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. 09, 1991
Filed:
Feb. 22, 1990
William R Babbitt, Bellevue, WA (US);
The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
An optical sensor that uses laser radar techniques to determine the value of a mesaurand. The sensor comprises an encoder, an optical source, sensing means and detection means. The encoder has a plurality of tracks, each track including means for receiving an optical signal and for delaying the optical signal by an encoder delay that is a function of the measurand value. The optical source produces a chirped optical interrogation signal that is received by the sensing means and divided into N channel signals, such that each channel signal strikes one of the tracks. The sensing means delays each channel signal by a unique channel delay. The detection means receives the channel signals after they have struck the tracks, and mixes the channel signals with a facsimile of the interrogation signal, to produce a demodulated signal. The detection means analyzes the frequency components of the demodulated signal, to determine the encoder delays and thereby the value of the measured. The encoder preferably comprises a transparent moveable substrate having a variable pattern of reflecting elements on one side, and a uniform reflective coating on the opposite side.