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. 17, 2001
Filed:
May. 30, 1997
Satoshi Kiyono, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken, JP;
Other;
Abstract
Provided is an apparatus for accurately sensing the position of a moving object in two dimensions as well as a change in the attitude of the object when the object is moving. The apparatus includes a scale and at least one angle sensor. The scale is constituted by an angular grid, which is formed on the surface of a scale substrate inclusive of a planar surface and freely curved surface thereof, and which has an angle-related property that varies in two different directions (the x and y directions) in the form of a known function. The angle sensor is arranged so as to confront the angular grid surface of the scale. Either the scale or the angle sensor is mounted on a moving object and the position of the moving object in two-dimensional coordinates is sensed during relative movement between the scale and the angle sensor.