Optical encoder device, optical encoder arrangement, inkjet printer and method for estimating a motion information

An optical encoder arrangement, comprising:

• a movable optical encoding unit comprising a plurality of alternating transparent and opaque encoding elements and being arranged such that at least a part of the encoding elements can be illuminated with light;
• at least two optical detecting elements grouped to at least one pair;
• an encoding filter comprising a plurality of alternating transparent and opaque filter elements, wherein the encoding elements of the optical encoding unit, the filter elements of the encoding filter and the at least one pair of optical detecting elements are arranged relative to each other such that the optical detecting elements of the pair can be complementarily illuminated with light transmitted through the optical encoding unit and the encoding filter;
• an estimation unit coupled to the optical detecting elements such that detection signals from at least the pair of optical detecting elements can be provided to the estimation unit, wherein the estimation unit is adapted to estimate a motion information, which is characteristic for a motion of the movable optical encoding unit, based on the detection signals of the pair of optical detecting elements;
• and
• a light source arranged such that it is capable of emitting light onto at least a part of the encoding elements.

A method for estimating a motion information, which is characteristic for a motion of a movable optical encoding unit of an optical encoder device, the optical encoder device comprising:

• a movable optical encoding unit comprising a plurality of alternating transparent and opaque encoding elements and being arranged such that at least a part of the encoding elements can be illuminated with light;
• at least two optical detecting elements grouped to at least one pair;
• an encoding filter comprising a plurality of alternating transparent and opaque filter elements, wherein the encoding elements of the optical encoding unit, the filter elements of the encoding filter and the at least one pair of optical detecting elements are arranged relative to each other such that the optical detecting elements of the pair can be complementarily illuminated with light transmitted through the optical encoding unit and the encoding filter;
• and
• an estimation unit coupled to the optical detecting elements such that detection signals from at least the pair of optical detecting elements can be provided to the estimation unit, wherein the estimation unit is adapted to estimate a motion information, which is characteristic for a motion of the movable optical encoding unit, based on the detection signals of the pair of optical detecting elements;
• the method comprising illuminating at least a part of the encoding elements with light, providing detection signals from at least the pair of optical detecting elements to the estimation unit, and estimating a motion information, which is characteristic for a motion of the movable optical encoding unit, based on the detection signals of the pair of optical detecting elements.