Abstract: A communication system includes a master device, a connector, a superordinate trunk cable connecting the master device and the connector, a superordinate slave device connected to the connector, a subordinate slave device, and a subordinate trunk cable connecting the connector and the subordinate slave device. The connector includes a superordinate power line via which power is supplied from the master device, a power branching unit to divide the superordinate power line into a first power line connected to the superordinate slave device and a second power line connected to the subordinate slave device, a superordinate signal line via which communication data between the master device and the superordinate slave device is configured to be transmitted, and a subordinate signal line via which communication data between the superordinate slave device and the subordinate slave device is configured to be transmitted.

Abstract: An encoder includes a scale and a sensor. The scale has first and second absolute patterns. The sensor includes a light source, and first and second absolute light receivers. The first and second absolute light receivers receive light from the first and second absolute patterns, respectively. The first absolute light receiver receives light from the first pattern and includes first and second light receiving elements. Each first light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a first phase. Each second light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a second phase. The first and second light receiving elements are arranged alternately. The second absolute light receiver includes third and fourth light receiving elements. Each third light receiving element outputs a second signal with the first phase. The third and fourth light receiving elements are arranged alternately. Each fourth light receiving element outputs a second signal with the second phase.

Abstract: An encoder includes a disc and a sensor. The disc has a circular surface with a central axis and is rotatable around the central axis. The disc has a slit row provided on the circular surface. The slit row includes slits arranged in a circumferential direction of the circular surface around the central axis and in a radial direction of the circular surface. The sensor is provided opposite to the slit row on circular surface. The sensor has a first light receiver and a second light receiver. The first light receiver is configured to output a first light receiving signal as the slit row rotates along the circumferential direction when the disc rotates around the central axis. The second light receiver is configured to output a second light receiving signal as the slit row moves along the radial direction when the disc rotates around the central axis.

Abstract: An encoder includes a scale and a sensor. The scale has first and second absolute patterns. The sensor includes a light source, and first and second absolute light receivers. The first and second absolute light receivers receive light from the first and second absolute patterns, respectively. The first absolute light receiver receives light from the first pattern and includes first and second light receiving elements. Each first light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a first phase. Each second light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a second phase. The first and second light receiving elements are arranged alternately. The second absolute light receiver includes third and fourth light receiving elements. Each third light receiving element outputs a second signal with the first phase. The third and fourth light receiving elements are arranged alternately. Each fourth light receiving element outputs a second signal with the second phase.

Abstract: An encoder includes a scale and a sensor. The scale has first and second absolute patterns. The sensor includes a light source, and first and second absolute light receivers. The first and second absolute light receivers receive light from the first and second absolute patterns, respectively. The first absolute light receiver receives light from the first pattern and includes first and second light receiving elements. Each first light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a first phase. Each second light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a second phase. The first and second light receiving elements are arranged alternately. The second absolute light receiver includes third and fourth light receiving elements. Each third light receiving element outputs a second signal with the first phase. The third and fourth light receiving elements are arranged alternately. Each fourth light receiving element outputs a second signal with the second phase.

Abstract: An encoder includes: an optical module that detects angular position information indicating an angular position of a rotating disk within one rotation thereof; a magnetic detecting unit that detects multi-rotation information indicating the number of rotations of the disk; a battery that supplies a power to the magnetic detecting unit when an external power is not supplied to the encoder; and a connector that connects connection terminals of the battery to a substrate to which at least one of the optical module and the magnetic detecting unit is connected, via solders in contact with the connection terminals.

Abstract: A communication system includes a master device, a connector, a superordinate trunk cable connecting the master device and the connector, a superordinate slave device connected to the connector, a subordinate slave device, and a subordinate trunk cable connecting the connector and the subordinate slave device. The connector includes a superordinate power line via which power is supplied from the master device, a power branching unit to divide the superordinate power line into a first power line connected to the superordinate slave device and a second power line connected to the subordinate slave device, a superordinate signal line via which communication data between the master device and the superordinate slave device is configured to be transmitted, and a subordinate signal line via which communication data between the superordinate slave device and the subordinate slave device is configured to be transmitted.

Abstract: An encoder includes a disc and a sensor. The disc has a circular surface with a central axis and is rotatable around the central axis. The disc has a slit row provided on the circular surface. The slit row includes slits arranged in a circumferential direction of the circular surface around the central axis and in a radial direction of the circular surface. The sensor is provided opposite to the slit row on circular surface. The sensor has a first light receiver and a second light receiver. The first light receiver is configured to output a first light receiving signal as the slit row rotates along the circumferential direction when the disc rotates around the central axis. The second light receiver is configured to output a second light receiving signal as the slit row moves along the radial direction when the disc rotates around the central axis.

Abstract: An encoder includes a scale and a sensor. The scale has first and second absolute patterns. The sensor includes a light source, and first and second absolute light receivers. The first and second absolute light receivers receive light from the first and second absolute patterns, respectively. The first absolute light receiver receives light from the first pattern and includes first and second light receiving elements. Each first light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a first phase. Each second light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a second phase. The first and second light receiving elements are arranged alternately. The second absolute light receiver includes third and fourth light receiving elements. Each third light receiving element outputs a second signal with the first phase. The third and fourth light receiving elements are arranged alternately. Each fourth light receiving element outputs a second signal with the second phase.

Abstract: A sensor includes an upper-level connection port, a lower-level connection port, a command receiver, a wait time period setter, and a motor-related information obtainer. The upper-level connection port is configured to communicate with an upper-level sensor or an upper-level controller. The lower-level connection port is configured to communicate with a lower-level sensor. The command receiver is configured to receive a command from the upper-level controller. The wait time period setter is configured to set a wait time period based on an order of connection of at least the upper-level sensor or the upper-level controller, the sensor, and the lower-level sensor. The motor-related information obtainer is configured to obtain motor-related information, which relates to a motor, at a timing determined by the command and at a timing based on the wait time period.

Abstract: An encoder includes a first disc and a second disc, a first detector, a second detector, a rotation count detector, and a sender. The first disc and the second disc are mounted on a rotation shaft of a motor. The first detector is configured to detect a rotation position of the first disc within one rotation of the first disc. The second detector is configured to detect that the second disc has made one rotation. The rotation count detector is configured to count a rotation count of the second disc based on an output from the second detector. The sender is configured to send sending data including the rotation position and the rotation count.

Abstract: A servo system includes a motor having a stator and a movable element which moves relative to the stator, an encoder which detects at least one of a position and a speed of the movable element of the motor, and a controller including first circuitry which controls operation of the motor based on a detection result of the encoder. The first circuitry of the controller transmits a first command signal that changes a communication speed between the encoder and the controller from a first speed to a second speed which is higher than the first speed, and the encoder includes second circuitry which changes the communication speed between the encoder and the controller to the second speed when the first command signal is received from the controller.

Abstract: An encoder includes a track having optical effecters arranged to have an absolute pattern in a measurement direction, a light source configured to emit diffusion light to the track, and a light receiving array configured to have light receiving elements arranged in the measurement direction and to receive light reflected or transmitted by the track. The light receiving elements fall within an area which is positioned corresponding to an area between the optical effecters and to which the light reflected by the track dose not reach.

Abstract: An encoder includes a plurality of slit tracks, a point light source, a first light-receiving array, a second light-receiving array, and a third light-receiving array. The plurality of slit tracks respectively comprises a plurality of reflection slits arranged along a measurement direction. The point light source is configured to emit diffusion light to the plurality of slit tracks. The first light-receiving array is configured to receive light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern. The second light-receiving array is configured to receive light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern longer in pitch than other incremental patterns. The third light-receiving array is configured to receive light reflected by the slit track comprising an absolute pattern.

Abstract: A sensor includes an upper-level connection port, a lower-level connection port, a command receiver, a wait time period setter, and a motor-related information obtainer. The upper-level connection port is configured to communicate with an upper-level sensor or an upper-level controller. The lower-level connection port is configured to communicate with a lower-level sensor. The command receiver is configured to receive a command from the upper-level controller. The wait time period setter is configured to set a wait time period based on an order of connection of at least the upper-level sensor or the upper-level controller, the sensor, and the lower-level sensor. The motor-related information obtainer is configured to obtain motor-related information, which relates to a motor, at a timing determined by the command and at a timing based on the wait time period.

Abstract: An encoder includes a first disc and a second disc, a first detector, a second detector, a rotation count detector, and a sender. The first disc and the second disc are mounted on a rotation shaft of a motor. The first detector is configured to detect a rotation position of the first disc within one rotation of the first disc. The second detector is configured to detect that the second disc has made one rotation. The rotation count detector is configured to count a rotation count of the second disc based on an output from the second detector. The sender is configured to send sending data including the rotation position and the rotation count.

Abstract: An encoder includes a plurality of slit tracks, a point light source, a first to third light-receiving arrays. The plurality of slit tracks respectively comprises a plurality of reflection slits. The point light source emits diffusion light to the plurality of slit tracks. The first light-receiving array receives light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern. The second light-receiving array receives light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern longer in pitch than other incremental patterns, and is disposed at a position on a side of a direction where the point light source is disposed, than the first light-receiving array, The third light-receiving array receives light reflected by the slit track comprising an absolute pattern, and is disposed at a position on a side of a direction where the point light source is disposed, than the first light-receiving array.

Abstract: A servo system includes a motor having a stator and a movable element which moves relative to the stator, an encoder which detects at least one of a position and a speed of the movable element of the motor, and a controller including first circuitry which controls operation of the motor based on a detection result of the encoder. The first circuitry of the controller transmits a first command signal that changes a communication speed between the encoder and the controller from a first speed to a second speed which is higher than the first speed, and the encoder includes second circuitry which changes the communication speed between the encoder and the controller to the second speed when the first command signal is received from the controller.

Abstract: An optical module includes: a light source configured to emit diffusion light to tracks; one light receiving array and another light receiving array which are arranged across the light source in a width direction substantially vertical to the measurement direction; a light receiving array arranged between the one light receiving array and the light source, and configured to receive light which is reflected at the tracks having a first incremental pattern; and a light receiving array arranged between the another first light receiving array and the light source, and configured to receive light which is reflected at the tracks having a second incremental pattern which pitch is longer than a pitch of the first incremental pattern.

Abstract: An encoder includes an absolute pattern, a light source, and a plurality of light reception elements. The absolute pattern is disposed in a measurement direction. The light source is configured to emit light to the absolute pattern. The plurality of light reception elements are arranged in the measurement direction and are configured to receive the light emitted from the light source and transmitted through or reflected by the absolute pattern. The plurality of light reception elements include a first light reception element having a shape asymmetrical in the measurement direction.