Methods and Systems for Terahertz-Based Positioning

An encoder, comprising:

• a scale with at least one layer reflective/transmissive structure, wherein the at least one layer includes a matrix having rows, such that each row of the matrix corresponds to a pattern used to form a measurement;
• an emitter to emit a terahertz (THz) waveform to the scale while in relative motion with the scale;
• a receiver to measure amplitudes of the THz waveform reflected from or passing through some rows of the at least one layer of the scale;
• a computer hardware memory to store data including patterns corresponding to predetermined positions of the emitter or a set of training amplitudes of reflected THz waveforms, based on patterns of the at least one layer from the scale;
• a processor to determine a position of the emitter from the measurements of the amplitudes received by the receiver, based on the stored data;
• and
• an output interface to render the position of the emitter.

An absolute positioning encoder method for an encoder, comprising:

• emitting by an emitter of the encoder a Terahertz (THz) waveform of the encoder while in relative motion with the scale, to a scale with a multi-layer reflective/transmissive structure, wherein each layer of the multi-layer reflective/transmissive structure includes a matrix having rows, such that each row of the matrix corresponds to a pattern used to form a measurement;
• measuring by a receiver of the encoder, amplitudes of the THz waveform reflected from some rows of each layer of the scale;
• retrieving from a computer hardware memory of the encoder, stored data including patterns corresponding to predetermined positions of the emitter or a set of training amplitudes of THz waveforms, based on patterns on the multi-layer reflective/transmissive structure of the scale;
• determining by a processor of the encoder, a position of the emitter from the measurements of the amplitudes received by the receiver, based on the stored data;
• and
• rendering the position of the emitter to an output interface.

An absolute positioning encoder system including an encoder, the encoder having a scale with at least one reflective/transmissive structure including a matrix having rows, wherein the at least one layer includes a matrix having rows, such that each row of the matrix corresponds to a pattern used to form a measurement, the system comprising:

• an emitter of the encoder emits a terahertz (THz) waveform to the scale while in relative motion with the scale;
• a receiver of the encoder measures amplitudes of the THz waveform reflected from, or passing through, some rows of the at least one layer of the scale;
• a computer hardware memory of the encoder to store data including patterns corresponding to predetermined positions of the emitter or a set of training amplitudes of reflected THz waveforms, based on patterns of the layers from the scale;
• a processor of the encoder to determine a position of the emitter from the measurements of the amplitudes based on the data;
• and
• an output interface to render the position of the emitter.