Abstract: An electronic absolute position encoder is provided having a scale, a detector, and a signal processor configured to determine an absolute position of the detector along the scale. The scale includes a signal modulating scale pattern comprising a periodic pattern component and a gradual pattern variation component. The detector includes N spatial phase sensing elements (e.g., conductive windings) and at least one reference sensing element, which is spaced apart along the measuring axis direction by a distance corresponding to an integer multiple of 360 degrees of spatial phase shift relative to a first one of the N spatial phase sensing elements. A first reference signal from the first reference sensing element and a first signal from the first one of the N spatial phase sensing elements include nominally similar signal contributions from the periodic pattern component, and a difference between the two signals is due to a difference in their signal contributions from the gradual pattern variation component.

Abstract: An electronic absolute position encoder is provided having a scale, a detector, and a signal processor configured to determine an absolute position of the detector along the scale. The scale includes a signal modulating scale pattern comprising a periodic pattern component and a gradual pattern variation component. The detector includes N spatial phase sensing elements (e.g., conductive windings) and at least one reference sensing element, which is spaced apart along the measuring axis direction by a distance corresponding to an integer multiple of 360 degrees of spatial phase shift relative to a first one of the N spatial phase sensing elements. A first reference signal from the first reference sensing element and a first signal from the first one of the N spatial phase sensing elements include nominally similar signal contributions from the periodic pattern component, and a difference between the two signals is due to a difference in their signal contributions from the gradual pattern variation component.

Abstract: An absolute position encoder scale includes first and second layers in a stacked configuration. A read head moves relative to spatial modulation patterns of first (top) and second (lower) signal layers along a measuring axis, and a sensing portion produces one or more scale sensing fields to sense the signal layers. A higher frequency scale sensing field may provide a first limited sensing depth to sense position relative to the top signal layer pattern, and a lower frequency field may provide a second deeper sensing depth to sense position relative to the lower signal layer pattern. In some embodiments, an isolation layer between the first and second layers may include a spatial modulation pattern that complements the first layer pattern, to nullify its signal effects when sensing position relative to the second layer pattern using the second sensing depth.

Abstract: A caliper including a scale member, a slider, a slider displacement sensor and a force sensing arrangement. The force sensing arrangement is configured to provide a signal indicative of a measurement force, and includes elements fabricated on the same circuit board as the slider displacement sensor. In one implementation, the force sensing arrangement includes drive and sense coils that are fabricated in one or more metal layers of the circuit board. A signal modulating element (e.g., a metal core) is also included which is attached to a force actuator which moves in accordance with the amount of measurement force that is being applied. The force actuator moves relative to the linearly displaced coils and the attached signal modulating element affects the inductive coupling between the coils. The resulting signals from the coils may be utilized to determine the position of the signal modulating element and the corresponding measurement force.

Abstract: A measuring device is provided including a user interface responsive to changes in a displacement sensed by a displacement sensor. The measuring device (e.g., a handheld caliper or micrometer) includes a displacement sensor, a display, a signal processing and control portion, and a user interface. The displacement sensor includes a readhead and a scale displaceable relative to one another along a measuring axis under the manual control of a user, with the display being connected to the readhead. In a first user interface mode, displacement measurement values are displayed and are responsive to changes in the displacement of the displacement sensor. In a second user interface mode, operation control elements are displayed in the user interface and an operation control element action visible in the user interface (e.g., movement of a selection indicator) is responsive to changes in the displacement of the displacement sensor.

Abstract: A jaw-mounted magnet accessory is provided for being coupled to a caliper measuring jaw. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory includes a magnet configuration and a mounting arrangement interface. The magnet configuration includes at least one magnet that produces a magnetic field that extends from an operational face of the magnet configuration. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory is configured to locate the operational face of the magnet configuration proximate to the workpiece engagement surface of the caliper jaw so as to hold a workpiece (e.g., made of ferrous material) against the workpiece engagement surface. Utilization of the magnetic field to hold the workpiece in flush alignment with the workpiece engagement surface makes it more convenient to handle small or thin workpieces and/or may increase the accuracy and repeatability for measurements of some workpieces.

Abstract: A jaw-mounted magnet accessory is provided for being coupled to a caliper measuring jaw. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory includes a magnet configuration and a mounting arrangement interface. The magnet configuration includes at least one magnet that produces a magnetic field that extends from an operational face of the magnet configuration. The jaw-mounted magnet accessory is configured to locate the operational face of the magnet configuration proximate to the workpiece engagement surface of the caliper jaw so as to hold a workpiece (e.g., made of ferrous material) against the workpiece engagement surface. Utilization of the magnetic field to hold the workpiece in flush alignment with the workpiece engagement surface makes it more convenient to handle small or thin workpieces and/or may increase the accuracy and repeatability for measurements of some workpieces.

Abstract: An absolute position encoder scale includes first and second layers in a stacked configuration. A read head moves relative to spatial modulation patterns of first (top) and second (lower) signal layers along a measuring axis, and a sensing portion produces one or more scale sensing fields to sense the signal layers. A higher frequency scale sensing field may provide a first limited sensing depth to sense position relative to the top signal layer pattern, and a lower frequency field may provide a second deeper sensing depth to sense position relative to the lower signal layer pattern. In some embodiments, an isolation layer between the first and second layers may include a spatial modulation pattern that complements the first layer pattern, to nullify its signal effects when sensing position relative to the second layer pattern using the second sensing depth.

Abstract: An absolute position encoder scale is provided having scale elements (e.g., plates and plate abatement features such as recesses) which alternate along the scale pattern. At least one of the scale elements has a characteristic (e.g., a recess depth) that is varied along the scale pattern to provide a different respective eddy current response. A signal portion of a read head is responsive to the respective eddy currents to output absolute position signals. For the plate abatement features, the characteristic that may be varied may be a recess depth, an amount of a non-conductive area, an amount of a recessed area, etc. As a varying depth example, the scale may be formed from a bulk material (e.g., aluminum) in which progressively deeper recessed depths are cut along the scale. For plate features, the characteristic that may be varied may include a plate height, an amount of a plate area, etc.

Abstract: An absolute position encoder scale is provided having scale elements (e.g., plates and plate abatement features such as recesses) which alternate along the scale pattern. At least one of the scale elements has a characteristic (e.g., a recess depth) that is varied along the scale pattern to provide a different respective eddy current response. A signal portion of a read head is responsive to the respective eddy currents to output absolute position signals. For the plate abatement features, the characteristic that may be varied may be a recess depth, an amount of a non-conductive area, an amount of a recessed area, etc. As a varying depth example, the scale may be formed from a bulk material (e.g., aluminum) in which progressively deeper recessed depths are cut along the scale. For plate features, the characteristic that may be varied may include a plate height, an amount of a plate area, etc.

Abstract: A caliper including a scale member, a slider, a slider displacement sensor and a force sensing arrangement. The force sensing arrangement is configured to provide a signal indicative of a measurement force, and includes elements fabricated on the same circuit board as the slider displacement sensor. In one implementation, the force sensing arrangement includes drive and sense coils that are fabricated in one or more metal layers of the circuit board. A signal modulating element (e.g., a metal core) is also included which is attached to a force actuator which moves in accordance with the amount of measurement force that is being applied. The force actuator moves relative to the linearly displaced coils and the attached signal modulating element affects the inductive coupling between the coils. The resulting signals from the coils may be utilized to determine the position of the signal modulating element and the corresponding measurement force.