Position encoder
AssigneeServosense (SMC) Ltd.
InventorsMarkus ERLICH, Yves VILLARET
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A linear encoder has a stationary part and a moving part, and measures and encodes a relative displacement between the stationary part and the moving part along a linear extent of displacement. The encoder comprises multiple machine sensible elements arranged on one of the parts in a predetermined, pattern; and multiple evenly placed sensors arranged along the other part along the entire linear extent, thereby to measure and encode the displacement. The encoder may be an absolute encoder and may be based on magnetic or optical or any other kind of sensing.
Claims25
A linear encoder for a linear position measurement device having a stationary part and a moving part, the encoder designed to measure and encode a relative displacement between said stationary part and said moving part along a linear travel extent between a first travel end location and a second travel end location;
- the encoder comprising:
- a plurality of machine sensible elements, said elements laid out on a first of said parts in a predetermined pattern of known shape, the shape generating a code, the code comprising a property changing along a length thereof;
- and
- a plurality of evenly placed sensors arranged along a second of said parts along an entirety of said linear travel extent between said first travel end location and said second travel end location, the length extending over a plurality of said evenly placed sensors, thereby to measure and encode said displacement using said pattern.
A method of absolute linear encoding of a relative displacement between two parts over a total linear displacement length, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of sensors spaced over said total displacement length;
- providing a predetermined pattern of machine-sensible elements, the pattern being of known shape, the shape generating a code, said code comprising a property varying over distance along said pattern;
- displacing said pattern linearly with respect to said plurality of sensors over said displacement length, said pattern extending over a plurality of said sensors;
- and
- measuring said displacing using said plurality of sensors and said pattern.
A linear encoder for a linear position measurement feedback device having a stationary part and a moving part, the encoder designed to measure and encode a relative displacement between said stationary part and said moving part along a linear travel extent between a first travel end location and a second travel end location;
- the encoder comprising:
- a plurality of machine sensible elements arranged on a first of said parts in a predetermined, pattern;
- and
- a plurality of evenly placed sensors arranged along a second of said parts and arranged such that at any given time only a subset of said plurality of sensors is in sensing proximity to a machine sensible element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.