Abstract: A scale for a position encoder that includes a first graduation track having a first set of markings that are periodically arranged with a defined graduation period ?, a second graduation track having a second set of markings that are periodically arranged with a defined graduation period ?, wherein the second graduation track is shifted relative to the first graduation track by a distance ?/4. A third graduation track having a third set of markings that are periodically arranged with a defined graduation period ?, wherein the first, second and third graduation tracks are positioned such that at any one time at least one, but never three, of the first, second and third graduation tracks will transmit light directed upon the scale.

Abstract: In order to provide multiple resolution capabilities in an encoder device with the fewest number of parts, a single circuit board platform is provided with multiple chip buses electrically connected in parallel. Each bus is located adjacent a different code disc track wherein the code disc includes multiple concentric tracks of different resolution. The chip buses are compatible with either a surface mounted or a plug-in mounted encoder module assembled to a printed circuit board platform having alternate disc track read locations provided by separate encoder module bus ports. To change resolution the encoder module chip is simply moved from one bus to an alternate resolution bus on the PC board that lies adjacent a different code disc resolution track. In one embodiment, the PC board is mounted to the housing and the electric motor and the code disc is mounted on the rotary motor shaft in order to provide shaft angle position for electrically controlling the operation of the motor.

Abstract: A movable barrier operator includes an absolute position detector which provides a unique value for each position of the barrier along its path of travel. The absolute position detector employs multiple binary serial streams and one multiple clock stream. After the first five cycles of the clock stream, the binary streams can be decoded by a processor to produce an absolute position. Every clock edge produces a new absolute position along the path of travel.

Abstract: The relative position of two members is determined based upon a detected relative intensities of first and second colors of light. The intensity balance associated with relative occlusion of first and second color filter portions on one member by a mask on the other member. An exemplary use is in rotational position sensing within a limited rotation range. With a given compliance between the two members, the position sensing can be used as a proxy for torque sensing.

Abstract: A position measuring system that includes a scale having an incremental graduation track of a defined incremental graduation period and on at least one defined reference position, a reference marking field with a mean reference marking graduation period. A scanning unit movable with respect to the scale, the scanning unit having a plurality of scanning elements for generating scanning signals, wherein at least two phase-shifted incremental signals are generated as scanning signals. A first evaluation device that determines a rough reference position. A second evaluation device that determines a beat signal phase. A third evaluation device, which is suitable for unequivocally marking a beat signal period from the rough reference position and, if a defined phase position exists, to issue a fine reference position from the beat signal phase.

Abstract: A device and method capable of measuring the optical rotary and linear position of items, that is reliable, accurate and capable of operating in harsh environments. The present invention utilizes optics to measure rotary and linear position. Unlike the prior art the present invention relies on the optical angle to determine position rather than an analog signal or intensity. Because of this, the present invention is capable of providing accurate results in high temperature, harsh and dirty environments. Further, the present invention reduces the need for time consuming and costly replacements at the sensing end.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus and method for assembling the same on a rotating member. An embodiment of the positioning apparatus comprises an encoder having index markings indicative of the rotational position of the rotating member, a decoder for reading the index markings from the encoder when the encoder is mounted to the rotating member at a desired distance from the decoder to determine the rotational position of the rotating member, and at least one spacer for mounting the encoder on the rotating member at the desired distance from the decoder.

Abstract: A movable barrier operator includes an absolute position detector which provides a unique value for each position of the barrier along its path of travel. The absolute position detector employs multiple binary serial streams and one multiple clock stream. After the first five cycles of the clock stream, the binary streams can be decoded by a processor to produce an absolute position. Every clock edge produces a new absolute position along the path of travel.

Abstract: A method for providing robust and reliable transmission of shaft encoder signals. Initially, the differentially encoded shaft encoder signals are received. The shaft encoder signals are converted into single-ended electrical signals. These single-ended electrical signals are then converted into optical signals. Finally, the optical signals are transmitted through optical conductors.

Abstract: There is provided a displacement measuring device of which assembled state can be determined optically with ease. There is also provided a light spot position sensor usefully applicable in determination of the assembled state of the displacement measuring device. An optical encoder comprises a scale and a sensor head that is arranged opposite to the scale and can move relative to the scale. The sensor head includes a sensor substrate, on which an index grating and a photosensitive device array are formed. The sensor substrate is also employed to mount a light spot position sensor and a light source for providing a light beam entering the light spot position sensor via the scale to configure a state detection system for detecting an assembled state.

Abstract: An optical encoder that includes an optical grating and a quadrature optical encoder sensor that move relative to each other. The optical grating includes a first encoder bar and a plurality of second encoder bars, wherein the first encoder bar is optically configured to change an amplitude of an output of the quadrature optical encoder sensor.

Abstract: An optical encoder that includes an optical grating and a quadrature optical encoder sensor that move relative to each other. The optical grating includes alternating dark and light areas, wherein one or more of the light areas are optically different from other light areas.

Abstract: A position-detecting device is provided. The optical position-detecting device essentially comprises a light-emitting source, a mask, and a light-detecting device, in which a plurality of grating-holes are provided on the mask for allowing of a projecting light source, generated by the light-emitting source, to pass therethrough, and the projecting light source passing through the grating-holes are then absorbed by a plurality of light-detecting element provided on the light-detecting device. Each light-detecting device is provided as a non-rectangular mode, while an interval space is existed between any two of adjacent light-detecting elements. The partially active area of one of the light-detecting elements is naturally provided at the vertical extension of the interval space, and thus diminishing disadvantages of misdetermination and low sensitivity of the light-detecting device induced by the presence of an interval space.

Abstract: An optical encoder whose environmental resistance is improved by increasing the variety of options of materials for a resin-made code plate thereof. Used as material for at least a code pattern of the code plate of the optical encoder is one which meets the condition that the material has spectral transmittance of 70% or more with respect to detection light and that of 50% or less with respect to partial light (for example blue light) of visible wavelengths in translucent sections. If infrared light having wavelengths between 800 nm and 1000 nm is used as detection light, it is preferable to apply polyetherimide, polyethersulfone or polyphenylsulfone as a colored resin material. These materials are excellent in heat resistance, oil resistance, etc., compared to transparent and colorless materials (PMMA, PC, glass, etc.) which have been conventionally used, and hardly cause melting, deformation, white turbidity, etc., in a harsh environment.

Abstract: A position measuring device having a scanning device and a scale, wherein the scanning device is movable in relation to the scale in a measuring direction. The scale including a measuring graduation, wherein periodic measuring signals are generated when the scanning device scans the measuring graduation and a reference marking, wherein a reference marking signal is generated when the scanning device scans the reference marking with a scanning beam bundle. The scale further includes a first optically scannable area marking next to the reference marking and a second optically scannable area marking next to the reference marking and which has a different optical deflection property than the first optically scannable area marking, wherein photoelectric scanning of the first and second optically scannable area markings with the scanning beam bundle from the scanning device generates an area signal that differentiates characteristics of the first and second optically scannable area markings.

Abstract: A timing device, such as a timing disk or a timing ruler is provided with a carrier having at least one code track of a group and overlapping therewith and at least one code marking, which is scanned by a sensor unit to produce signals. The code track or tracks have a different optical density in comparison to the first group, and the code markings within a code track overlap. Also disclosed is a positioning device which includes a timing disk or a timing ruler with a carrier having a first group of code markings in at least one code track. Here the code markings are scanned by at least one sensor unit for producing a signal and the signal processing device for converting the sensor signal into a control signal is connected after the sensor unit.

Abstract: A position measuring system that includes a scale having an incremental graduation track of a defined incremental graduation period and on at least one defined reference position, a reference marking field with a mean reference marking graduation period. A scanning unit movable with respect to the scale, the scanning unit having a plurality of scanning elements for generating scanning signals, wherein at least two phase-shifted incremental signals are generated as scanning signals. A first evaluation device that determines a rough reference position. A second evaluation device that determines a beat signal phase. A third evaluation device, which is suitable for unequivocally marking a beat signal period from the rough reference position and, if a defined phase position exists, to issue a fine reference position from the beat signal phase.

Abstract: Angular and linear encoders have incremental scale divisions. An encoder has sensors in a sensor configuration for creating signals relative to a path traveled that are displaced in a measuring direction. By displacing the sensor axis relative to the measuring axis the phase deviation between the scale division and the sensor distance is eliminated allowing efficient production of the encoder components.

Abstract: An optoelectronic angle-of-rotation sensor, in particular for detecting the steering angle in a vehicle steering system, comprises a light source, a photosensitive receiver, and a code disk which can be coupled to a component whose angle of rotation should be detected. The code disk is at least partly transparent for the light of the light source and is provided with an optical coding. The code disk constitutes a light guide and comprising a coupling surface via which the light of the light source enters the code disk, and comprising at least one deflection surface which deflects the light rays to the photosensitive receiver.

Abstract: A lead frame assembly that includes a lead frame defining a cavity, a lead frame contact disposed within the cavity and a sensor disposed on the lead frame contact.

Abstract: An optical rotary encoder for acquiring rotation information regarding a shaft includes a light source located on or in the vicinity of the axis of rotation of the shaft for emitting light rays and a code wheel mounted on the shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation. The code wheel has a plurality of alternating light transmissive and non-light transmissive areas in a circumferential direction. A reflector is spaced a distance from the code wheel for reflecting the light rays emitted from the light source so that they are turned into a parallel beam of light. The parallel beam of light illuminates the light transmissive areas of the code wheel so that light passing through the light transmissive areas is directed toward a peripheral region of the light source. The encoder also includes one or more light-detecting elements for detecting the light passing through the light transmissive areas.

Abstract: A position sensor for determining the angular position of a steering wheel. The shaft of the steering wheel is connected to a code disk and turn ring of the sensor so that when steering wheel is rotated, the coded disk and turn ring are also rotated. The code disk is a flat circular disk having a series of cut-outs or bits around its perimeter. A light emitting diode shines a light through the cut-outs and is read by a photo detector which determines the angular position of the code disk. The turn ring is fitted on the outside of the code disk and rotates in a hypocycloidic circle so that for every full revolution of the code disk, the turn ring rotates through a smaller angle. The turn ring is placed over a series of Hall sensors to determine the number of revolutions of the code disk.

Abstract: An optical displacement senor includes a source of optical radiation, a two-dimensional array of radiation detectors, and at least one modulating element disposed between the source and detector. The modulating element has alternating first and second modulating regions circumfrentially spaced around a central axis thereof. The modulating element is displacement relative to the array of detectors so that the detector array forms a two-dimensional image of the first and second regions of the modulating element of array. A data processor is connected to the detector array and is adapted to indentify the orientation of at least two different radially extending edges of regions on the modulating element from the two-dimensional image and also to determine the position of the centre of the element from the determined orientation of the edges.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sensor head which constitutes an optical encoder in combination with a movable scale. The scale has a first optical pattern and a second optical pattern. The sensor head comprises a light source which emits a coherent light beam applied to the scale, a first photo-detector which detects the light reflected by the first optical pattern, and a second photo-detector which detects the light reflected by the second optical pattern. A straight line connecting the center of the first photo-detector with the center of the second photo-detector crosses both a first axis parallel to a movement direction of the scale and a second axis orthogonal to the first axis and parallel to a pattern surface of the scale.

Abstract: A system for accurately sensing/determining the position of an uniformly rotating shaft characterized in using a single marker in tandem with a high frequency signal, said system comprising a shaft mounted with a disc having a single marker, an opto-electronic device placed in front of the disc for generating a “marker signal” for every rotation of the disc, a means for producing a high frequency signal for sampling/slicing/slotting the time period between two consecutive marker signals, input terminals of a gating mechanism being connected to the opto-electronic device and the high frequency signal generator and an output terminal being connected to a counter such that the gating mechanism allows the high frequency signal to pass to the counter and said counter being configured for counting the number of pulses in the high frequency signal, a D/A converter connected to an output of the counter for converting the number of pulses counted into an analog signal and optionally, a display mechanism fo

Abstract: A device for measuring the rotational angle of two components that can be rotated relative to each other has a shaft that can be securely coupled to the first component, and coaxially houses a light source and a materialized measure through which the light source shines. A sensing device can be securely coupled to the second component. The interior measure has an angular lattice structure and the sensing device has a coaxially arranged circular track of optical sensor elements, by means of which incremental angle measurement is possible. At least one marker element is also provided on the materialized measure that influences the sensor element corresponding to its absolute angle position. The sensor elements can be electronically polled individually in order to determine the absolute angle position.

Abstract: An absolute measuring system for the determination of angles or paths is described. During normal operation the encoder of this system is fed by a voltage supply (mains). If the voltage supply fails the encoder is switched to an auxiliary power supply which uses less energy. In this operating mode the encoder only calculates a coarse value of the measured value which it stores in the memory.

Abstract: A movable barrier operator includes an absolute position detector which provides a unique value for each position of the barrier along its path of travel. The absolute position detector employs multiple binary serial streams and one multiple clock stream. After the first five cycles of the clock stream, the binary streams can be decoded by a processor to produce an absolute position. Every clock edge produces a new absolute position along the path of travel.

Abstract: In an optical encoder, a rotary disk plate has slits formed along a circumferential direction and rotates to intermittently pass light through the slits such that the passed light has a periodical intensity variation. A stationary mask plate has apertures spatially shifted from each other and splits the passed light into two light fluxes having different phases of the periodical intensity variation due to the spatial shift of the apertures. Two light receiving elements receive the two light fluxes respectively, and generate two electric signals having a same cycle corresponding to the periodical intensity variation of the light fluxes and different electric phases. A light guiding member is provided between the stationary mask plate and the light receiving elements to guide the light fluxes while expanding the spacing between the light fluxes such that the light receiving elements are spaced from each other at a distance greater than the spacing of the light fluxes.

Abstract: A control part 7 detects pulse widths of four continuous pulses, and a pulse width w1 of a pulse detected first is compared in size with a pulse width w2 of a pulse detected second and when w2 is larger, normality is determined. The pulse width w2 of the pulse detected second is compared in size with a pulse width w3 of a pulse detected third and when w3 is larger, normality is determined. The pulse width w3 of the pulse detected third is compared in size with the pulse width w1 of the pulse detected first and when w1 is larger, normality is determined. In the above first to fourth determinations, when the number of cases determined as normality is two times or more, normal rotation is determined, and otherwise, reverse rotation is determined.

Abstract: A method for optical measuring data acquisition of a component that moves in a rotatory or translatory manner, in particular for optical angle, torque, or distance measurement, with the following steps:

Abstract: Optical apparatus for measuring displacement of a moveable member so as to enable compact construction and high accuracy measurement includes an optical grid, a light source, a plurality of light receiving arrays, and an operating circuit. Also, each of the plurality of light receiving arrays has a plurality of light receiving elements arranged at a pitch S. The operating circuit calculates the displacement of the moveable member based on outputs from the plurality of light receiving arrays, which are arranged so that a predetermined distance in a direction of displacement shifts one from another.

Abstract: A two-phase rotary encoder is provided which includes a substrate for the encoder which is double-faced and has a copper-foil-bonded substrate etched thereon, a first ring-shaped electrode pattern and a second ring-shaped electrode pattern formed concentrically around a center hole on the substrate, a smooth, level ring-shaped comb electrode pattern formed on an outermost periphery of the substrate, wiring patterns which cover the electrode patterns through each of external connecting terminals provided on the substrate, and a common external connecting terminal provided on an edge of the substrate, formed on a surface thereof via the center hole or a through hole. The rotary encoder further includes a resin-molded case, a shaft, a gear-shaped rotor, a click mechanism and a tact switch mechanism.

Abstract: A high-resolution position sensor device for use in precise positioning of servomechanisms, by providing increased resolution using of an encoder mounted on the shaft of a motor, which produces transition pulses through a light-sensitive arrangement using a photodetector. Each time the pulse makes a transition because the groove of the encoder wheel has passed, a reset signal is produced which resets to zero the number of clock pulses which have been measured for that interval between the transition pulses. The transition pulses and the time between them changes with changes in motor speed, while the system clock pulse rate remains fixed. The invention provides a more accurate position sensor, which operates by generating more transition pulses than the encoder itself actually generates. If the encoder produces transition pulses at a given resolution, the sensor device produces output pulses having a higher resolution.

Abstract: An optical position detector system has a light emitting diode source, two detectors, and a diffraction grating which is frequency mismatched with the frequency of a reference grating. According to one embodiment for use in a reflective system, the source and two detectors are mounted on a single body and a single diffraction grating is placed over the source and detectors. There is no need to control the locations or phase differences between the source grating and the detector gratings because a single grating us used for all three. The spatial frequency of the single grating is chosen such that it is different from the frequency of the reference grating but still produces a signal having a maximized amplitude with the desired phase shift. Two alignments which formerly required tight tolerance are no longer necessary with the system of the invention. In addition, a fabrication feature of introducing a discrete phase step between the gratings covering both detectors is not necessary.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a code signal generated by an encoder having code and reference tracks. The encoder is interposed between a light and a light sensor and moves relative to the light and the sensor such that the code and reference tracks transmit light from the light onto the sensor. The sensor generates the code signal as a function of the light transmitted by the code track which is received by sensor transducers. The method includes capturing and evaluating the amplitude of a reference signal generated as a function of the light transmitted by the reference track which is received by sensor transducers. A measurement parameter relevant for evaluating the amplitude of the code signal is then adapted on the basis of the evaluation of the amplitude of the reference signal in order to compensate the evaluation of the code signal to changing measurement conditions.

Abstract: An absolute position-sensing device is usable to measure the relative position of two elements. An absolute scale includes an integrated track extending along a measuring axis of the scale. The integrated track includes a plurality of periodic portions interleaved with a plurality of non-periodic portions. Each periodic portion includes a plurality of periodically-placed scale elements. Each non-periodic portion includes a plurality of code elements indicative of an absolute measurement value. The code elements may have a length that is narrower along the measuring axis than the length of the periodic scale elements. The offset of the periodic-placed elements relative to a readhead of the device is combined with the absolute measurement value to determine an absolute position.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a signal generated by a position measuring system having an encoder with a code track. The encoder is interposed between a light source and a light sensor and moves relative to the light source and the sensor such that the code track transmits light from the light source onto the sensor. The light sensor generates the signal as a function of the light received by transducers of the sensor. The method includes determining brightness of a code track signal generated by sensor transducers assigned to a code track of the encoder and determining brightness of a non-code track signal generated by sensor transducers assigned to a non-code track of the encoder. The sensor transducers assigned to the code track of the encoder are then determined as being exposed to the light source as a function of the relative brightness between the code and non-code track signals.

Abstract: An encoder includes a housing, a light source coupled to the housing, and a light sensor coupled to the housing and positioned to receive a light beam from the light source. The encoder also includes a wheel having opaque and transmissive sections which may be positioned to pass through the light beam before it reaches the light sensor. The encoder further includes a floating aperture piece, which defines at least one aperture. The aperture is positioned so that the light beam must pass through it before reaching the light sensor. The floating aperture piece slidably engages the housing while allowing a loose tolerance between a position of the wheel and a position of the housing, thereby substantially eliminating a positioning error between the aperture and the wheel.

Abstract: A beam rotation angle detecting apparatus includes a light receiving portion for detecting the incidence positions of at least two beams moving on concentric circles while describing a circle or an arc, and an arithmetic system for calculating and outputting the angle between a straight line linking at least two incidence positions detected by the light receiving portion together and a predetermined reference line.

Abstract: A rotary encoder includes a disk-shaped scale and sensors, each including a light emitting part and a light detecting part, for outputting an electrical signal. A light beam is emitted from the light emitting part so as to illuminate the scale with the emitted light beam and a light beam reflected from the scale is incident on the light detecting part, thereby generating an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of light incident upon the light detecting part.

Abstract: An encoder including a light source for emitting light, a photodetector for detecting at least part of the light emitted by the light source, and an encoder film including a plurality of alternating bars and windows and being located between the light source and the photodetector. The encoder includes a mask including a plurality of alternating bars and windows, the mask being located between the light source and the photodetector. The encoder further includes a spacer located between the mask and the encoder film, the encoder film contacting the spacer to maintain a predetermined spacing between the mask and the encoder film.

Abstract: An optical encoder including a scale, a scanning device displaceable relatively to the scale in a measuring direction and having a scanning reticle with at least one transparent window limited by an opaque screen and a partial grit formed of an electrically conductive material and provided at least in a region of the window.

Abstract: An optical encoder is constructed by a reflection-type scale 1 and a sensor head 4. The sensor head 4 has an irradiation light source 2 and a sensor board 3, the sensor board 3 has a transparent substrate 30 on which light-receiving areas 5 for outputting displacement signals which have different phase with each other, and index gratings 6 for modulating the scale irradiating light are formed to be alternately arranged. The index gratings 6 are formed of the same material film as metal electrode of the light-receiving areas 5.

Abstract: A rotary encoder including a housing having a wall which forms a bottom of the housing and has a center and at least one opening, a cover for closing the at least one opening, with the housing wall having an attachment region which encloses the wall center and has at least one attachment point at which the cover is attached to the housing wall, and a fastening element for securing the cover to the housing wall and rotatable at the attachment region to provide for connection of the fastening element with the at least one attachment point.

Abstract: A scale and scale reader are disclosed which may be used to determine absolute position of the reader with respect to the scale in two directions. In an embodiment of the invention a chequered pattern is produced on a scale and block of the pattern may be imaged on a detector and decoded. The blocks contain bits of information which define an absolute position. The pattern may be used also for incremental measurement.

Abstract: A scanning head is described, having on a side facing a scale at least one patterned photodetector, which is realized in a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has an anisotropic blind hole that is symmetrical to the several photodetectors, and a light source arranged on a base plate in the blind hole. The transmitting grating for the light source is formed either in a metallization layer on the semiconductor substrate or, in the form of bars of the semiconductor substrate that have not been etched away. The distance between the scale and the transmitting grating as well as the distances between the scale and the patterned photodetector are essentially the same.

Abstract: An optical encoder assembly for an optical encoder for determining rotation of a rotatable shaft. An encoder housing is non-engageable with the shaft. A receiver plate is attached to the encoder housing, has a first side and a substantially opposing second side, and has a through hole and a window both extending from the first side to the second side, wherein the through hole is engageable with the shaft. An encoder mask is attached to the first side of the receiver plate, has a shaft hole engageable with the shaft, and has a mask grating positioned over the window. A light emitter is aligned to face the first side of the receiver plate and is positioned over the mask grating. A light detector is attached to the second side of the receiver plate and is positioned over the window.

Abstract: The optical encoder according to the present invention comprises an optical unit and a light controlling member. The optical unit includes a light emitter for emitting light and a light receiver for receiving the light from the light emitter. The light controlling member includes a plurality of transparent portions for passing the light from the light emitter and a plurality of nontransparent portions disposed alternately with the transparent portions for blocking the light from the light emitter. The transparent portion and the nontransparent portion are so arranged that any pair of adjacent transparent portion and nontransparent portion has a constant length in a direction of the adjacency. The optical unit and the light controlling member are movable relative to each other in a direction of arranging the transparent and the nontransparent portions.

Abstract: A linear output and non-contacting angular position sensor has a rotatable arc segment magnet arranged to rotate about the stationary components of the sensor, which include a pair of stationary flux concentrators, separated by a Hall probe; or, the magnet may be arranged to rotate at the center of the sensor with the stationary components fixed outside the magnet. With either arrangement, the Hall probe produces a direct 0 to 5 V d.c. output which varies linearly with the rotational angle of the magnet as the magnet rotates through a predetermined angle. The predetermined angle of rotation is generally equal to the arc formed by the flux concentrators and the arc of the magnet is generally 20-40% greater than the arc of the flux concentrators.