 16 (corresponding to the light transmitting part 4a) to the dark image 17 (corresponding to the light intercepting part 4b) is 1:1, for simplification in description, and the length L of the PSD 6 is 5P/2. As the slit pattern 4 is moved in the direction of the arrow 15, the light and dark images 16 and 17 on the light receiving move as shown in Figs. 5 (A) to (E). It is assumed that in the case of Fig. 5 (A), light images 16a, 16b and 16c, and dark images 17a and 17b appear alternately, and furthermore it is assumed that, in FIG. 5, the amount of movement of the slit pattern 4 is x, and in FIG. 5 (A), x = 0. Therefore, in the case of FIG. 5 (B), the light image 16a decreases in area, and instead another dark image 17c appears and increases in area. In the case of FIG. 5(C), x = P/2, and the light image 16a disappears, and instead the dark image 17c increases maximum in area. In the case of FIG. 5 (D), the dark image 17a decreases in area, and instead another light image 16d appears and increases in area. In the case of FIG. 5 (E), x = P, the dark image 17a disappears, and instead the light image 16d increases maximum in area. Thus, FIGS. 5 (A) to (E) correspond to the fact that the slit pattern has moved by one angular interval P. When the light and dark images 16 and 17 are moved on the light receiving surface of the PSD in this manner; that is, when the positions of light images or optical gravity centers are moved in this way, then currents I1 and I2 are provided at the pair of output electrodes of the PSD 6. With t = x/P, the currents I1 and I2 of the PSD are as follows: In the case of 0 ≤ t ≤ 0.5 (0 ≤ x ≤ P/2), I1 = S (15 - 12t + 4t 2 )/10 I2 = S (15 - 8t - 4t 2 )/10 I1 + I2 = S (3 + 2t) I1 - I2 = 2S (2t 2 - t)/5 In the case of 0.5 ≤ t ≤ 1 (P/2 ≤ x ≤ P), I1 = S (3 + 16t - 4t 2 )/10 I2 = S (7 + 4t + 4t 2 )/10 I1 + I2 = S (1 + 2t) I1 - I2 = -2S (2t 2 - 3t + 1)/5 The currents I1 and I2 represented by Equations (1) and (5) and Equations (2) and (6) are as indicated in FIG. 6 (a). The sums of the currents I1 and I2 represented by Equations (3) and (7) are as indicated in FIG. 6 (b). The differences of the currents I1 and I2 represented by Equations (4) and (8) are as indicated in FIG. 6 (c). Namely, in Figs. 5 (A) to (E), the positions of optical gravity centers are moved on the light receiving surface of the PSD as follows. The position of optical gravity center is expressed by the following equation. X G =L· I 2 I 1 +I 2 (In Fig. 5 (F), the length of X G is measured from the left end of the PSD) Therefore, in Fig 5. (A), the position of optical gravity center is as follows. X G = L 2 (the center of the PSD) In Fig. 5 (B), the position of optical gravity center is as follows. X G = 15-8t-4t 2 10 3-2t ·L(> L 2 , the right side from the center of the PSD) In Fig. 5 (C), the position of optical gravity center is as follows. X G = L 2 (the center of the PSD) In Fig. 5 (D), the position of optical gravity center is as follows. X G = 7+4t+4t 2 10 1+2t · L (< L 2 , the left side from the center of the PSD) In Fig. 5 (E), the position of optical gravity center is as follows. X G = L 2 (the center of the PSD) The currents I1 and I2 produced by the PSD 6 are applied to the current-to-voltage conversion amplifiers 7 and 9, where they are converted into voltages V1 and V2 proportional to themselves, respectively. Those voltages are subjected to comparison by the comparator 8. That is, the comparator 8, as shown in FIG. 6 (d), provides a high level output pulse P1 when v1 ≥ V2 (i.e., I1 ≥ I2). On the other hand, the voltages V1 and V2 are applied to the addition amplifier 11. The waveform of the output of the addition amplifier 11 is proportional to that which is shown in FIG. 6 (b). The output of the addition amplifier 11 is applied to the comparator 12, where it is compared with the reference voltage VS (indicated in FIG. 6 (b) for convenience in description) provided by the reference voltage generator 13. Thus, the comparator 12, as shown in FIG. 6 (e), provides a high level output pulse P2 when V1 + V2 ≥ VS. Hence, the amount of movement of the rotary disk 3; that is, the angle of rotation of the latter can be detected by counting the output pulse P1 or P2. On the other hand, as is apparent from the above description, there is a phase difference between the output pulses P1 and P2. Hence, in the case where, with one of the output pulses as a reference, the other output pulse is taken into account, the phase relation between them is reversed depending on the direction of rotation of the rotary disk. Accordingly, by measuring the phases of the output pulses P1 and P2, the direction of rotation (or movement) of the rotary disk 3 can be detected. Thus, the embodiment of the invention has the following effects: As was described above, as the rotary disk 3 turns, the slit pattern forms the light and dark images 16 and 17 on the light receiving surface of the PSD. In response to the light and dark images 16 and 17, the PSD produces the currents I1 and I2. The current I1 and I2 are utilized by detecting means 18 comprising the current-to-voltage conversion amplifiers 7 and 9, the comparators 8 and 12, the addition amplifier 11 and the reference voltage generator 13. That is, the detecting means 18 utilizes the currents I1 and I2, to provide pulse signals, namely, the output pulses P1 and P2. By counting the output pulse P1 or P2, the angle of rotation of the rotary disk 3 can be detected. In addition, the direction of rotation of the rotary disk 3 can be detected from the phases of the output pulses P1 and P2. In this operation, the PSD 6 detects as electrical signals, namely, the currents I1 and I2 the movement of the light and dark images 16 and 17 corresponding to the slit pattern 4; that is, the movement of the positions of optical gravity centers. Therefore, even when the angular interval P is decreased, the rotation detector can positively provide the output pulses P1 and P2. Hence, the movement detector of the invention is free from the difficulty that it is difficult to design because it is necessary to use a precise optical system, and can detect the movement-of a moving body with high resolution, at low cost. In the above-described embodiment, the technical concept of the invention is applied to the rotation detector having the rotary disk 3; however, the invention is not limited thereto or thereby. That is, the technical concept of the invention may be applied to other movement detectors such as for instance a linear movement detector for detecting the linear movement of a moving body.

Claims: A movement detector comprising: a moving body (3) having a slit pattern provided by forming a plurality of slit-shaped light transmitting parts (4a) at predetermined intervals therein in a direction of movement of said moving body (3); a light emitting element (5) for applying light to said slit pattern (4a) of said moving body (3); a position detecting element (6) for receiving light beams passed through said light transmitting parts (4a) of said slit pattern; and detecting means (7,8,9,10,11,12,13) for detecting a movement of said moving body (3) from variations of output signals of said position detecting element (6), characterized in that said position detecting element (6) detects positions of light images (16a,16b,16c,16d) of said light beams and generates said output signals in accordance with said detected light images (16a,16b,16c,16d).

Inventors: NAKAHO JUNICHI C O KABUSHIKI K, NAKAHO, JUNICHI, C/O KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI
Applicants: TOKAI RIKA CO LTD, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G01D5
IPC codes: G01P3, G01D5, G01B11