Two-dimensional position coordinate determination device with U-shaped delay line

摘要

An automatic position coordinate determination device has a single U-shaped delay line made of magnetostrictive material. A grid network of electrical conductors including first and second pluralities of parallel conductors arranged substantially perpendicular to first and second coordinate axes respectively is inductively coupled to the delay line. A sensor coil is arranged at one end of the delay line for outputting a signal in response to the arrival of a propagating magnetostrictive strain wave induced by an energized electrical conductor. A movable flux-producing element is proximally arranged with respect to the grid network. When the flux-producing element is pulsed, at least one electrical conductor of each plurality is energized, which energized conductors in turn each induce a strain wave which propagates toward the sensor. The propagation times of the induced strain waves are processed to determine the position coordinates of the pulsed flux-producing element.