Abstract:
Transparent material having internal reflection properties is used to fabricate a graduated optical rule usable in tachometer or displacement measuring systems. The member has a lightreceiving surface through which light is transmitted toward a remote surface in a given direction. Such remote surface has alternating first surface portions respectively having a 45* angle with respect to said given direction and, preferably, second surface portions that are perpendicular to said given direction. The 45* surface portions reflect the light to a first light path, while the second surface portions permit the light to be transmitted therethrough along a second light path. Facing ones of said first or 45* angled portions are utilized to reflect the light through such first light path which intersects the light receiving surface back toward the light source. In another embodiment, light enters the member at 45* through a light receiving surface. A continuous internal surface disposed at 45* with respect to the light-receiving surface reflects light toward the remote surface in such given direction. The remote surface has the first and second surface portions disposed with respect to light traveling in such given direction reflected from the internal surface for alternately reflecting and transmitting through the remote surface toward a detector. Several utilization arrangements are illustrated.