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:
Jun. 06, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 07, 1998
Derek Hutchinson, Berkshire, GB;
Mars Incorporated, McLean, VA (US);
Abstract
A photoelectric measurement is made by charging (or discharging) a capacitor at a charge rate dependent on the intensity of the light received by a sensor. The time taken for the charge level to change by a predetermined amount is measured, and the operation is repeated, with the time intervals being accumulated, for a number of times, the number being dependent on the charge rate, so as to enhance resolution of high-intensity measurements. A single comparator is used to detect when the charge level passes through a first level, to initiate the timing, and through a second level, to stop the timing, by altering the threshold level so as to avoid errors due to varying propagation delays.