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:
Sep. 02, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 22, 2000
Martin Degen, Bad Homburg, DE;
Mannesmann VDO AG, Frankfurt am Main, DE;
Abstract
A method for optically determining the position of a movement element optically includes introducing the light emitted by a light source into an optical conductor which causes attenuation of the light. A light output coupler that moves in accordance with the position of the movement element couples out the light from the optical conductor and feeds the attenuated light to a light detector. Using the ratio of the light intensity emitted by the light source and that registered by the light detector, the attenuation of the light is determined and the position of the movement element inferred therefrom. The sensor is usable in an aggressive environment or one susceptible to interference because of the light source and the light detector may be arranged remote from the movement element.