Light detector employing trapezoidal chips and associated methods

1. A rotary position detector comprising:

a shaft rotatable about an axis thereof;

a light source;

a light detector positioned in a spaced relation to the light source, the light detector comprising at least one trapezoidal chip having at least one light sensor for receiving light rays emitted from the light source;

a light blocker positioned between the light detector and the light source, the light blocker having at least one element rotatable with the shaft; and

a signal connection to the light detector for measuring an amount of light impinging on the at least one light sensor to thus measure a rotary position of the shaft.

2. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , the light detector including a first number of segmented light sensors disposed in pairs about the axis, each pair comprising one “A” detector element and one “B” detector element, the pairs disposed so that each “A” detector element is circumferentially positioned between two “B” detector elements and each “B” detector element is positioned between two “A” detector elements.

3. The rotary position detector according to claim 2 , the light blocker including a second number of opaque, substantially equal-surface-area elements rotatable with the shaft, the second number equal to one-half of the first number, wherein a radial extent of the light blocker elements is at least equal to a radial extent of the light sensors.

4. The rotary position detector according to claim 2 , further comprising a circuit operable with the signal connection for measuring signals from the “A” detectors and the “B” detectors relating to an amount of light impinging thereon, wherein a difference between the “A” detector signal and the “B” detector signal is related to an angular position of the shaft.

5. The rotary position detector according to claim 2 , wherein the segmented light sensors are generally defined within a plane perpendicular to the axis.

6. The rotary position detector according to claim 2 , wherein each of the segmented light sensors comprises an arcuate sector shape.

7. The rotary position detector according to claim 6 , wherein the arcuate sector shape comprises a substantially toroidal shape.

8. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein the light blocker has a plurality of openings, each opening positioned between adjacent light blocker elements.

9. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a unitary light source generally aligned with the axis.

10. The rotary position detector according to claim 2 , wherein the first number of segmented light sensors comprises four light sensors.

11. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein the light sensors comprise a light sensor material responsive to light, and wherein a linear increase in light per unit area impinging thereon causes a substantially linear increase in output signal.

12. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , further comprising a motor, wherein the motor is operable with the shaft.

13. A light detector operable with a rotary position detector, the light detector comprising:

at least one trapezoidal chip having at least one light sensor positioned for receiving light.

14. The light detector according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one light sensor comprises an arcuate sector shape.

15. The light detector according to claim 12 , wherein the arcuate shape comprises a substantially toroidal shape.

16. The light detector according to claim 11 , wherein the trapezoidal chip defines a first edge and a second edge, wherein an angle between the first edge and the second edge is about 120 degrees.

17. The light detector according to claim 14 , wherein the angle between the first edge and the second edge is about 117 degrees.

18. A method for manufacturing a light detector operable with a rotary position detector, the method comprising:

providing a wafer having a plurality of light sensors;

cutting the wafer by performing at least one cut at a first angle counterclockwise relative to horizontal;

cutting the wafer by performing at least one cut at a second angle clockwise relative to horizontal; and

cutting the wafer by performing at least one horizontal cut, wherein the cutting results in at least one trapezoidal chip having at least one light sensor;

mounting the at least one trapezoidal chip on a printed circuit board; and

positioning the light detector in spaced relation to a light source for assisting with a measuring of a rotary position of a shaft.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the first and second angles are about 120 degrees.

20. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the first and second angles are about 117 degrees.