# US 10,871,385 B2 · Optical encoder capable of identifying absolute positions and operating method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,385 B2 - Document ID: US10871385B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/238,230 - Filed: 2019-01-02 - Published: 2019-05-09 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-13 - Assignees: Pixart Imaging Inc. - Applicants: PixArt Imaging Inc. - Inventors: Boon-How Kok; Keen-Hun Leong; Ching-Geak Chan; Chiang-Hee Lim; Chu-Leik Ho; Hsin-Chia Chen; Yen-Min Chang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871385B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0312: {for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels (tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473)} - G01D 5/34: the beams of light being detected by photocells - G01D 5/347: using displacement encoding scales - G06V 10/955: {using specific electronic processors} - H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract The present disclosure is related to an optical encoder which is configured to provide precise coding reference data by feature recognition technology. To apply the present disclosure, it is not necessary to provide particular dense patterns on a working surface. The precise coding reference data can be generated by detecting surface features of the working surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical encoder, comprising: a memory storing at least one predetermined shutter parameter range corresponding to at least one reference position on a detection surface; a light emitting unit configured to emit light to the detection surface; a light sensing unit configured to detect reflected light from the detection surface using a current shutter parameter to generate detected signals; and a processing unit configured to determine a current position of the optical encoder opposite to the detection surface by comparing the current shutter parameter with the predetermined shutter parameter range, wherein the optical encoder is configured to move with respect to the detection surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical encoder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory and the processing unit are in an external host coupled to the optical encoder via a communication interface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The optical encoder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory stores a plurality of predetermined shutter parameter ranges corresponding to a plurality of reference positions on the detection surface, and each of the reference positions at the detection surface is disposed with a marker having predetermined blackness different from each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The optical encoder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to update the predetermined shutter parameter range when the current shutter parameter corresponding to the at least one reference position is equal to boundary values of the predetermined shutter parameter range. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical encoder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined shutter parameter range is obtained, before shipment, by adding a predetermined value to or subtracting the predetermined value from a shutter parameter corresponding to the at least one reference position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical encoder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to identify a position corresponding to the current shutter parameter not within the predetermined shutter parameter range as an unidentified position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The optical encoder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the current shutter parameter comprises at least one of a shutter speed and a diaphragm. ### Claim 8 An optical encoder, comprising: a memory storing at least one predetermined image feature range corresponding to at least one reference position on a detection surface; a light emitting unit configured to emit light to the detection surface; a light sensing unit configured to detect reflected light from the detection surface to generate detected signals; and a processing unit configured to determine a current position of the optical encoder opposite to the detection surface by comparing a current image feature of the detected signals with the predetermined image feature range, wherein the optical encoder is configured to move with respect to the detection surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The optical encoder as claimed in claim 8, wherein the memory and the processing unit are in an external host coupled to the optical encoder via a communication interface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The optical encoder as claimed in claim 8, wherein the current image feature is an image quality value or a pixel statistic value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The optical encoder as claimed in claim 8, wherein the memory stores a plurality of predetermined image feature ranges corresponding to a plurality of reference positions on the detection surface, and each of the reference positions at the detection surface is disposed with a marker having predetermined blackness different from each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The optical encoder as claimed in claim 8, wherein the processing unit is further configured to update the predetermined image feature range when the current image feature corresponding to the at least one reference position is equal to boundary values of the predetermined image feature range. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The optical encoder as claimed in claim 8, wherein the predetermined image feature range is obtained, before shipment, by adding a predetermined value to or subtracting the predetermined value from an image feature corresponding to the at least one reference position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The optical encoder as claimed in claim 8, wherein the processing unit is further configured to identify a position corresponding to the current image feature not within the predetermined image feature range as an unidentified position. ### Claim 15 An operating method of an optical encoder, the optical encoder comprising a memory storing at least one predetermined shutter parameter range corresponding to at least one reference position on a detection surface, the method comprising: detecting, by a light sensing unit using a current shutter parameter, light reflected from the detection surface; and comparing the current shutter parameter with the predetermined shutter parameter range to determine a current position of the optical encoder opposite to the detection surface when the optical encoder moves with respect to the detection surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The operating method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the detection surface is disposed with a plurality of markers each corresponding to one of a plurality of reference positions, and each of the markers has predetermined blackness different from each other. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The operating method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising: updating the predetermined shutter parameter range when the current shutter parameter corresponding to the at least one reference position is equal to boundary values of the predetermined shutter parameter range. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The operating method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising: identifying a position corresponding to the current shutter parameter not within the predetermined shutter parameter range as an unidentified position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The operating method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the current shutter parameter comprises at least one of a shutter speed and a diaphragm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The operating method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the comparing is performed by an external host coupled to the optical encoder via a communication interface.