Solar cell angular position transducer

摘要

An angular position transducer utilizing photocells and a light source is disclosed. The device uses a fully rotatable baffle which is connected via an actuator shaft to the body whose rotational displacement is to be measured. The baffle blocks the light path between the light source and the photocells so that a constant semicircular beam of light reaches the photocells. When the assembly is in the null position the illuminated area of each of the photocells is equal. As the actuator shaft rotates, the baffle also rotates which causes an increase in the area of illumination of one of the photocells together with an equal decrease in the area of illumination of the other photocell. The current produced by the photocells is fed through a resistor, a differential amplifier measures the voltage drop across the resistor which indicates the angular position of the actuator shaft and hence of the object.