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:
Oct. 17, 1989
Filed:
May. 11, 1988
William B Spillman Jr, Charlotte, VT (US);
Simmonds Precision Products, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A transducer system that uses diffracted light energy in a transducer application analyzes light diffracted from a diffraction grating to provide an indication of displacement or other measurable environmental changes, such a temperature changes. In one form of the invention, a diffraction grating is fabricated from first and second gratings and has a step-wise change in the grating period at an inter-grating boundary. The grating is illuminated with broadband light that is diffracted as a function of the irradiated position on the grating with the wavelength of the diffracted light and the change in wavelength being a function of the diffraction grating position. In another form of the present invention, a diffraction grating is provided with a variable grating period that can vary linearly, exponentially, or in accordance with some other function with the wavelength of the diffracted light being a function of the relative displacement of the grating. Additionally, grating can be combined to provide a transducer that provides an output that can be compensated for temperature variations.