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:
Dec. 06, 1994
Filed:
Dec. 18, 1992
Steven W Tanamachi, Lauderdale, MN (US);
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A two-part sensor includes a power source/signal receiver and a signal generator which are physically spaced and disconnected from one another. The power source/signal receiver is encased within transparent encapsulating material and includes an annular solenoid core with an aperture, a coil around the core and a photodiode mounted in the aperture. The photodiode detects a modulated light beam received from the signal generator and produces an output information signal. The solenoid coil produces a fluctuating magnetic field when connected to a power supply. The signal generator is encased within transparent encapsulating material and includes an annular relay coil with an aperture, a coil around the core, a transducer circuit and an LED mounted within the aperture. The relay coil provides a signal generator supply potential when positioned within the magnetic field produced by the power source/signal receiver. The supply potential powers the transducer circuit and the LED. The transducer circuit generates a modulated transducer signal as a function of a sensed parameter. The LED is coupled to the transducer circuit and produces the modulated light beam as a function of the transducer signal.