Patents Examined by Robert A. Garrett
  • Digital motor feedback for a position actuator
    Patent number: 4756229
    Abstract: A linear actuator (42) includes a housing (44), and a linearly displaceable piston (46) having a shaft (48) with a gradated position scale (60) and a gradated direction scale (62) disposed by ion implantation on a casing (50) of the shaft, in axial alignment (49) with the shaft stroke. Proximity sensors (64, 66) mounted in the housing sense movement in the position of the scales to provide sensed shaft position signals (68) and sense shaft direction signals (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: George M. Drakeley