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:
Jan. 13, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 31, 2006
Bradley Engstrand, Hartford, WI (US);
Bradley Engstrand, Hartford, WI (US);
Phaedrus, LLC, Hartford, WI (US);
Abstract
A system and a method emit and/or detect light within a compartment via one or more lenses. A light source emits the light in an interior of the compartment via one or more lenses and/or an optical fiber. Further, the system and the method may provide a light sensor for measuring and/or for detecting an intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment via one or more lenses. A movable element is located within the interior of the compartment which moves inwardly and/or outwardly with respect to the light source, the light sensor and/or one or more lenses. A surface of the movable element, a shaft attachable to the movable element and/or the compartment absorbs an amount of the emitted light. The amount of the emitted light absorbed by the surface of the movable element, the shaft of the movable element and/or the compartment is based on the position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment. The light sensor detects and/or measures the intensity of the emitted light which is not absorbed by the surface of the movable element, the shaft of the movable element and/or the compartment. The intensity of the emitted light which is detected by the light sensor corresponds to a position of the movable element. The light sensor determines the position of the movable element based on the intensity of the emitted light.