What is claimed is:
1. A device for determining a positional deviation of n points, n being a natural number equal to or greater than 2, from n disjunct reference positions of the n points, comprising:
a source of electromagnetic radiation;
imaging optics for the electromagnetic radiation; and
a photosensitive detector receiving the electromagnetic radiation, positional information from the detector being converted into information on intensity, wherein simultaneous or concurrent in time n signals are produced by the detector, each of the n signals being uniquely assigned to one of the n points.
2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the source is a single radiation source generating light, the light when passing through at least a part of the imaging optics forming a light section impinging upon the location of all n points.
3. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the n points lie in one plane or on one straight line.
4. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the imaging optics includes aspherical optical elements.
5. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the photosensitive detector includes a plurality of mutually-independent photosensitive elements.
6. The device as recited in claim 5 wherein the photosensitive elements are photodiodes, photocells, photomultipliers, or charged-coupled displays.
7. The device as recited in claim 5 wherein at least two of the n points are precisely and uniquely assigned for at least two of the n mutually-independent photosensitive elements.
8. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the radiation source emits at least an infrared or visible wavelength.
9. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the deviation in the position of at least one of the n points from the reference position of the at least one n point leads, in a defined relationship, to a different light path than a path of the light reflected from said at least one n point, through the imaging optics, into the reference position of the at least one n point; the positional information of the at least one n point thereby being converted into path information.
10. The device as recited in claim 9 wherein the imaging optics includes at least one element converting the path information on the light through the imaging optics into information on light intensity.
11. The device as recited in claim 10 wherein the imaging optics has an optical wedge or an edge.
12. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein a section of the imaging optics is arranged downstream from a carpet of light, the section including at least two optical elements having cylindrically symmetric axes of symmetry orthogonal to one another.
13. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the imaging optics include an optical element having positionally dependent transmittance, an intermediate image being produced in a conversion plane in which the optical element is located.
14. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the imaging optics includes at least one beam splitter in a light path downstream from a point of the reflection.
15. The device as recited in claim 14 further comprising at least one further photosensitive detector having a plurality of independent photosensitive elements, at least one or exactly one of the n points being assigned to each of the mutually independent elements.
16. A distance-measuring device comprising the device for determining a positional deviation of n points as recited in claim 1.
17. An imaging device comprising:
n individually drivable lasers and mutually independent imaging optics; and
an autofocusing system capable of rendering a shift in focus, independently, for at least two of the n individually drivable lasers, n being a natural number, the autofocusing system being controlled as a function of a measuring result of a distance-measuring device as recited in claim 16.
18. A printing-form imaging unit, wherein the printing-form imaging unit has at least one imaging device as recited in claim 17.
19. A print unit, wherein the print unit has at least one imaging device as recited in claim 17.
20. A printing press, wherein the printing press has at least one print unit as recited in claim 19.
21. A method for determining a positional deviation of n points from n reference positions of the n points, n being a natural number, comprising the steps of:
illuminating each individual one of the n points using electromagnetic radiation;
converting positional information on the points into path information on the radiation;
converting the positional information into intensity information; and
discriminatingly detecting reflected light from at least two of the n points;
wherein the steps are carried out simultaneously or concurrently in time for all n points.
22. The method as recited in claim 21 further comprising measuring an instantaneous intensity of reflected electromagnetic radiation for at least one of the n points, wherein an intensity of the reflected light measured at a corresponding photosensitive element of the detector is compared to the instantaneous intensity of the reflected electromagnetic radiation.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A hitch device for attaching farm implements to a tractor, the device comprising two lift arms for supporting at least one farm implement; an actuating cylinder for each lift arm, the actuating cylinder having an output rod defining two chambers inside the actuating cylinder; and a circuit for feeding a fluid to and from said chambers; wherein said circuit comprises, for each said chamber, a feed line for feeding said fluid to the chamber and a feed line for removing said fluid from the chamber, respectively, and also comprises four independent valves; each valve being located along one of said feed lines, and being movable between a closed position and at least one open position respectively closing and opening the relative said feed line, wherein each said valve is a proportional electromagnetic valve, and wherein said actuating cylinder has a first detecting device for detecting a fluid pressure inside each of said chambers to determine a force exerted, in use, on said output rod; electronic control means being provided to selectively control said valves as a function of a signal from said first detecting device.
2. The device as described in claim 1, wherein said actuating cylinder has a second detecting device for detecting a position of said output rod along the actuating cylinder; electronic control means being provided to selectively control said valves as a function of a signal from said second detecting device.
3. The device as described in claim 2, wherein said actuating cylinder has a first detecting device for detecting a fluid pressure inside each of said chambers to determine a force exerted, in use, on said output rod; and a second detecting device for detecting a position of said output rod along the actuating cylinder; electronic control means being provided to selectively control said valves as a function of a signal from said first andor second detecting device.
4. The device as described in claim 3, wherein said farm implement is connected in rotary manner to said lift arms to oscillate about a given hinge axis; a further actuating cylinder being interposed between the tractor and the farm implement to selectively control an angular position of the farm implement about said hinge axis.
5. The device as described in claim 4, wherein said further actuating cylinder comprises a further output rod defining two further chambers inside the further actuating cylinder; said circuit also comprising two further feed lines for feeding said fluid to and from each said further chamber respectively, and four independent further valves, each located along one of said further feed lines and movable between a closed position and at least one open position respectively closing and opening the relative said further feed line.
6. The device as described in claim 5, wherein each said further valve is a proportional electromagnetic valve.
7. The device as described in claim 6, wherein said further actuating cylinder has a third detecting device for detecting a fluid pressure inside each of said further chambers to determine a force exerted, in use, on said further output rod; electronic control means being provided to selectively control said further valves, as a function of a signal from said third detecting device.
8. The device as described in claim 7, wherein said further actuating cylinder has a fourth detecting device for detecting a position of said further output rod along the further actuating cylinder; electronic control means being provided to selectively control said further valves as a function of a signal from said fourth detecting device.
9. The device as described in claim 8, wherein said further actuating cylinder has a third detecting device for detecting a fluid pressure inside each of said further chambers to determine a force exerted, in use, on said further output rod; and a fourth detecting device for detecting a position of said further output rod along the further actuating cylinder; electronic control means being provided to selectively control said further valves as a function of a signal from said third andor said fourth detecting device.
10. The device as described in claim 9, wherein said circuit comprises a piston pump.
11. The device as described in claim 10, wherein said circuit comprises a feed assembly, in turn comprising a tank for said fluid; a gear pump for drawing fluid from said tank; a drain line for draining the gear pump into the tank; and a compensating valve located along said drain line and movable between an open position and a closed position respectively opening and closing the drain line.
12. The device as described in claim 11, wherein said circuit comprises a feed assembly, in turn comprising a tank for said fluid; a piston pump and a gear pump for drawing fluid from said tank; a drain line for draining the gear pump into the tank; a drain valve located along said drain line and movable between an open position and a closed position respectively opening and closing the drain line; a connecting line connecting said piston pump and said gear pump; and a compensating valve located along said connecting line and movable between an open position and a closed position respectively opening and closing the connecting line.