US5050134A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Position determining apparatus
Assignee: GTCO CORP
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Filing: 1990-01-19
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Granted: 1991-09-17
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Expires: 2010-01-19
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for determining the position of a movable element. An elongated housing is provided for positioning generally adjacent an edge of an area in which the position of the movable element is to be determined. The housing has a base portion which contains a pair of spaced-apart transducers that are mounted in the surface of the base portion and face the area. An upper body portion of the housing is disposed above the base portion and protrudes in cantilevered fashion toward the area, so that the transducers are recessed from the area beneath the protruding upper body portion of the housing. Circuitry is provided for determining the position of the movable element from the respective transit times of energy propagating in either direction between the movable element and the pair of transducers.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Butler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/043; G06F3/033; G06F3/0354; G06F3/03545; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for determining the position of a movable element, comprising: an elongated housing for positioning generally adjacent an edge of an area in which the position of the movable element is to be determined, said housing having a base portion which contains a pair of spaced-apart transducers that are mounted in the surface of said base portion and face said area, said housing having an upper body portion which is disposed above said base portion and which protrudes in cantilevered fashion toward said area, so that said transducers are recessed from said area beneath the protruding upper body portion of said housing; and means for determining the position of said movable element from the transit times of energy propagating in either direction between said movable element and said transducers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for determining the position of a movable element, comprising: an elongated housing for positioning generally adjacent an edge of an area in which the position of the movable element is to be determined, said housing having a base portion which contains a pair of spaced-apart transducers that are mounted in the surface of said base portion and face said area, said housing having an upper body portion which is disposed above said base portion and which protrudes in cantilevered fashion toward said area, so that said transducers are recessed from said area beneath the protruding upper body portion of said housing; and means for determining the position of said movable element from the transit times of energy propagating in either direction between said movable element and said transducers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said energy is acoustic energy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said position-determining means comprises electronic circuitry, at least a portion of which is contained within said upper body portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 2, wherein said position-determining means comprises electronic circuitry, at least a portion of which is contained within said upper body portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 1, further comprising a sound-transmitting screen on the lower front of said housing and covering at least part of the recessed portion thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 2, further comprising a sound-transmitting screen on the lower front of said housing and covering at least part of the recessed portion thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 4, further comprising a sound-transmitting screen on the lower front of said housing and covering at least part of the recessed portion thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 2, wherein said movable element includes a sound emitter, and said transducers are sound receivers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 4, wherein said movable element includes a sound emitter, and said transducers are sound receivers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 7, wherein said movable element includes a sound emitter, and said transducers are sound receivers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 1, further comprising an additional transducer mounted in the recessed region beneath said protruding upper body portion; means for determining the transit time of energy propagating in either direction between said additional transducer and at least one of said pair of spaced-apart transducers; said means for determining the position of said movable element being responsive to both the respective transit times of energy propagating in either direction between said movable element and said pair of spaced-apart transducers and the transit time of energy propagating in either direction between said additional transducer and said at least one of said pair of spaced-apart transducers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 2, further comprising an additional transducer mounted in the recessed region beneath said protruding upper body portion; means for determining the transit time of energy Propagating in either direction between said additional transducer and at least one of said pair of spaced-apart transducers; said means for determining the position of said movable element being responsive to both the respective transit times of energy propagating in either direction between said movable element and said pair of spaced-apart transducers and the transit time of energy propagating in either direction between said additional transducer and said at least one of said pair of spaced-apart transducers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 4, further comprising an additional transducer mounted in the recessed region beneath said protruding upper body portion; means for determining the transit time of energy propagating in either direction between said additional transducer and at least one of said pair of spaced-apart transducers; said means for determining the position of said movable element being responsive to both the respective transit times of energy propagating in either direction between said movable element and said pair of spaced-apart transducers and the transit time of energy propagating in either direction between said additional transducer and said at least one of said pair of spaced-apart transducers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for determining the position of a movable element, comprising: an elongated housing for positioning generally adjacent an edge of an area in which the position of the movable element is to be determined, said housing having a base portion which contains a pair of spaced-apart microphones that are mounted in the surface of said base portion and face said area, said housing having an upper body portion which is disposed above said base portion and which protrudes in cantilevered fashion toward said area, so that said transducers are recessed from said area beneath the protruding upper body portion of said housing; and an acoustic energy source mounted in said movable element; and means for determining the position of said movable element from the transit times of acoustic energy propagating from the acoustic energy source in said movable element to the respective microphones.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for determining the position of a movable element, comprising: an elongated housing for positioning generally adjacent an edge of an area in which the position of the movable element is to be determined, said housing having a base portion which contains a pair of spaced-apart microphones that are mounted in the surface of said base portion and face said area, said housing having an upper body portion which is disposed above said base portion and which protrudes in cantilevered fashion toward said area, so that said transducers are recessed from said area beneath the protruding upper body portion of said housing; and an acoustic energy source mounted in said movable element; and means for determining the position of said movable element from the transit times of acoustic energy propagating from the acoustic energy source in said movable element to the respective microphones.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 14, wherein said position-determining means comprises electronic circuitry, at least a portion of which is contained within said upper body portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 14, further comprising a sound-transmitting screen on the lower front of said housing and covering at least part of the recessed portion thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 15, further comprising a sound-transmitting screen on the lower front of said housing and covering at least part of the recessed portion thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
112 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 14, further comprising an additional acoustic energy source mounted in the recessed region beneath said protruding upper body portion; means for determining the transit time of acoustic energy propagating from said additional acoustic energy source to at least one of said pair of spaced-apart microphones; said means for determining the position of said movable element being responsive to both the respective transit times of acoustic energy propagating from said acoustic energy source of said movable element to said pair of spaced-apart microphones and the transit time of acoustic energy propagating from said additional acoustic energy source to said at least one of said pair of spaced-apart microphones.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
112 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 15, further comprising an additional acoustic energy source mounted in the recessed region beneath said protruding upper body portion; means for determining the transit time of acoustic energy propagating from said additional acoustic energy source to at least one of said pair of spaced-apart microphones; said means for determining the position of said movable element being responsive to both the respective transit times of acoustic energy propagating from said acoustic energy source of said movable element to said pair of spaced-apart microphones and the transit time of acoustic energy propagating from said additional acoustic energy source to said at least one of said pair of spaced-apart microphones.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
112 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 17, further comprising an additional acoustic energy source mounted in the recessed region beneath said protruding upper body portion; means for determining the transit time of acoustic energy propagating from said additional acoustic energy source to at least one of said pair of spaced-apart microphones; said means for determining the position of said movable element being responsive to both the respective transit times of acoustic energy propagating from said acoustic energy source of said movable element to said pair of spaced-apart microphones and the transit time of acoustic energy propagating from said additional acoustic energy source to said at least one of said pair of spaced-apart microphones.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-16 | 1995-03-18 | 1995-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-16 | 1999-03-18 | 1999-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-16 | 2003-03-18 | 2003-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |