IP Library Granted Patent US 9,121,694
Granted Patent B2
US 9,121,694 · App. 13/896,815 · Granted Sep 1, 2015

Position detection device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,121,694
App. No.
13/896,815
Granted
Sep 1, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A position detection device includes a first member, a second member, a plurality of detected components, a detector group, and a controller. The second member is opposed the first member and is configured to move relative to the first member in a specific direction. The plurality of detected components are disposed on the first member and faces the second member. The detector group is disposed on the second member and includes a plurality of detectors configured to detect the plurality of detected components. The controller is configured to detect a relative position of the second member relative to the first member based on a detection pattern in which detection results of the plurality of detectors are arranged in a row.

Claims (67)

1. A position detection device, comprising:

a first member;

a second member disposed opposite to the first member, the second member configured to move relative to the first member in a specific direction;

a plurality of detected components disposed on the first member in the specific direction, the plurality of detected components facing the second member;

a detector group disposed on the second member, the detector group including a plurality of detectors disposed in the specific direction and configured to detect the plurality of detected components disposed on the first member; and

a controller configured to detect a relative position of the second member relative to the first member based on a predetermined detection pattern of detection results of the plurality of detectors,

wherein the detection pattern is formed based on a relative relationship between the position of the plurality of detected components and the position of the plurality of detectors.

2. The position detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of detectors are disposed at a first spacing in the specific direction,

the plurality of detected components include a first detected component and a second detected component that are disposed at a second spacing in the specific direction, and

a length of the first detected component is greater than or equal to a length corresponding to at least one detector among the plurality of detectors in the specific direction,

a length of the second detected component is greater than the length of the first detected component in the specific direction, and

the second spacing is greater than or equal to the length corresponding to the at least one detector in the specific direction, and is less than a length corresponding to the detector group in the specific direction.

3. The position detection device according to claim 2 , wherein

the plurality of detected components have a third detected component,

the third detected component is disposed opposite to the first detected component with the second detected component disposed therebetween as a reference, and is disposed at a third spacing from the second detected component in the specific direction, and

a length of the third detected component is greater than or equal to the length corresponding to the at least one detector in the specific direction.

4. The position detection device according to claim 3 , wherein

the length of the second detected component is equal to the length corresponding to the detector group in the specific direction,

the second spacing is equal to the length corresponding to detectors that is two less than the plurality of detectors, and

the third spacing is equal to the length corresponding to detectors that is one less than the plurality of detectors.

5. The position detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first member and the second member are formed in a cylindrical shape, and

the first member is configured to rotate relative to the second member about an axial center of the second member.

6. A position detection device, comprising:

a first member;

a second member disposed opposite to the first member the second member configured to move relative to the first member in a specific direction;

a plurality of detected components disposed on the first member in the specific direction, the plurality of detected components facing the second member;

a detector group disposed on the second member, the detector group including a plurality of detectors disposed in the specific direction and configured to detect the plurality of detected components disposed on the first member; and

a controller configured to detect a relative position of the second member relative to the first member based on a predetermined detection pattern of detection results of the plurality of detectors;

wherein:

the detection pattern changes among a plurality of patterns according to a movement of the second member relative to the first member, and

the controller is configured to determine that the second member has not moved relative to the first member when a change in the detection pattern does not conform to a specific appearance pattern.

7. A position detection device, comprising:

a first member;

a second member disposed opposite to the first member, the second member configured to move relative to the first member in a specific direction;

a plurality of detected components disposed on the first member, the plurality of detected components facing the second member;

a detector group disposed on the second member, the detector group including a plurality of detectors configured to detect the plurality of detected components disposed on the first member; and

a controller configured to detect a relative position of the second member relative to the first member based on a predetermined detection pattern of detection results of the plurality of detectors, wherein:

the plurality of detectors are disposed at a first spacing in the specific direction,

the plurality of detected components have a first detected component, a second detected component and a third detected component, the second detected component disposed at a second spacing from the first detected component in the specific direction, and the third detected component disposed at a third spacing from the second detected component in the specific direction,

a length of each of the first to third detected components is greater than or equal to a length of each of the plurality of detectors,

the second spacing is greater than a length of the first detected component and less than a length of the second detected component, and

the third spacing is less than the length of the second detected component, greater than a length of the third detected component, and different from the second spacing.

8. A position detection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein:

the detection pattern changes among a plurality of patterns according to a movement of the second member relative to the first member, and

the plurality of patterns are different from one another.

9. The position detection device according to claim 6 , wherein

the first member and the second member are formed in a cylindrical shape, and

the first member is configured to rotate relative to the second member about an axial center of the second member.

10. The position detection device according to claim 3 , wherein

the first member and the second member are formed in a cylindrical shape, and

the first member is configured to rotate relative to the second member about an axial center of the second member.

11. The position detection device according to claim 4 , wherein

the first member and the second member are formed in a cylindrical shape, and

the first member is configured to rotate relative to the second member about an axial center of the second member.

12. The position detection device according to claim 1 , wherein

the detection pattern changes among a plurality of patterns according to a movement of the second member relative to the first member, and

the controller is configured to determine that the second member has not moved relative to the first member when a change in the detection pattern does not conform to a specific appearance pattern.

13. The position detection device according to claim 3 , wherein

the detection pattern changes among a plurality of patterns according to a movement of the second member relative to the first member, and

the controller is configured to determine that the second member has not moved relative to the first member when a change in the detection pattern does not conform to a specific appearance pattern.

14. The position detection device according to claim 4 , wherein

the detection pattern changes among a plurality of patterns according to a movement of the second member relative to the first member, and

the controller is configured to determine that the second member has not moved relative to the first member when a change in the detection pattern does not conform to a specific appearance pattern.

15. The position detection device according to claim 1 , wherein a pattern that the plurality of detected components are disposed and a pattern that the plurality of detectors are disposed are different.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2014
From: MORI, TETSUYA; SAIKI, JUN
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032046/0415 →