Patent ID: 7357027

Claim:
A sensor system for determining the position of at least one edge of at least one web material traveling along a predetermined travel path, the sensor system comprising: at least one transceiver block disposed substantially adjacent the travel path, the at least one transceiver block having a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver being capable of selectively transmitting ultrasonic signals upon receipt of a transmitter drive signal so as to transmit ultrasonic signals across at least a portion of the travel path; at least one reflector spaced a distance from the at least one transceiver block whereby the travel path passes in between the at least one transceiver block and the at least one reflector, the at least one reflector having a reflective material positioned so as to reflect at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals transmitted by the at least one transceiver block back to the transceiver block; a master unit selectively toggling at least one of the transceivers between a first mode for generating an ultrasonic signal, a second mode for forming a receiver output signal upon receipt of an ultrasonic signal, and a third mode for electronically dampening and thereby disabling the at least one of the transceivers, and means for generating at least one sensor output signal based on the receiver output signal, wherein the sensor output signal is indicative of the position of the least one edge of the at least one web material.