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:
Jul. 08, 1986
Filed:
Aug. 31, 1984
Michael S Danielson, Wrentham, MA (US);
Northrop Corporation, Century City, CA (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for compensating an optical sensor utilizing a light emitting diode and a monolithic dual element photodiode as a null position sensor for changes in optical output efficiency or gain due to variations in temperature without knowledge of relative or absolute temperature. The optical sensor includes a light emitting diode and a dual element photodiode spaced apart from the light emitting diode and located so that each element of the dual element photodiode is equally illuminated. A pendulous mass is disposed between the light emitting diode and the dual element photodiode detector such that as it moves the amount of illumination received by each of the dual elements differs. Electrical apparatus is provided for producing a first signal proportional to the difference in output from the two photodiode elements, and this signal is used to null the position of the pendulous mass. A second signal is produced which is proportional to the sum of the outputs from the two photodiode elements, and this signal is utilized to alter the current to the light emitting diode so that the second signal is maintained at a predetermined reference level. In this way, the overall gain of the optical sensor is maintained within narrow limits to compensate for temperature induced variations in sensor gain.