Position measuring device and method for operation of a position measuring device

A position measuring device for generating position-dependent output signals, comprising:

• a scanning element by which a scanning plane is defined;
• a measuring graduation movable relative to said scanning element and defining a measuring graduation plane;
• a regulating device for regulating output signals to constant signal amplitudes, in that said regulating device acts upon a predetermined controlling variable, to which end a requisite value of said controlling variable for the purpose of regulating is ascertained continuously by said regulating device;
• a conversion device for converting said value of said controlling variable into a digital signal suitable for serial transmission, wherein said conversion device is followed by a transmission device for transmitting said digital signal in a defined serial transmission protocol to an electronic evaluation unit;
• and
• a calibration element for setting a scanning spacing, which is defined as a spacing between said scanning plane and said measuring graduation plane.

A method for operation of a position measuring device, which comprises a scanning unit that defines a scanning plane and a measuring graduation that defines a measuring graduation plane, said scanning plane and said measuring graduation plane being separated by a scanning spacing, said scanning unit and said measuring graduation are movable relative to one another during a measurement operation, and position-dependent output signals are generated during scanning performed by said scanning unit, said method comprising:

• regulating said position-dependent output signals to constant signal amplitudes by action on a controlling variable;
• ascertaining a value of said controlling variable required for said regulating;
• converting said controlling variable into a variable that directly corresponds to an actual scanning spacing;
• displaying said value of said variable that directly corresponds to said actual scanning spacing;
• and
• setting a scanning spacing between said scanning plane and said measuring graduation plane with the aid of said displayed value of said variable that directly corresponds to said actual scanning spacing, which acts as a measure for a current scanning spacing for setting a predetermined, optimal scanning spacing.

A method for operation of a position measuring device, which comprises a scanning unit that defines a scanning plane and a measuring graduation that defines a measuring graduation plane, said scanning unit and said measuring graduation are movable relative to one another during a measurement operation, and position-dependent output signals are generated during scanning performed by said scanning unit, said method comprising:

• regulating said position-dependent output signals to constant signal amplitudes by action on a controlling variable;
• ascertaining a value of said controlling variable required for said regulating;
• converting said value of said controlling variable into a digital signal suitable for serial transmission;
• transmitting said digital signal in a defined serial transmission protocol to an electronic evaluation unit downstream of said position measuring device via a transmission device, wherein said transmitted digital signal is transmitted with a predetermined bit width;
• displaying said converted value of said controlling variable, wherein said displayed value of said converted controlling variable is evaluated as a general measure for a functional state of said position measuring device.