Abstract: An optical position measuring system including a scale that has at least two partial measuring graduations that have different graduation periods and a scanning unit that is movable relative to the scale along a measuring direction. The scanning unit includes a light source that emits light beams, a reflector element and a detector element, wherein the light beams emitted by the light source are deflected several times by the reflector element in the direction of the course of propagation of the emitted light beams and impinge several times on said scale before they impinge on said detector element, on which scanning signals, which are modulated as a function of displacement, are detected.

Abstract: Instrumentation for sensing the test values at test samples, using a mechanical sensor moving relative to the test sample and consisting of a housing fixed part and of a movable, articulating multi ball and socket part connected to the housing fixed part and at least one test value transmitter. A trigger signal is generated in the instrumentation at the instant of impact between sensor and test sample and is stored to record the test value present at the time of impact at the test value transmitter.At least one force or acceleration pickup (12,23,24,30) is provided which is mounted on the housing fixed part (2) of the sensor (5) and delivers the trigger signal.

Abstract: A system for one dimensional or multi-dimensional modulation of light proportional to the path, angle or speed, preferably the photoelectric signal analysis of the movement of an object carrier in an interferometer. At least three consecutive diffraction processes take place in the optical path of which one starts from a point and of which the last condenses the light bundles into at least two points. The light bundles are guided in the same direction of diffraction fulfilling the coherence condition where the surfaces of diffraction are spaced relatively far apart and do not use imaging optics.