Abstract: The invention relates to a position sensor which scans a magnetic graduation having a code structure with several Hall elements. The Hall elements are not simultaneously activated, interrogated and deactivated but rather are sequentially activated, interrogated and deactivated in order to reduce the consumption of power by the position sensor. The position values determined by the Hall elements are stored in intermediate memories. Alternatively, if the rotation of the graduation exceeds a threshold value then an intermediate memory or memories is bypassed and the output signal is directly output. The position sensor according to the present invention can be employed with longitudinal and angular measuring systems.

Abstract: A position measuring device for generating position-dependent output signals that includes a scanning element by which a scanning plane is defined and a measuring graduation movable relative to the scanning element and defining a measuring graduation plane. The position measuring device further includes a regulating device for regulating output signals to constant signal amplitudes, in that the regulating device acts upon a predetermined controlling variable, to which end the requisite value of the controlling variable for the purpose of regulating is ascertained continuously by the regulating device.

Abstract: A device and method for data transmission between a transducer and a processing unit which are coupled by one or several signal transmission lines, to selectively activate at least two different modes of operation of the transducer. The device includes a comparator unit which identifies the respectively activated mode of operation by comparing signals present on at least one signal transmission line with predetermined reference signals.

Abstract: An absolute position-measuring device has several graduation tracks with different graduation periods. Because of the low-pass filter behavior of the scanning elements, scanning signals with a high frequency are effected in the phase. A correction device is provided to compensate this frequency-dependent phase shift (.phi.). As a function of the instantaneous frequency (f) of the scanning signal, the phase of the latter is corrected by a correction value (.phi.) stored in the correction device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a position measuring instrument having a testing device for checking the amplitude of the analog scanner signals and for testing the operation of the trigger stages. In a first preferred embodiment the trigger threshold voltage of all the trigger stages is switched simultaneously to defined various test voltages. One test voltage is within the allowable amplitude of the analog scanner signals and a further test voltage is outside. The states of the scanner signals digitized by means of the trigger stages before and after the switchover are compared with one another and as a function thereof an error signal is generated. In another preferred embodiment, the trigger threshold voltage is kept constant and either the radiation intensity of the light source or the intensity of the scanner signal is varied.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device and a method for serial data transmission. In the position measuring device there is provided a memory, in which specific parameters of the position measuring device are kept. These parameters can be sent on the data line to a processing unit, by which the measurement values are transmitted during the position measurement. By receiving the parameters, the processing unit is adjusted to the connected position measuring device.