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:
Oct. 28, 2014
Filed:
Feb. 21, 2012
Anatoly G. Grinberg, Brighton, MA (US);
Wayne R. Foster, Tyngsborough, MA (US);
Anatoly G. Grinberg, Brighton, MA (US);
Wayne R. Foster, Tyngsborough, MA (US);
Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc., Mayfield Heights, OH (US);
Abstract
A system to test operation of an optical sensor is disclosed. The optical sensor includes one or more photosensitive devices configured to convert light to electrical signals. A test light source and a reference target are included within the housing of the optical sensor. The test light source is mounted proximate to the photosensitive devices and the reference target is positioned opposite from the test light source. The test light source is periodically pulsed on to emit light at a known wavelength. The light is reflected from the reference target back to at least a portion of the photosensitive devices. A logic circuit uses the reflected light which is received at the portion of the photosensitive devices to determine the distance between the light source and the reference target. This calculated distance is compared against the known distance to verify correct operation of the optical sensor.