Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A position detector comprising: a plurality of magnetostriction propagating media extending substantially in parallel with one another; first coils wound around said plurality of magnetostriction propagating media at respective one ends thereof, said one ends defining first regions of said media; second coils wound around said plurality of magnetostriction propagating media over respective extents thereof; position indicator means for generating steady magnetic fields located at detected positions of said respective extents defining second regions of said media; means for applying a current pulse to one of said first coils or second coils to generate magnetostrictive oscillation waves in the corresponding one of said regions of the associated magnetostriction propagating media; measuring means for measuring the time lapse between the point in time at which said magnetostrictive oscillation wave is generated and the point in time at which said magnetostrictive oscillation wave reaches the other one of said regions after propagation through said media; processing means responsive to said determined time lapse for determining said positions of said position indicator means; and wherein adjacent two of said plurality of magnetostriction media are respectively paired, said respective pairs of magnetostriction propagating media being individually wound with said first coils and said second coils so as to simultaneously generate said magnetostrictive oscillation waves in said respective pairs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A position detector comprising: a plurality of magnetostriction propagating media extending substantially in parallel with one another; first coils wound around said plurality of magnetostriction propagating media at respective one ends thereof, said one ends defining first regions of said media; second coils wound around said plurality of magnetostriction propagating media over respective extents thereof; position indicator means for generating steady magnetic fields located at detected positions of said respective extents defining second regions of said media; means for applying a current pulse to one of said first coils or second coils to generate magnetostrictive oscillation waves in the corresponding one of said regions of the associated magnetostriction propagating media; measuring means for measuring the time lapse between the point in time at which said magnetostrictive oscillation wave is generated and the point in time at which said magnetostrictive oscillation wave reaches the other one of said regions after propagation through said media; processing means responsive to said determined time lapse for determining said positions of said position indicator means; and wherein adjacent two of said plurality of magnetostriction media are respectively paired, said respective pairs of magnetostriction propagating media being individually wound with said first coils and said second coils so as to simultaneously generate said magnetostrictive oscillation waves in said respective pairs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A position detector as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of magnetostriction media are arranged at regular intervals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A position detector as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said paired magnetostriction propagating media is spaced from the adjacent paired magnetostriction propagating media by an interval smaller than that by which the individual magnetostriction propagating media of the respective pairs are spaced from each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A position detector as recited in claim 1, wherein said first coils have a plurality of turns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
A position detector as recited in claim 1, wherein said first coils are crossed at their turn terminals associated with the respective magnetostriction propagating media so that the electric current flowing through said first coils are reversed in its direction at said turn terminals between the portions of said first coils wound around the respective magnetostriction propagating media and the remaining portions thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A position detector as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of magnetostriction propagating media are divided into a plurality of groups and the adjacent magnetostriction propagating media are respectively paired within each of said groups.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A position detector as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of magnetostriction propagating media are arranged in a single orientation so as to detect one-dimensional position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A position detector as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of magnetostriction propagating media are arranged in orthogonal two directions so as to detect two-dimensional position.