An Electronic Angle-Measuring Device.

The design, accuracy analysis, and experimental results of an electronic angle-measuring device are presented. Angle measurement is made by counting the cycles of a stable oscillator which is gated on and off by a rotating disk at points determined by the angle being measured. The device is intended to be used as a surveying instrument where its advantages over existing instruments would be high accuracy with low cost and ease of operation. Analysis indicate that precision manufacturing is not needed to achieve high accuracy and that accuracy can be maintained over wide temperature ranges and with considerable wear between moving parts. Experimental results on a breadboard model indicate that precision greater than 2 seconds of arc is possible. The factor most critical to the precision of the device is the disk rotation system. Author