Abstract: A cylindrical encoder has a cylinder with a coding surface that is disposed about a rotational axis. The coding surface has code lines that spiral along the cylinder about the rotational axis. Resolution depends on the pitch, or spacing, of the code lines, and on the angle at which the code lines are oriented to the rotational axis. An imaging system positioned for optical coupling to the coding surface senses a succession of moving code lines as the cylinder rotates about the rotational axis.

Abstract: A light source suitable for surface mounting onto a printed circuit board. The light source includes a planar substrate with a centrally positioned recess. A light emitting diode is mounted in the recess and the substrate is encapsulated by a transparent encapsulant material forming an ellipsoidal dome over the light emitting diode.

Abstract: A high resolution optical encoder with an angular collimated light beam. The optical encoder includes a source, a collimator, a reflective surface and a receiver. The light beam is collimated using a collimator and/or source at an angle to the plane of the reflective surface.

Abstract: An optical encoder device (100) comprises an optical encoder for detecting codewheel/codestrip positions, an optical encoder housing of accommodating the optical encoder, a first tapered guidepost (103) protruding from a sidewall (102) of the optical encoder housing, said first guidepost (103) having a star-shaped cross-section and being arranged adjacent to the optical encoder, and a second tapered guidepost (104) protruding from the sidewall (102) of the optical encoder housing and extending substantially parallel to the first guidepost (103), said second guidepost (104) having a diamond-shaped cross-section and being arranged remote from the optical encoder.

Abstract: An optical encoder device (100) comprises: an optical emitter (103) for emitting light, the optical emitter (103) having a light emission direction (E); an optical detector (104) for detecting light emitted by the optical emitter (103), the optical detector (104) having a light detection direction (D) which is different from the light emission direction (E); an optical element (109) for controlling an optical path (108) between the optical emitter (103) and the optical detector (104) such that light emitted by the optical emitter (103) can be detected by the optical detector (104); and a free area (113) in the optical encoder device (100) for accommodating a moveable optical encoding unit (112) comprising a plurality of alternating transparent and opaque encoding elements such that the plurality of alternating transparent and opaque encoding elements of the optical encoding unit (112) is able to affect the optical path (108).

Abstract: A light source suitable for surface mounting onto a printed circuit board. The light source includes a planar substrate with a centrally positioned recess. A light emitting diode is mounted in the recess and the substrate is encapsulated by a transparent encapsulant material forming an ellipsoidal dome over the light emitting diode.

Abstract: A method of interconnecting bond pads on a semiconductor die to leads of a package is disclosed. The method includes placing a connector over each bond pad and its corresponding lead. The connector is one of a plurality of ganged connectors. The method also includes electrically connecting the connector to the bond pad and the lead and singularizing the connector from the plurality of ganged connectors. Such a method of interconnection has the advantage of simultaneously interconnecting multiple bond pads to leads. In a preferred embodiment, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are manufactured using the method. A PCB is etched to produced lead pairs of the LEDs. A semiconductor die is attached to a first lead of each lead pair. Ganged interconnects are aligned with and tagged onto the dies and the second leads of the lead pairs, thereby electrically connecting them. After tagging, the interconnects are singularized. An encapsulant is applied on each die and interconnect.