Magnetic encoder for producing an index signal
AssigneeThe Timken Company
InventorMark LaCroix
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic encoder has a high resolution track including a plurality of North/South pole pairs defining a plurality of pole junctions, and a reference track including a North/South pole pair defining a North/South pole junction aligned with a first pole junction of the high resolution track, and a South/North pole junction aligned with a second pole junction of the high resolution track. Only a single pole junction of the high resolution track is positioned between the first and second pole junctions of the high resolution track.
Claims22
A magnetic encoder comprising:
- a high resolution track including a plurality of North/South pole pairs defining a plurality of pole junctions;
- and
- a reference track including a North/South pole pair defining a North/South pole junction aligned with a first pole junction of the high resolution track, and a South/North pole junction aligned with a second pole junction of the high resolution track;
- wherein only a single pole junction of the high resolution track is positioned between the first and second pole junctions of the high resolution track;
- and
- wherein a signal generated by the encoder at a location of the single pole junction of the high resolution track positioned between the first and second pole junctions defines an index pulse.
(canceled)
A magnetic encoder comprising:
- a high resolution track including a plurality of North/South pole pairs defining a plurality of pole junctions;
- and
- a reference track including a North/South pole pair defining a North/South pole junction and a South/North pole junction;
- wherein the plurality of pole junctions of the high resolution track includes consecutive first, second, and third pole junctions;
- wherein the first pole junction is aligned with the North/South pole junction of the reference track, the third pole junction is aligned with the South/North pole junction of the reference track, and the second pole junction is between the first and third pole junctions;
- and
- wherein a signal generated by the encoder at the second pole junction defines an index pulse.
(canceled)
A magnetic encoder comprising:
- a high resolution track including a plurality of North/South pole pairs defining a plurality of pole junctions;
- and
- a reference track including at least one North/South pole pair, one of the poles of the at least one North/South pole pair of the reference track having a shorter length than the other;
- wherein the encoder detects signals at a number of position indicator locations corresponding to pole junctions of the high resolution track;
- and
- wherein the length of the shorter pole of the at least one North/South pole pair of the reference track is sized to encompass only a single one of the position indicator locations to thereby define an index pulse.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.