The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 19, 1985
Filed:
May. 25, 1983
Gerhard Kirstein, Augsburg, DE;
Zahnraderfabrik Renk A.G., Augsburg, DE;
Abstract
An optoelectronic system is employed for determining the position of a movable vehicle control element such as a gas pedal. The system includes an optical carrier which is linked to and moves with the control element. The carrier includes an optical indicator range which provides a continuously variable gradient of optical permeability over the limits of carrier movement. A light source and an electro-optical detector are arranged to generate an electrical signal indicative of a measure of optical permeability of a zone of the range in registry with the detector. The light source and detector may be positioned on the same or opposite sides of the carrier. A further range of the same or different configuration may be formed on the carrier and associated with a second light source-detector. The signals generated by each detector are processed to generate a signal indicative of the position of the control element. Optionally, a signal generated by a single detector comprises the position indicative signal.