Abstract: A photo sensor assembly may include: a rotator configured to rotate together with a camera module; a plurality of first photo interrupter bars disposed at a same interval along a first circumference on the rotator; a second photo interrupter bar disposed at a second circumference on the rotator; a first photo sensor disposed closer to the first circumference than to the second circumference, and configured to detect a first light-blocking pattern generated from the plurality of first photo interrupter bars; a second photo sensor disposed closer to the second circumference than to the first circumference, and configured to detect a second light-blocking pattern generated from the second photo interrupter bar; and a processor configured to estimate an initial position of the rotator based on the second light-blocking pattern and estimate a rotational angle from the initial position of the rotator based on the detected first light-blocking pattern.

Abstract: A recorder for documenting that a shaft in a rotating machine has been rotated while the rotating machine is stored or otherwise out of service. The recorder includes an elongated strip that is wound on a reel disposed adjacent the shaft. The reel is rotatable about an axle that is spaced away from the shaft. A free end of the strip is secured to an outer surface of the shaft and spools onto the shaft as the shaft is rotated, and which unwinds the strip from the reel. Markings are on the strip representing distance from the free end, which visually indicate occurrence and amount of shaft rotation. Types of markings include different colors or patterns, and which change at distances corresponding to shaft circumference. Alternatively, the markings are metered increments illustrating linear distance.

Abstract: A code disk is adapted to an optical absolute rotary encoder. The code disk is divided into a plurality of columns, with the plurality of columns disposed in a circumferential direction around a center position and respectively extending in a plurality of radial directions. The code disk comprises a plurality of disk sectors sequentially disposed in the circumferential direction around the center position, wherein each of the disk sectors comprises a plurality of code pieces, each of the code pieces comprises an encoded value, each of the encoded values comprises a plurality of bits adopting Manchester code, these bits are arranged in one of the radial directions, and the encoded values of two of the disk sectors are arranged as Gray code.

Abstract: Provided is an absolute position color scale disposed to represent a binary code using a first symbol, having a first width and representing a first state (“HIGH”), and a second symbol having the first width and representing a second state (“LOW”). Each of the first and second symbols is divided into two or more segments having the same structure, and the first symbol has the same shape as the second symbol, but has a color pattern different from a color pattern of the symbol.

Abstract: A rotation control apparatus includes a relative position sensor that contactlessly detects the mechanical displacement amount of a shaft to be actuated in a direction of rotation, absolute position sensors that are provided at mutually different positions within a rotatable range of the shaft to be actuated and each output a detection signal when the shaft to be actuated has reached its corresponding position, and a position calculating unit that calculates an absolute position of the shaft to be actuated in the direction of rotation on the basis of an integrated value of the mechanical displacement amount since the detection signal is output and a reference value indicating a position corresponding to the absolute position sensor that has output the detection signal. At least one of the absolute position sensors is provided to correspond to a third position excluding a first position and a second position within the rotatable range.

Abstract: A personal computing device comprises a single piece body having a seamless overall appearance and that includes a bendable portion that is capable of having a smoothly curved shape. The single piece body includes a first part capable of carrying a display suitable for presenting visual content, and a second part that is capable of carrying an input device suitable for accepting an input action. The personal computing device also includes a multi-state bending assembly carried by the single piece body at the bendable portion and positioned between and in mechanical communication with the first part and the second part. The multi-state bending assembly includes a planar assembly that, in a first state, is characterized as having a first thickness and allows relative movement of the first and second parts with respect to each other.

Abstract: An auto traveling work vehicle includes a first control computation section for outputting a first steering value computed for deviation resolution based on a positional deviation between a target traveling path and a self vehicle position, a second control computation section for outputting a second steering value computed for the deviation resolution based on the positional deviation and a directional deviation which is adjusted with using a weight coefficient which provides a progressively decreasing tendency with increase in the positional deviation, a target steering computation section for outputting a target steering value for traveling along the target traveling path based on the first steering value and the second steering value, a steering driving control section configured to input the target steering value and to output a steering driving signal, and a steering driving section for effecting steering of a steerable wheel based on the steering driving signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are an evaluation system, an evaluation device, a game machine, and an evaluation method for being able to evaluate a drive motor that drives various movable bodies called an accessory attached to a game machine such as a pachinko game machine. The game machine includes an accessory mechanism and a motor control mechanism that controls the drive motor of the accessory mechanism. The evaluation device is connectable to the game machine. The motor control mechanism controls the drive motor by outputting a control signal based on input from the evaluation device, and the motor control mechanism outputs a rotational position and a rotational speed of the controlled drive motor and the control signal to the evaluation device. The evaluation device evaluates the drive motor based on the input rotational position, rotational speed, and control signal.

Abstract: A tracking apparatus includes a photosensor. The apparatus includes only a single, physically compact, optical pattern emitting base station. The apparatus includes a computer that tracks the photosensor to sub-millimeter accuracy using the optical pattern emitted by the base station. Alternatively, the computer determines angular position of the photosensor relative to the base station to a finer resolution than the size of an aperture of the photosensor from the light emitted by the base station. A method for tracking.

Abstract: Disclosed are a device and a method for controlling a motor. According to a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, an input shaft of a motor is provided with a low-resolution absolute position detector and an output shaft of the motor is provided with a low-resolution absolute position detector having a resolution greater than or equal to a reduction gear ratio. An initial offset and an offset are defined accordingly, and a high-resolution output shaft absolute position is derived from a relational expression, which is defined by an input shaft absolute position received at a predetermined time interval, a derived offset, an output shaft absolute position, and the reduction gear ratio, such that it is possible to easily detect the high-resolution output shaft absolute position by using a low-price absolute position detector without the modification or addition of an actuator.

Abstract: A shaft may be rotated, where the shaft includes an encoder with a first, second, and third logical track, where the first and second logical tracks include bit patterns that are readable to be 90 degrees out of phase with one another, and where the third logical track includes a sequence of n numbers, each number being represented by m bits, where n is greater than 1. While moving the shaft, a number of the sequence from the third logical track and an extent of bits from the first or second logical track may be read. An orientation of the shaft may then be determined based on the number and the extent of bits. The orientation may be a linear position of a linear encoder or an angular position of a rotary encoder.

Abstract: An optical encoder includes an origin point detection scale having an origin point detection pattern and an inverse origin point detection pattern that is the inverse of the origin point detection pattern; a light source emitting light at the origin point detection scale; a light source grid that is inserted on the light source side of the origin point detection scale, the light source grid having two first light source grid patterns corresponding to the origin point detection pattern and the inverse origin point detection pattern, respectively; a photoreceiver detecting a signal from light that has passed through the origin point detection scale; and a photoreceiver grid inserted on the photoreceiver side of the origin point detection scale, the photoreceiver grid having two first photoreceiver grid patterns that are a pattern either identical to or the inverse of the first light source grid pattern.

Abstract: An absolute encoder includes: a scale on which plural marks are arrayed; plural detecting devices each configured to detect a mark group of the plural marks and output a signal corresponding to the mark group; and a processor configured to obtain a coordinate of the scale based on outputs of the detecting devices. The plural marks are arrayed such that a signal obtained by adding plural signals respectively output from the detecting devices includes a periodic signal corresponding to plural periods. The processor obtains first position data based on a magnitude of at least one signal of the plural signals, obtains second position data having a resolution higher than that of the first position data based on a phase of the periodic signal, and generates data representing the coordinate based on the first and second position data.

Abstract: An optical position-measuring device for absolute position determination includes a material measure extending along a measurement direction and including an incremental graduation and an absolute code. A scanning unit movable relative to the material measure has a light source, a scanning grating for optically scanning the incremental graduation and a detector device. The detector device includes an incremental detector for generating incremental signals from the optical scanning of the incremental graduation and an absolute detector for generating absolute signals from optical scanning of the absolute code. A common detection plane is located at a defined perpendicular distance from the scanning grating and/or a periodicity of a fringe pattern on the incremental detector is selected such that, in the event of scattering contamination in a region of the material measure and/or the scanning grating, amplitudes of the incremental signals and the absolute signals drop off equally.

Abstract: A system and method for resolving the angular position of a rotor evaluates the real size of the stripes or gears on the rotor by an auxiliary device, such as a sensor shift device in a first embodiment or a camera in a second embodiment, at a fixed rotor, thus eliminating systematic errors and influence of rotor vibration during this calibration. By knowing the actual size or angular increment or produced sensor signal of each repeating element, a compensation of the error can be made and accuracy can be dramatically increased.

Abstract: An asynchronous successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter (SAR ADC), which utilizes one or more overlapping redundant bits in each digital-to-analog converter (DAC) code word, is operable to generate an indication signal that indicates completion of each comparison step and indicates that an output decision for each comparison step is valid. A timer may be initiated based on the generated indication signal. A timeout signal may be generated that preempts the indication signal and forces a preemptive decision, where the preemptive decision sets one or more remaining bits up to, but not including, the one or more overlapping redundant bits in a corresponding digital-to-analog converter code word for a current comparison step to a particular value. For example, the one or more remaining bits may be set to a value that is derived from a value of a bit that was determined in an immediately preceding decision.

Abstract: A scale (20) has a plurality of patterns so as to spatially modulate an energy distribution, and the scale includes a first pattern having a first modulation period in a moving direction, and a second pattern having a second modulation period different from the first modulation period in the moving direction, a relative phase between the first pattern and the second pattern changes in accordance with a direction perpendicular to the moving direction, each of the first pattern and the second pattern is configured by including a reflective portion (26) that reflects light and a non-reflective portion (25) that does not reflect the light, and a width of the reflective portion (26) in the moving direction at a first position is different from the width at a second position different from the first position along the direction perpendicular to the moving direction.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining a rotation angle of a rotor in a motor with the aid of angle sensors by measurement of reference values and correction of the effected computations. The method is used, for example, in a synchronous motor.

Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for processing signals that represent an angular position of a shaft of a motor, a storage unit for storing arrival times of the signals in a memory is provided, the storage unit additionally evaluating a rotation direction datum of the shaft. Storage of the times in the memory is performed in a first sequence in the event of a rotation of the shaft in a first direction, and storage in the memory is performed in a second sequence that is opposite to the first sequence in the event of a rotation of the shaft in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: Provided is a position detecting apparatus, including: a scale including pattern arrays formed in different cycles in a movement direction; an obtaining unit configured to obtain signals in accordance with a the plurality of pattern arrays; a phase calculator configured to calculate a phase of signals; a synchronism calculator configured to calculate a relative positional relationship between the obtaining unit and the scale by performing synchronism calculation of the phases calculated by the phase calculator; a synchronization error calculator configured to calculate a synchronization error in the synchronism calculation; and a determining unit configured to determine whether or not the synchronism calculation is normal by comparing the synchronization error and a predetermined threshold value with each other.

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: There is provided a method for calculating with high accuracy a multi-turn absolute rotation angle of a motor rotating shaft coupled to a motor output shaft. In a rotation angle detection device according to this invention, a rotation angle ?n of an n-th rotating shaft satisfies the relationship with a rotation angle ?1 of the motor rotating shaft: ?n=(?(m±1)/m)n?1×?1. The rotation angle detection device as an embodiment of a mechanism satisfying the relationship includes a gear mechanism in which a gear having (m±1) teeth meshes with a gear having m teeth between each adjacent two of first to n-th rotating shafts. A multi-turn rotation angle of the first rotating shaft is expanded to a detected value p1 of the first rotating shaft which is a rotation angle of the first rotating shaft and R0×m0+R1×m1+ . . .

Abstract: Barcodes are provided that are applied to or integrated with a moving carrier, where the barcodes have a plurality of information modules, at least one clock track having a plurality of alternating clock track modules and at least one reference track having a plurality of alternating reference track modules, where the at least one reference track is a second clock track and has a same periodicity as the clock track but a spatial phase shift when compared to the clock track. The barcode is configured to allow at least one barcode reader to determine a direction of movement of the carrier from at least one signal from a clock track detector and at least one signal from a reference detector.

Abstract: There is provided a method for calculating with high accuracy a multi-turn absolute rotation angle of a motor rotating shaft coupled to a motor output shaft. In a rotation angle detection device according to this invention, a rotation angle ?n of an n-th rotating shaft satisfies the relationship with a rotation angle ?1 of the motor rotating shaft: ?n=(?(m±1)/m)n?1×?1. The rotation angle detection device as an embodiment of a mechanism satisfying the relationship includes a gear mechanism in which a gear having (m±1) teeth meshes with a gear having m teeth between each adjacent two of first to n-th rotating shafts. A multi-turn rotation angle of the first rotating shaft is expanded to a detected value p1 of the first rotating shaft which is a rotation angle of the first rotating shaft and R0×m0+R1×m1+ . . .

Abstract: The encoder includes a scale provided with multiple periodic patterns having mutually different periods, a sensor outputting, with a relative movement between the scale and the sensor, multiple periodic signals periodically changing respectively corresponding to the periods of the periodic patterns, and a signal processor calculating a detected movement amount as a detected relative movement amount between the scale and the sensor. The signal processor calculates, by using each of the periodic signals, an accumulated movement amount which is an accumulated value of the relative movement amount between the scale and the sensor in units of one over an integer of the period of the periodic pattern corresponding to the periodic signal used, unifies the units of the accumulated movement amounts calculated by using the respective periodic signals, and calculates the detected movement amount from the accumulated movement amounts with the unified units.

Abstract: A 3D measurement device sends a beam of light to a point on an object, receives the reflected light, and determines a distance and two angles to the point, one of the angles measured by an angular encoder, which includes a disk having incremental marks and an index mark. Light from the 3D device is rotated to reflect light from a reference reflector to produce a first synchronization signal. A first difference angle is determined based on counts of the incremental marks and on the first synchronization signal. Light from the 3D device is rotated to reflect light from the reference reflector to produce a second synchronization signal. A second difference angle is determined based on counts of the incremental marks and on the second synchronization signal. The reference correction value of the index mark is determined based on the first and second difference angles.

Abstract: A position detector, includes: a scale having pattern arrays formed in different cycles in a movement direction an obtaining unit which obtains signals in accordance with the pattern arrays; a first deriving unit which derives a temporal position of the scale relative to the obtaining unit based on the signals; a second deriving unit which derives a displacement amount of the scale relative to the obtaining unit based on one or more signals of the signals; and a determinates which determines a determined position of the scale relative to the obtaining unit based on the temporal position and the displacement amount, wherein the determinator determines the determined position based on a result of comparison between a difference between first and second temporal positions respectively calculated by the first and second deriving units at first and second positions and a displacement amount from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A motor control system controls a rotation drive of a motor by serially switching a power supply phase of the motor based on a count value of an output signal from an encoder and prevents a temporary noise from causing an abnormal rotation of such a motor. A microcomputer determines that one of an A phase signal or a B phase signal is a noise when the two signals are input at substantially at the same timing and one of the two signals has a shorter time interval from a previous input signal. Thus, a temporary noise is prevented from corrupting normal operation between the encoder count, the rotation position of the motor, and the power supply phase.

Abstract: An angle measuring system including: a rotary encoder including an encoder main body and a rotating shaft which is freely rotatable with respect to the encoder main body, the rotary encoder which detects a relative rotation angle of the rotating shaft with respect to the encoder main body; a regulation member which regulates an absolute rotation angle of the encoder main body about the rotating shaft within a fixed range; an absolute angle detecting device which detects the absolute rotation angle of the encoder main body about the rotating shaft concurrently with detection of the relative rotation angle by the rotary encoder; and a correction device which corrects the rotation angle detected by the rotary encoder based on the rotation angle detected by the absolute angle detecting device.

Abstract: A rotation angle measurement device includes: relative angle detection means including a reference support whose rotation is regulated in a fixed range in an arbitrary direction of a rotation axis, and a driving rotating body which is coupled to the reference support and is axially supported so as to be all-round rotatable with respect to the reference support, the relative angle detection means which detects a relative rotation angle of the rotating body with respect to the reference support; and non-contact angle detection means which detects a rotation angle of the reference support with reference to a position that does not contact with the rotating body and the reference support. This provides improved accuracy in indexing the rotation angle of a rotating moving shaft and easy installation onto the rotating moving shaft.

Abstract: A motor controller includes: a motor rotation angle acquisition unit acquiring the rotation angle of the motor; a main shaft rotation angle acquisition unit acquiring the rotation angle of the main shaft; a one-rotation signal acquisition unit acquiring a one-rotation signal output every time the main shaft rotates once; a motor rotation speed calculation unit calculating the rotation speed of the motor from the rotation angle of the motor; a main shaft speed calculation unit calculating the rotation speed of the main shaft from the rotation angle of the main shaft; and an abnormality determination unit in which, when a change amount of the rotation angle of the motor or when the difference between the rotation speed of the motor and the rotation speed of the main shaft deviates from a second range, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the power transmission unit.

Abstract: A displacement detection method includes the steps of: capturing a first frame and a second frame; selecting a first block with a predetermined size in the first frame and selecting a second block with the predetermined size in the second frame; determining a displacement according to the first block and the second block; comparing the displacement with at least one threshold; and adjusting the predetermined size according to a comparison result of comparing the displacement and the threshold. The present invention further provides a displacement detection apparatus.

Abstract: The encoder includes a scale including first and second periodic patterns, and a detector relatively movable with respect to the scale and whose detection state is switchable between a first detection state to read the first periodic pattern and output a first signal and a second detection state to read the second periodic pattern and output a second signal. A processor performs a first process to detect a first absolute position by using the first and second signals and then performs a second process to calculate a relative movement amount by using a specific signal that is one of the first and second signals and detect a second absolute position by using the relative movement amount and the first absolute position. The specific signal is obtained from the detector set in a same detection state as that set last in the first process.

Abstract: The rotation detection apparatus includes a rotatable member rotatable with rotation of a motor and having multiple pattern element portions in its rotational direction, a signal outputter to output a detection signal changing in response to rotation of the pattern element portions, and a memory storing correction values each provided for each of the pattern element portions and used to perform correction of an error in a relation between rotational positions of the rotatable member and the change of the detection signal. A corrector performs the correction with reference to a reference position of the rotatable member in an origin state where a driven member driven by the motor is located at its origin position and by using each of the correction values for each change of the detection signal when the rotatable member is rotated from the reference position.

Abstract: Provided is an optical encoder, including: a light receiving unit; and a scale moving relatively to the light receiving unit and including a first track and a second track each having patterns intended for projecting light onto the light receiving unit, wherein the number of patterns of the first track is Ns*Nd+i (where, Ns and i are an integer of 1 or greater, and Nd is an integer of 2 or greater), and the number of patterns of the second track is (Ns?1)*Nd+i, so an absolute angle of the scale can be calculated in real time and in high resolution.

Abstract: A position detection apparatus (100) includes a scale (10) including a pattern circumferentially and periodically formed on a circle whose center is a predetermined point, a sensor unit (20) relatively movable with respect to the scale (10), and a signal processor (40) which processes an output signal of the sensor unit (20) to obtain position information of an object, and the sensor unit (20) includes a first detector (21) and a second detector (22), and the signal processor (40) reduces an error component contained in the position information due to a difference between a rotation center of the scale (10) and the predetermined point based on a first detection signal outputted from the first detector (21) and on a second detection signal outputted from the second detector (22).

Abstract: An offset correction system for correcting signal offset of an encoder. The offset correction system may include a light emitter, an encoder disk, a reticle, a light detector; an offset detection circuit and an offset correction circuit. The offset detection circuit may comprise a comparator and an offset detector configured to receive sinusoidal output signals from the light detector and a reference signal to create digital pulses for determining the signal offset. The offset correction circuit may be configured to apply a gain to correct the offset output signal. The offset correction may be implemented in real time mode.

Abstract: An optical encoder includes: an optical scale having periodical optical patterns and can be relatively and angularly displaced; a projector for irradiating the optical scale with light; a light receiver for receiving light from the optical scale; and a calculator for calculating an absolute rotation angle ? of the optical scale in accordance with a signal from the light receiver. The optical patterns include a plurality of light shielding portions and a plurality of light transmitting portions, each of the portions being located alternately.

Abstract: A multiturn rotary encoder includes a singleturn code disk which is joined in rotatably fixed manner to a shaft and which has a code track that is scannable by a singleturn scanning unit to ascertain the absolute position within one revolution of the shaft, a multiturn unit for measuring revolution data which are suitable for ascertaining the number of revolutions performed by the shaft, and an evaluation unit which is connected to the multiturn unit via at least two digital interfaces for transmitting the revolution data. The revolution data include at least two data words which have a different rate of change during rotation of the shaft, the interface for transmitting the data word having the highest rate of change to the evaluation unit is a parallel interface, and the interface for transmitting the data word having the lowest rate of change to the evaluation unit is a serial interface.

Abstract: An absolute position measuring encoder having an ABS/INC integrated pattern obtained by integrating an absolute pattern and an incremental pattern together is provided. The absolute position measuring encoder includes an imaging optical system (lens) designed to generate an amplitude difference between a light and dark signal derived from the absolute pattern and light and dark signal derived from the incremental pattern, and a signal processing system (comparator) for separating a received light signal from the ABS/INC integrated pattern into an absolute pattern signal and an incremental pattern signal by utilizing the amplitude difference. Accordingly, an absolute pattern signal and an incremental pattern signal can be separated off from the ABS/INC integrated pattern at a high speed with a simple processing circuit.

Abstract: An absolute rotary encoder comprises a scale having marks arranged at a first pitch; a first detector and a second detector including plural photoelectric conversion elements arranged at a second pitch smaller than the first pitch, and configured to detect a predetermined number of marks, the second detector disposed opposite to the first detector; and a computing device. The computing device is configured to generate a data string by quantizing a periodic signal output from the first detector, and obtains first angle data from the data string, to normalize amplitudes of the periodic signals output from the first and second detectors, to average the normalized periodic signal to obtain second angle data from a phase of the averaged periodic signal, and to combine the first and second angle data to generate data representing an absolute rotation angle.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of circuitry and methods for generating interpolated signals in an optical encoder. The optical encoder configurations and circuitry disclosed herein permit very high resolution reflective optical encoders in small packages to be provided. Methods of making and using such optical encoders are also disclosed. According to one embodiment, the interpolated signals are generated through the use of signal generation circuitry, peak voltage generation circuitry, reference voltage generation circuitry, slope detection circuitry, and a clocked comparator that is configured to output interpolated output pulses.

Abstract: A rotary encoder and an optical wheel for the rotary encoder are provided. The rotary encoder further includes a light source module, a code plate and an optical sensor module. The light source module is coupled with the code plate. The optical wheel is rotary, and has imaging elements arranged annularly; at least one of the imaging elements is coupled with the code plate. The optical sensor module is coupled with at least one of the imaging elements. The light source module emits lights to the code plate, and the lights passing through the code plate forms an image which is then transmitted to the optical sensor module via the imaging element. When the optical wheel rotates, the image moves accordingly. The optical sensor module senses that the image moves. A method for generating a zeroing signal of a rotary encoder and a liner encoder are also provided.

Abstract: An absolute rotary encoder comprises: a rotary member which includes a cylindrical surface on which a plurality of marks are arranged at a predetermined pitch in a circumferential direction; a light source configured to emit a light toward the cylindrical surface; a detector configured to detect a predetermined number of marks of the plurality of marks; and a computing device configured to obtain an absolute rotation angle of the rotary member based on an output from the detector. The detector is configured to output a signal corresponding to the predetermined number of marks and having an uneven period resulting from a geometrical layout of the light source, the cylindrical surface, and the detector. The computing device is configured to correct the signal using correction data so as to reduce unevenness of the period, and to obtain the absolute rotation angle of the rotary member using the corrected signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing an absolute encoder are disclosed. A system can include a plurality of tracks, each having a plurality of track elements. Track elements for at least one of the tracks are configured with a nonlinear modulation, such that an absolute position can be determined without requiring a reference marker.

Abstract: The present invention provides minimally invasive imaging probe having an optical encoder integrated therewith for accurately measuring or estimating the rotational velocity near the distal end of the medical device, such as an imaging probe which undergoes rotational movement during scanning of surrounding tissue in bodily lumens and cavities.

Abstract: A motor may be configured to drive a drive shaft and an engagement member supported on the drive shaft. A detectable feature comprising a rotary member may be supported on the drive shaft such that movement of the drive shaft by the motor changes a state of the detectable feature. At least one sensor may be arranged to detect the state of the detectable feature. Circuitry may be configured to provide a signal in response to a change in the state of the detectable feature detected by the at least one sensor.

Abstract: Provided is a rotation detection device that detects a rotational direction and amount of a rotatable operation member. The detection device manages to reduce the rotation detection pitch while maintaining sufficient clearance for a rotation detection switch to operate. In other words, sufficient distance is given between rotation detection members such that the switch can accurately detect the movement from one member to the next. The rotatable operation member generally includes a plurality of switch driving sections that rotate in unison. A rotation detection switch generally includes a portion that moves in a first and second direction opposite to each other when coming into contact with the rotatable operation members, and is configured to output a detection signal at each movement. The switch and rotatable operation members are configured so that the movement direction of the detector is in a direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction of rotation.

Abstract: A rotary position encoder for determining a rotary position of a shaft includes a rigid substrate having a planar surface and mounted on the shaft to rotate with the shaft; an optical disk having at least a transparent polycarbonate layer and a reflective layer on the transparent polycarbonate layer, affixed to the planar surface of the substrate, the optical disk having a first circumferential track encoded therein having binary data; an optics assembly for interrogating the optical disk and providing an output signal indicative of data received from the interrogation of the optical disk; and a tracking motor for driving the optics assembly radially with respect to the optical disk.

Abstract: An absolute encoder (100) includes a scale portion (41) movable along with the object and including first and second track (42, 43) having first and second slits (44, 45), a light source (1) that illuminates a light onto the first and second slits, a first detector (9) that detects a first signal obtained from a light from the first slit, a second detector (10) that detects a second signal obtained from a light from the second slit, and a calculator (25, 27) that calculates an absolute position of an object based on the first and second signals. The second slit is formed so that a reflected light intensity or a transmitted light intensity is different in accordance with a position in a moving direction of the scale portion. The calculator obtains an upper-level signal, a middle-level signal, and a lower-level signal to calculate the absolute position.