US 2019/0269858 A1 · MULTI-CHANNEL ROTARY ENCODER

Abstract

A rotary encoder includes a substrate, two or more switches disposed on the substrate, a mechanical wave generator, and a controller. The mechanical wave generator is disposed proximate to the substrate. The substrate and the mechanical wave generator are adapted to rotate relative to each other about a central axis. The mechanical wave generator has a profile shape that repeats circumferentially about the central axis. The profile shape has ridges and valleys that engage the two or more switches to activate and deactivate the two or more switches as the substrate and the mechanical wave generator rotate relative to each other. The controller is electrically coupled to the two or more switches to track activations of the two or more switches and digitally encode a rotational position of the substrate relative to the wave generator based upon the activations.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A rotary encoder, comprising:

a substrate;
one or more switches disposed on the substrate;
a mechanical wave generator disposed proximate to the substrate, wherein the substrate and the mechanical wave generator are adapted to rotate relative to each other about a central axis, the mechanical wave generator having a profile shape that repeats angularly about the central axis, the profile shape having ridges and valleys that engage the one or more switches to activate and deactivate the one or more switches as the substrate and the mechanical wave generator rotate relative to each other;
and
a controller electrically coupled to the one or more switches to track activations of the one or more switches and digitally encode a rotational position of the substrate relative to the wave generator based upon the activations.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-channel rotary encoder

Life of this patent

Multi-channel rotary encoder

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20