According to the US Patent & Trademark Office: “An apparatus for signaling rotation of a winch in which a rotating gear internal in the winch turns an optical disc with alternating segments of distinguishing features. An optical sensor that can generate a pulsed output signal based on the travel of the alternating segments on the disc then in turn reads the disc. The output signal of the optical sensor is then conditioned to drive a solenoid that is placed in a control lever of the winch. The optical disc and the optical sensor are part of a self-contained unit which can be inserted internally into the winch housing.”
The inventors were issued US Patent Number 7,219,879 on May 22 2007.
The patent has been assigned to Tulsa Winch Inc., Jenks.
The original application was filed on July 16 2004.
