Abstract: A new type of optoelectronic encoder conformed in one embodiment as a translucent cylinder having a reflective opaque coating on the lateral and end surfaces thereof, the cylindrical segment being further broken down into a set of lateral strips separated by a plurality of peripheral grooves. Portions of the reflective opaque coating are then removed, and the surface polished over selected areas of each strip to produce the desired light apertures. A first end of this cylinder has the opaque coating removed and is then polished to receive light. A second end is secured to a selected rotary shaft for measurement and selection of position of the latter, and is in effect an extension of the shaft. A bank of conventional phototransistors is then deployed over the cylinder, each respective phototransistor being exited by a light ray from the aperture associated therewith in the subjacent strip of the cylinder, thus indicating the position of the selected shaft.

Abstract: A selectively aligned optical switching device including two adjacent translucent discs having mask segments formed on the surfaces thereof, with the first disc including a sleeve extending from the central opening thereof which is received within the central opening of the second disc. A clamping nut threadably engages the sleeve to selectively align the masking segments of the discs relative to each other. This combination of discs is clamped in concentric alignment against a timing hub which in turn is indexed by a pin relative to a rotary shaft. The mask section of the discs is then received in an optical coupling device which provides operating signals in selected coordination with the rotation of the shaft.