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:
Apr. 27, 2010
Filed:
Apr. 04, 2008
Juergen Pullmann, Ebersbach, DE;
Thomas Nitsche, Esslingen, DE;
Guenter Hornung, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, DE;
Christoph Zinser, Wolfschlugen, DE;
Juergen Pullmann, Ebersbach, DE;
Thomas Nitsche, Esslingen, DE;
Guenter Hornung, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, DE;
Christoph Zinser, Wolfschlugen, DE;
Pilz GmbH & Co. KG, Ostfildern, DE;
Abstract
A safety switching device comprises a position encoder, such as a potentiometer, for user selection of an operational quantity, such as an operating mode. The position encoder has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a tap moveable through a plurality of positions. A total impedance is defined between the first terminal and the second terminal. A first partial impedance is defined between the first terminal and the tap, and a second partial impedance is defined between the tap and the second terminal. An arrangement for determining an instantaneous position of the tap comprises a first evaluation circuit designed to determine a first measurement value representative of the first partial impedance, and a second evaluation circuit designed to determine a second measurement value representative of the second partial impedance. At least one from the first and second evaluation circuits is designed to determine the instantaneous position of the tap by means of the first and second measurement values.