Abstract: An optical position measuring device is described for determining the relative position of two objects that are movable in a measuring direction with respect to each other. The position measuring device includes a scale having a scale reference mark structure, which is composed of n blocks arranged in the measuring direction with partial areas of varying optical characteristics. A scanning unit is also included, with a scanning reference pulse structure as well as a plurality of detector elements. Output signals are generated by the detector elements, which at a defined relative position of the two objects, have a maximum or a minimum value.