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:
Mar. 07, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 13, 1998
John C Pflueger, Austin, TX (US);
Lawrence R Gravell, Austin, TX (US);
Jenoptik Aktiengesellschaft, Jena, DE;
Abstract
A device that aligns and couples a movable object to a destination includes fixed and movable coupling elements that interengage with one another. The fixed coupling elements are provided in a fixed location at the destination and the movable coupling elements are provided on the movable object. The fixed coupling elements include a guiding device and a mechanism that fixes an ultimate coupling position of the object. The fixing mechanism is included in the guiding device. The guiding device allows movement of the object in a first direction so that it can reach the ultimate coupling position, which is determined by the fixing mechanism. The guiding device further blocks movement of the object in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The movable coupling elements are separated into first elements that engage in the guiding device and second elements that engage with the fixing mechanism. The device further generates first status signals on the state of the coupling of the movable object to the destination and the mechanism that generates the first status signals is included in the second elements.