Inductive digital encoder array

Abstract

A multiposition sensor device includes a plurality of inductive-type coils arranged in a first array and a plurality of plates arranged in a second array being juxtaposed and movable relative to the coils, allowing the coils and the plates to register in any plurality of unique couple arrangements. The multiposition sensor device further includes a circuit coupled to each one of the coils, which generates a first signal when a plate is registered with its associated coil and a second signal when no plate is registered with its associated coil. In a preferred embodiment, the coil and plates lie in parallel planes. The coils are angularly spaced along a given circumference in one plane while the plates are angularly spaced along a corresponding circumference in the other plane to allow easy rotation of one array with respect to the other. In one specific embodiment, there are four coils and five plates. The four coils and five plates interact as the plate array is rotated relative to the coil array and yield ten unique plate-coil combinations. These ten unique arrangements create a basis for a decimal counter. Each coil is connected to a separate comparator circuit, thus allowing the formation of a binary-code-decimal encoder. Other embodiments include plates and coils mounted on two linear arrays in parallel planes juxtaposed one another, or plates and coils mounted on rotatable concentric cylinders.