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:
Jun. 05, 2002
Lynn H. Elliott, Houston, TX (US);
Gerald W. Scalf, Houston, TX (US);
Jason R. Lowery, Houston, TX (US);
EIM Company, Inc., Missouri City, TX (US);
Abstract
An absolute position detector that interprets, rather than avoids, abnormal sensory states. Different combinations of sensors in an array are activated as a marker travels along a path. The current activation/deactivation state of the array is converted into a digital signal that is reliably indicative of the current absolute position of the marker along the path. In a preferred embodiment, a dynamic magnetic field is provided whose current condition represents the current absolute position of a moving marker. As the marker moves, the condition of the field changes to activate different groups of Hall Effect devices in an array. The activated groups may comprise one or more Hall Effect devices in the array, depending on the condition of the field as created by the position of the marker. The current activation/deactivation state of the array is then converted, advantageously via truth table logic, into a digital signal representative of the current position of the marker.