Polaroid Corporation

Gsi Group Corporation

Microe Systems Corporation

Donald L Grimes

Donald K Mitchell

Joel Mikael Petersen

Christopher Chapman Rich

Stuart Eric Schechter

Andrew M Goldman

William G Thorburn

Vincent L Cocco

Keith M Hinrichs

Stuart A Dodson, Ii

Stanley W Haskell

Kathy J Messina

Alan D Feinerman

A flexible optical marker is applied to an optical scale substrate to make an optical scale assembly for an optical position encoder. The marker may be a limit marker, index marker, or other type of marker. The marker substrate may be a plastic film such as polyester, singulated from a 'recombine' roll created by a web process. The marker has a microstructured pattern on one surface that is covered with a reflective metal coating. The marker also has an adhesive layer and is affixed to the optical scale substrate by a process of aligning the marker to an edge of the scale and then applying pressure to the upper surface of the marker. The marker may be applied with a handle portion that is separated from the marker after the marker is affixed. The marker may be especially useful with a flexible scale substrate such as a metal tape substrate. By affixing the marker to the scale substrate as a separate step of making an encoder scale, various benefits such as reduced inventory, cost, and lead time may be achieved.

Scale assembly for optical encoder having affixed optical reference markers

There is provided a measurement system in which the calibration data is easily incorporated into or obtained by the position sensing and/or displacement sensing system's processing unit. A scale-based encoder has a signal processor that corrects for scale inaccuracy based on a limited set of correction coefficients. The correction coefficients are the slopes and offsets that define a piecewise linear correction curve corresponding to the errors inherent in the scale. Several ways for communicating the coefficients to the processor are envisioned. Correction is applicable to linear or rotary encoders.

Position encoder with scale calibration

An integral data storage disk card includes a planar rectangular base member on a portion of which a data storage disk is disposed for rotation relative to the base member and within an overlaying cover fixed to the base member to protect the data storage disk. A visually discernible information bearing layer in either machine or human readable form is disposed on the other portion of the base member adjacent the data storage disk.

Integral card for protectively enclosing an optical disk and a visual

A microcomputer is employed in an automatic exposure control system for developing and controlling execution of film exposure strategies for both ambient light exposures and flash and fill flash exposures wherein the scene is illuminated with a mixture of ambient light and artificial illumination provided by a photoflash lamp which may have light output characteristics that deviate from specification due to manufacturing variances. Using pre-exposure scene brightness and distance inputs the computer selects an appropriate one of a plurality of different preprogrammed trajectory signal programs which is to be fed to a stepper motor that drives a shutter blade mechanism in a manner whereby its operation is characterized by an aperture size versus time trajectory curve defined by the selected program. During the course of an exposure interval scene brightness level, including the flash contribution is monitored and is fed back to the computer which is programmed to regulate the provision of trajectory signals to the stepper motor so as to adjust the trajectory curve for optimum exposure in a manner that compensates for variations in the output characteristics of the photoflash lamp.

Microcomputer controlled photographic exposure system and method

A microcomputer is used in an exposure control system and method for developing and controlling execution of a film exposure strategy based on selected pre-exposure inputs including scene brightness level and camera-to-scene distance. The computer is preprogrammed with shutter trajectory and strobe operating parameter data bases. In the ambient light mode, a trajectory signal program correlated to the scene brightness level is developed and fed to a stepper motor which drives a dynamic aperture shutter in a manner whereby its operation is characterized by an aperture size versus time trajectory curve defined by the developed signal program. In the strobe flash mode, the trajectory curve correlated to scene brightness is tailored to enhance flash mode operation and an appropriate strobe firing aperture and quench time is automatically selected in accordance with both the brightness and camera-to-scene distance inputs to control the strobe contribution to exposure value.

Photographic exposure system with computer controlled strobe unit

An automatic exposure control system, of the type wherein a dynamic aperture blade mechanism is displaceably driven by a stepper motor, is provided with a microcomputer that is preprogrammed with data representing a plurality of different blade trajectory signal programs for different photographic conditions. In response to inputs, including scene brightness level, provided before or during an exposure cycle, the computer develops an appropriate trajectory signal program and feeds the signals to the stepper motor so as to drive the blade mechanism in a manner characterized by a corresponding trajectory curve that is correlated to the indicated photographic conditions. In one embodiment the system is configured for open loop operation, and, in an alternative embodiment, the system additionally includes a blade position feedback circuit for closed loop operation.

Growing community of inventors

Milford, MA, United States of America

Donald L Grimes