IP Library Granted Patent US 8,891,083
Granted Patent B2
US 8,891,083 · App. 13/668,625 · Granted Nov 18, 2014

Device for measuring the rotating angle of two objects rotating on a rotating axis relative to each other

Inventors: David Hopp (Donaueschingen, DE); Michael Speidel (Freiburg, DE)
Assignee: Sick Stegmann GmbH
G01D5/345
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,891,083
App. No.
13/668,625
Granted
Nov 18, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure conveys a device for measuring the rotating angle of two objects which rotate relative to each other around a rotating axis, with one transmitter, which is assigned to one of the objects and which emits light that is polarized, and with a polarization-sensitive polarizer, such that the transmitter and the polarizer rotate relative to each other, and such that the polarizer has a polarizing area and a non-polarizing area, where the non-polarizing area is positioned eccentric to the rotating axis, and such that the device has a first receptor and a second receptor which measure a portion of the luminosity passing through the polarizer producing signals that are dependent on the rotating angle, and where the first receptor has a first reception area, and the second receptor has a second reception area which is distinct from the first reception area.

Claims (10)

1. A device ( 10 ) for measuring the rotating angle of two objects ( 11 , 12 ) comprising the two objects ( 11 , 12 ) which rotate relative to each other around a rotating axis (D), with precisely one transmitter ( 20 ), which is assigned to one of the objects ( 11 ) and which emits light that is either polarized or becomes polarized by means of a polarization filter, and with a polarizer ( 30 ), such that the transmitter ( 20 ) and the polarizer ( 30 ) rotate relative to each other as a function of the rotating angle, and such that the polarizer ( 30 ) has a polarizing area ( 31 ) and a non-polarizing area ( 32 ), where the non-polarizing area ( 32 ) is positioned eccentric to the rotating axis (D), and such that the device ( 10 ) has at least a first receptor ( 41 ) and a second receptor ( 42 ) which measure at least a portion of the luminosity passing through the polarizer ( 30 ) or reflected by the polarizer ( 30 ), in order to produce signals that are dependent on the rotating angle, and where the first receptor ( 41 ) has a first reception area ( 41 a ), and the second receptor ( 42 ) has a second reception area ( 42 a ) which is distinct from the first reception area ( 42 a ),

wherein the receptors are positioned so as to produce a sine wave signal with maxima of different amplitudes but no phase shift.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the non-polarizing area ( 32 ) is designed as a circular segment or a circular sector.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the non-polarizing area ( 32 ) is designed as an absorptive area.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the non-polarizing area ( 32 ) is designed as a reflective area which is positioned at angle of 180° relative to the surface of the polarizing area ( 31 ).

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the polarizer ( 30 ) is designed as a reflective polarizer.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein there is positioned between the polarizer ( 30 ) and the receptors ( 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ) a diaphragm ( 50 ), which has a hole 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 for each receptor ( 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ) and, in particular, has a central hole ( 49 ) for the transmitter ( 20 ).

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second receptor ( 41 , 42 ) are symmetrically positioned at an angular distance of 180° from the transmitter ( 20 ), and a third and fourth receptor ( 43 , 44 ), are provided, such that the four receptors ( 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ) are positioned at an angular distance of 90 ° one from the other.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the polarizing area ( 31 ) of the polarizer ( 30 ) has at least two different polarizing directions.

9. The device according to claim 7 , wherein a total of eight receptors ( 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ) are provided which are positioned an equal angular distance one from the other.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 23, 2022
From: SICK STEGMANN GMBH
To: SICK AG
Reel/Frame 059073/0934 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2012
From: HOPP, DAVID; SPEIDEL, MICHAEL
To: SICK STEGMANN GMBH
Reel/Frame 029256/0128 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 11190160 · Nov 22, 2011 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130128269A1 · May 23, 2013