System and method for generating a high speed estimated position output for a position encoder

A position monitoring system, comprising:

• a position transducer;
• a transducer signal processing circuit operably connectable to the position transducer;
• and
• an interface circuit operably connectable to the transducer signal processing circuit, the interface circuit including an estimated position generating circuit that generates approximated position outputs approximating the position of the position transducer, at a plurality of times between the times that the transducer signal processing circuit generates discrete transducer sample position output values corresponding to the actual position of the position transducer;
• wherein:
• the transducer signal processing circuit generates a discrete transducer sample position value output, corresponding to the actual position of the position transducer, at a particular time;
• the transducer signal processing circuit generates a timing information signal corresponding to the particular time;
• and
• the transducer sample position value output and the corresponding timing information signal corresponding to the particular time are output to the estimated position generating circuit.

A method for operating a position monitoring system, the position monitoring system comprising:

• a position transducer;
• a transducer signal processing circuit operably connectable to the position transducer;
• and
• an interface circuit including an estimated position signal generating circuit operably connectable to the transducer signal processing circuit;
• the method comprising:
• generating a transducer sample position value output corresponding to the actual position of the position transducer, according to a transducer sample position output interval that is not less that a minimum transducer sample position output interval, using the transducer signal processing circuit;
• generating approximated position outputs using the estimated position signal generating circuit, according to an approximated position output cycle interval which is shorter than the minimum transducer sample position output interval, at a plurality of times between the generating of transducer sample position value outputs corresponding to the actual position of the position transducer;
• incrementing the approximated position output by a prescribed increment amount during each approximated position output cycle;
• adjusting the prescribed increment amount when a new transducer sample position value output corresponding to the actual position of the position transducer is available, wherein the adjustment of the prescribed increment amount is based at least partially on a determined difference between a particular approximated position output and the new transducer sample position value.