Sundstrand Data Control, Inc.

Mitutoyo Corporation

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Kurt E Steinke

Rand H Hulsing, Ii

Rex B Peters

Joseph W Grez

Nils Ingvar Andermo

Karl G Masreliez

Fred V Holdren

A system and corresponding method for determining the frequency and/or amplitude of an oscillating apparatus, which includes a driving assembly having a stator portion and an armature portion, and a driving signal circuit which supplies a driving signal to the stator portion. A control circuit interrupts the drive signal momentarily, for at least a quarter of a cycle, at periodic intervals, resulting in a signal being induced into the stator coil from continuing movement of the armature. A measurement/read circuit is connected to the stator coil for determining one or both of the frequency of the induced signal and the amplitude of the induced signal. The frequency or amplitude information is then compared against pre-established values and any differences are used to change the driving signal so as to provide maximum performance of the appliance.

System and method for determining the resonant frequency and/or amplitude of an oscillating appliance such as a power toothbrush

An absolute position transducer system has two members movable relative to each other and includes a code track transducer and at least one fine wavelength transducer. The code track is arranged to form a sequential pattern of base-N code words, where N is greater than two (i.e., non-binary). Each sequential non-binary code word identifies an absolute position of one member with respect to the other at a first resolution. Alternatively, the code track is arranged to form a pseudo-random non-binary code word pattern. In this case, the transducer system compares a non-binary code word with a look-up table to determine an absolute position of one member with respect to the other at a first resolution. In order to generate a non-binary code word pattern, code track transducer employs different-sized flux disrupters, different-sized flux enhancers, or a combination of flux disrupters and enhancers.

Absolute position transducer having a non-binary code-track-type scale

A compact, long-range inductive absolute position transducer system has two members movable relative to each other and includes a code track transducer and at least one fine wavelength transducer. The two members include a read head member and a scale member. The phase difference between the phase angles of two fine wavelength transducers may be used to generate an intermediate wavelength. Alternatively, the phase difference between the phase angles of one fine wavelength transducer and the code track transducer may be used to generate an intermediate wavelength. The code track includes sequential n-bit code words. Each sequential code word identifies an absolute position of one member with respect to the other with a first resolution. Each intermediate wavelength includes an integer number of code words greater than or equal to one. Using this relationship, the intermediate wavelength is used to identify the start position (start bit) of the appropriate code word. A fine track transducer is then used to define an absolute position of the read head member relative to the scale member to a second, finer resolution.

Compact, long-range absolute position transducer with an extensible

A borehole survey instrument has a probe with a polarized light system for transmitting a signal representing the angular orientation of the probe to the surface. Light from a source in the probe is directed through a polarized filter with an axis of polarization orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the probe. The polarized light beam is transmitted to the surface through an optical fiber light conduit. The angle of polarization is detected with a rotating polarizing filter and provides a measure of the probe orientation. In surveying a borehole, azimuth is determined from inclinometer measurements. The probe orientation in vertical sections of the borehole is measured by the polarized light system. Two measures of borehole azimuth are combined, providing an improved measure of azimuth in boreholes near vertical and near horizontal.

Method of determining the difference in borehole azimuth at successive

A borehole survey instrument has a probe with a polarized light system for transmitting a signal representing the angular orientation of the probe to the surface. Light from a source in the probe is directed through a polarizing filter with an axis of polarization orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the probe. The polarized light beam is transmitted to the surface through an optical fiber light conduit. The angle of polarization is detected with a rotating polarizing filter and provides a measure of the probe orientation. In surveying a borehole, azimuth is determined from inclinometer measurements. The probe orientation in vertical sections of the borehole is measured by the polarized light system. Two measures of borehole azimuth are combined, providing an improved measure of azimuth in boreholes near vertical and near horizontal.

Borehole survey system and method of determining the difference in

In order to provide for accurate setting of a preload force on an accelerometer force responsive pendulum and to provide for rigid support for the pendulum, a pendulum support assembly is constructed with a flexure member that is attached at one end to the accelerometer frame. The flexure receives the preload force from a preload pin at the other end and has one pendulum axle bearing attached to it between the attachment point and the preload pin. In addition, the flexure includes a hinge portion located next to the attachment point that serves to make the flexure a statically determinate beam so that the preload force on the bearing can be accurately determined.

Accelerometer pendulum support assembly

Borehole orientation detection system employing polarized radiation

An improved capacitive pick-off circuit is provided by utilizing a reference current generator to apply a square wave to a pick-off capacitor and the resulting voltage across the capacitor is then applied to a fixed capacitor. The resulting fixed capacitor current then provides a measure of the capacitance of the pick-off capacitor. A differential capacitive pick-off circuit is provided by applying the reference current to each pick-off capacitor and providing a fixed capacitor for each of the pick-off capacitors. The resulting fixed capacitor currents are combined and the resulting differential current is used as a measure of the difference in capacitance or the difference in the gaps between the plates of the capacitors.

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Kurt E Steinke