System and method for improving encoder resolution

A system for improving encoder resolution, comprising:

• a position module that operates in at least two operating modes to provide an indication of a relative position between a pair of bodies that are moveable relative to each other;
• in a first of the at least two operating modes, the position module determining an indication of position by interpolating between position data of a position table based on received encoder data;
• the position table being dynamically populated with digitized encoder data indicative of relative position between the pair of bodies;
• in a second of the at least two operating modes, the position module determining an indication of position as a function of a determined relative velocity between the pair of bodies and previous position information;
• and
• a mode selector that selects an operating mode for the position module according to the relative speed between the pair of bodies.

A system for improving resolution of a position sensing device that senses relative movement between a pair of bodies, comprising:

• means for determining an indication of relative position when a relative speed between the pair of bodies is below a threshold,
• the indication of relative position being determined by at least one of
• (i) means for predicting relative position between the pair of bodies and
• (ii) means for looking up relative position between the pair of bodies;
• and
• means for determining an indication of relative position based on a relative velocity between the pair of bodies when the relative speed between the pair of bodies is above a threshold.

A method for improving resolution of an encoder that provides an encoder signal indicative of relative motion between two bodies, the method comprising:

• determining an indication of a relative velocity between the two bodies;
• operating between at least two different modes based on the relative velocity;
• populating a lookup table based on a plurality of samples of the encoder signal obtained over a known distance;
• in a first of the at least two modes, determining an indication of relative position between the two bodies based on position data stored in the lookup table;
• in a second of the at least two modes, determining an indication of relative position between the two bodies based on the relative velocity between the two bodies.

A digital signal processor programmed to perform a method for improving resolution of an encoder that provides an encoder signal indicative of relative motion between two bodies, the method comprising:

• determining an indication of a relative velocity between the two bodies;
• operating between at least two different modes based on the relative velocity;
• populating a lookup table based on a plurality of samples of the encoder signal obtained over a known distance;
• in a first of the at least two modes, determining an indication of relative position between the two bodies based on position data stored in the lookup table;
• in a second of the at least two modes, determining an indication of relative position between the two bodies based on the relative velocity between the two bodies.