Method for measuring a physical quantity providing digital data using analog-value measuring devices, and measuring apparatus for applying this method

Claim 1

An apparatus for measuring a width or thickness of moving yarn, a strip or the like comprising: (a) a pin-point light source having a span substantially smaller than an average width or thickness of the yarn, strip, or the like to be measured, said pin-point light source disposed to strike directly, without interposing lenses, both: (1) the yarn and a first sensor, the first sensor being located a predetermined distance from the yarn, strip or the like to be measured and having a sensitive plate of predetermined width, the predetermined distance and plate width being selected for obtaining a desired output measurement unit, and (2) a second sensor, identical to the first sensor in characteristics relating to variations in sensitivity as a function of temperature and time, the light striking the second sensor without striking the yarn; (b) an analog-to-digital converter having at least a pair of inputs and an output, one of the analog-to-digital converter inputs being a measuring input connected to an output of the first sensor and another analog-to-digital converter input being a reference input connected to an output of the second sensor, the output of the second sensor defining a variable threshold of the analog-to-digital converter; (c) an adjustable yarn-guiding device defining an exact position of the yarn, strip, or the like between the pin-point light source and the first sensor, the yarn guiding device cooperating with a signal generator producing sampling signals fed to the analog-to-digital converter so that the sampling rate of the analog-to-digital converter is determined by the speed at which the yarn, strip, or the like is fed so that sampling is effected for lengths smaller than a length projected onto the sensitive plate of the first sensor; and (d) the output of the analog-to-digital converter representing a thickness of the yarn, strip or the like and being applied to a process and/or display device.

Claim 2

An apparatus for measuring a width or thickness of moving yarn, a strip or the like comprising: (a) a pin-point light source having a span substantially smaller than an average width or thickness of the yarn, strip, or the like to be measured, said pin-point light source disposed to strike directly, without interposing lenses, both: (1) the yarn and a first sensor, the first sensor being located a predetermined distance from the yarn, strip or the like to be measured and having a sensitive plate of predetermined width, the predetermined distance and plate width being selected for obtaining a desired output measurement unit, and (2) a second sensor, identical to the first sensor in characteristics relating to variations in sensitivity as a function of temperature and time, the light striking the second sensor without striking the yarn; (b) an analog-to-digital converter having at least a pair of inputs and an output, one of the analog-to-digital converter inputs being a measuring input connected to an output of the first sensor and another analog-to-digital converter input being a reference input connected to an output of the second sensor, the output of the second sensor defining a variable threshold of the analog-to-digital converter; (c) an adjustable yarn-guiding device defining an exact position of the yarn, strip, or the like between the pin-point light source and the first sensor, the yarn guiding device cooperating with a signal generator producing sampling signals fed to the analog-to-digital converter so that the sampling rate of the analog-to-digital converter is determined by the speed at which the yarn, strip, or the like is fed so that sampling is effected for lengths smaller than a length projected onto the sensitive plate of the first sensor; and (d) the output of the analog-to-digital converter representing a thickness of the yarn, strip or the like and being applied to a process and/or display device.

Claim 4

A method of measuring a width or thickness of moving yarn, a strip, or the like, comprising the steps of: (a) directing a pin-point light source having a span substantially smaller than an average width or thickness of the yarn, strip, or the like to be measured, to strike directly, without interposing lenses, both: (1) the yarn and a first sensor, the first sensor being located a predetermined distance from the yarn, strip or the like to be measured and having a sensitive plate of predetermined width, the predetermined distance and plate width being selected for obtaining a desired output measurement unit, and (2) a second sensor, identical to the first sensor in characteristics relating to variations in sensitivity as a function of temperature and time, the light striking the second sensor without striking the yarn; (b) applying an output of the first sensor to a first input of an analog-to-digital converter, the first input of the analog-to-digital converter being a measuring input; (c) defining a variable threshold for the analog-to-digital converter by applying an output of the second sensor to a second input of the analog-to-digital converter, the second analog-to-digital converter input being a reference input; (d) sampling an output of the analog-to-digital converter representing the thickness of the yarn, strip, or the like, so that sampling is effected for lengths smaller than a length projected onto the sensitive plate of the first sensor; (e) applying the output of the analog-to-digital converter to a processing and/or display device; (f) defining an exact position of the yarn, strip or the like with an adjustable yarn guiding device cooperating with a signal generator, the signal generator producing sampling signals fed to the analog-to-digital converter so that the sampling rate of the analog-to-digital converter is determined by the speed at which the yarn, strip, or the like is fed.

Claim 5

A method of measuring a width or thickness of moving yarn, a strip, or the like, comprising the steps of: (a) directing a pin-point light source having a span substantially smaller than an average width or thickness of the yarn, strip, or the like to be measured, to strike directly, without interposing lenses, both: (1) the yarn and a first sensor, the first sensor being located a predetermined distance from the yarn, strip or the like to be measured and having a sensitive plate of predetermined width, the predetermined distance and plate width being selected for obtaining a desired output measurement unit, and (2) a second sensor, identical to the first sensor in characteristics relating to variations in sensitivity as a function of temperature and time, the light striking the second sensor without striking the yarn; (b) applying an output of the first sensor to a first input of an analog-to-digital converter, the first input of the analog-to-digital converter being a measuring input; (c) defining a variable threshold for the analog-to-digital converter by applying an output of the second sensor to a second input of the analog-to-digital converter, the second analog-to-digital converter input being a reference input; (d) sampling an output of the analog-to-digital converter representing the thickness of the yarn, strip, or the like, so that sampling is effected for lengths smaller than a length projected onto the sensitive plate of the first sensor; (e) applying the output of the analog-to-digital converter to a processing and/or display device; (f) defining an exact position of the yarn, strip or the like with an adjustable yarn guiding device cooperating with a signal generator, the signal generator producing sampling signals fed to the analog-to-digital converter so that the sampling rate of the analog-to-digital converter is determined by the speed at which the yarn, strip, or the like is fed.

Claim 7

An apparatus for measuring a width or thickness of moving yarn, a strip or the like comprising: (a) a pin-point light source having a span substantially smaller than an average width or thickness of the yarn, strip, or the like to be measured, said pin-point light source disposed to strike directly, without interposing lenses, both: (1) the yarn and a first sensor, the first sensor being located a predetermined distance from the yarn, strip or the like to be measured and having a sensitive plate of predetermined width, and (2) a second sensor, identical to the first sensor in characteristics relating to variations in sensitivity as a function of time and temperature the light striking the second sensor without striking the yarn; (b) an analog-to-digital converter having at least a pair of inputs and an output, one of the analog-to-digital converter inputs being a measuring input connected to an output of the first sensor and another analog-to-digital converter input being a reference input connected to an output of the second sensor, the output of the second sensor defining a variable threshold of the analog-to-digital converter; (c) an adjustable yarn-guiding device defining an exact position of the yarn, strip, or the like between the pin-point light source and the first sensor, the yarn guiding device cooperating with a signal generator producing sampling signals fed to the analog-to-digital converter so that the sampling rate of the analog-to-digital converter is determined by the speed at which the yarn, strip, or the like is fed so that sampling is effected for lengths smaller than a length projected onto the sensitive plate of the first sensor; and (d) the output of the analog-to-digital converter representing a thickness of the yarn, strip or the like and being applied to a processing and/or display device.

Claim 8

An apparatus for measuring a width or thickness of moving yarn, a strip or the like comprising: (a) a pin-point light source having a span substantially smaller than an average width or thickness of the yarn, strip, or the like to be measured, said pin-point light source disposed to strike directly, without interposing lenses, both: (1) the yarn and a first sensor, the first sensor being located a predetermined distance from the yarn, strip or the like to be measured and having a sensitive plate of predetermined width, and (2) a second sensor, identical to the first sensor in characteristics relating to variations in sensitivity as a function of time and temperature the light striking the second sensor without striking the yarn; (b) an analog-to-digital converter having at least a pair of inputs and an output, one of the analog-to-digital converter inputs being a measuring input connected to an output of the first sensor and another analog-to-digital converter input being a reference input connected to an output of the second sensor, the output of the second sensor defining a variable threshold of the analog-to-digital converter; (c) an adjustable yarn-guiding device defining an exact position of the yarn, strip, or the like between the pin-point light source and the first sensor, the yarn guiding device cooperating with a signal generator producing sampling signals fed to the analog-to-digital converter so that the sampling rate of the analog-to-digital converter is determined by the speed at which the yarn, strip, or the like is fed so that sampling is effected for lengths smaller than a length projected onto the sensitive plate of the first sensor; and (d) the output of the analog-to-digital converter representing a thickness of the yarn, strip or the like and being applied to a processing and/or display device.

Claim 9

A method of measuring a width or thickness of moving yarn, a strip, or the like, comprising the steps of: (a) directing a pin-point light source having a span substantially smaller than an average width or thickness of the yarn, strip, or the like to be measured, to strike directly, without interposing lenses, both: (1) the yarn and a first sensor, the first sensor being located a predetermined distance from the yarn, strip or the like to be measured and having a sensitive plate of predetermined width, and (2) a second sensor, identical to the first sensor in characteristics relating to variations in sensitivity as a function of temperature and time, the light striking the second sensor without striking the yarn; (b) applying an output of the first sensor to a first input of an analog-to-digital converter, the first input of the analog-to-digital converter being a measuring input; (c) defining a variable threshold for the analog-to-digital converter by applying an output of the second sensor to a second input of the analog-to-digital converter, the second analog-to-digital converter input being a reference input; (d) sampling an output of the analog-to-digital converter representing the thickness of the yarn, strip, or the like, so that sampling is effected for lengths smaller than a length projected onto the sensitive plate of the first sensor; (e) defining an exact position of the yarn, strip, or the like with an adjustable yarn guiding device cooperating with a signal generator, the signal generator producing sampling signals fed to the analog-to-digital converter so that the sampling rate of the analog to digital converter is determined by the speed at which the yarn, strip, or the like is fed; (f) applying the output of the analog-to-digital converter to a processing and/or display device.

Claim 10

A method of measuring a width or thickness of moving yarn, a strip, or the like, comprising the steps of: (a) directing a pin-point light source having a span substantially smaller than an average width or thickness of the yarn, strip, or the like to be measured, to strike directly, without interposing lenses, both: (1) the yarn and a first sensor, the first sensor being located a predetermined distance from the yarn, strip or the like to be measured and having a sensitive plate of predetermined width, and (2) a second sensor, identical to the first sensor in characteristics relating to variations in sensitivity as a function of temperature and time, the light striking the second sensor without striking the yarn; (b) applying an output of the first sensor to a first input of an analog-to-digital converter, the first input of the analog-to-digital converter being a measuring input; (c) defining a variable threshold for the analog-to-digital converter by applying an output of the second sensor to a second input of the analog-to-digital converter, the second analog-to-digital converter input being a reference input; (d) sampling an output of the analog-to-digital converter representing the thickness of the yarn, strip, or the like, so that sampling is effected for lengths smaller than a length projected onto the sensitive plate of the first sensor; (e) defining an exact position of the yarn, strip, or the like with an adjustable yarn guiding device cooperating with a signal generator, the signal generator producing sampling signals fed to the analog-to-digital converter so that the sampling rate of the analog to digital converter is determined by the speed at which the yarn, strip, or the like is fed; (f) applying the output of the analog-to-digital converter to a processing and/or display device.