# US 9,436,166 B2 · Encoder, motor with encoder, and servo system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,166 B2 - Document ID: US9436166B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/532,007 - Filed: 2014-11-04 - Published: 2015-05-07 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-05 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki - Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki - Inventors: Yasushi Yoshida; Yasuhiro Matsutani; Shiro Yoshidomi; Hiroshi Takada; Yuji Arinaga; Ikuma Murokita; Masanobu Harada; Hiroki Kondo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436166B2 ## CPC - G01D 5/34792: {with only digital scales or both digital and incremental scales} - G01D 5/36: Forming the light into pulses - G05B 1/04: with sensing of the position of the pointer of a measuring instrument - H02K 11/22: Optical devices - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) ## Abstract An encoder includes a plurality of slit tracks, a point light source, a first to third light-receiving arrays. The plurality of slit tracks respectively comprises a plurality of reflection slits. The point light source emits diffusion light to the plurality of slit tracks. The first light-receiving array receives light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern. The second light-receiving array receives light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern longer in pitch than other incremental patterns, and is disposed at a position on a side of a direction where the point light source is disposed, than the first light-receiving array, The third light-receiving array receives light reflected by the slit track comprising an absolute pattern, and is disposed at a position on a side of a direction where the point light source is disposed, than the first light-receiving array. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An encoder, comprising: a plurality of slit tracks that respectively comprise a plurality of reflection slits arranged along a measurement direction; means for emitting diffusion light to the plurality of slit tracks; first means for receiving light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern; second means for receiving light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern longer in pitch than other incremental patterns, disposed at a position on a side of a direction where the means for emitting diffusion light is disposed, than the first means; and third means for receiving light reflected by the slit track comprising an absolute pattern, disposed at a position on a side of a direction where the means for emitting diffusion light is disposed, than the first means. ### Claim 2 An encoder, comprising: a plurality of slit tracks that respectively comprise a plurality of reflection slits arranged along a measurement direction; a point light source configured to emit diffusion light to the plurality of slit tracks; a first light-receiving array configured to receive light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern; a second light-receiving array that is configured to receive light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern longer in pitch than other incremental patterns, and is disposed at a position on a side of a direction where the point light source is disposed, than the first light-receiving array; and a third light-receiving array that is configured to receive light reflected by the slit track comprising an absolute pattern, and is disposed at a position on a side of a direction where the point light source is disposed, than the first light-receiving array. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The encoder according to claim 2, wherein: the point light source is disposed between the arrays consisting of the second light-receiving array and the third light-receiving array, and the first light-receiving array. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The encoder according to claim 3, wherein: the measurement direction is a circumferential direction with a center axis as the center; and the second light-receiving array, the third light-receiving array, and the point light source are disposed on the center axis side than the first light-receiving array. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The encoder according to claim 4, wherein: the point light source and the first to third light-receiving arrays are disposed in the order of the first light-receiving array, the point light source, the third light-receiving array, and the second light-receiving array, toward the center axis from an outer portion in a radial direction of a circle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The encoder according to claim 5, wherein: the third light-receiving array is configured as a light-receiving array of two tracks disposed so as to be practically symmetrical, sandwiching the point light source. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The encoder according to claim 4, wherein: the point light source and the first to third light-receiving arrays are disposed in the order of the first light-receiving array, the point light source, the second light-receiving array, and the third light-receiving array, toward the center axis from an outer portion in a radial direction of a circle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The encoder according to claim 7, wherein: the third light-receiving array is configured as a light-receiving array of two tracks disposed so as to be practically symmetrical, sandwiching the point light source. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The encoder according to claim 4, wherein: the third light-receiving array is configured as a light-receiving array of two tracks disposed so as to be practically symmetrical, sandwiching the point light source. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The encoder according to claim 3, wherein: the third light-receiving array is configured as a light-receiving array of two tracks disposed so as to be practically symmetrical, sandwiching the point light source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The encoder according to claim 2, wherein: the third light-receiving array is configured as a light-receiving array of two tracks disposed so as to be practically symmetrical, sandwiching the point light source. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The encoder according to claim 2, wherein: the point light source is disposed between the second light-receiving array and the third light-receiving array. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The encoder according to claim 12, wherein: the measurement direction is a circumferential direction with a center axis as the center; and the first light-receiving array is disposed on an outer portion of a circle in a radial direction than anyone of the second light-receiving array, the third light-receiving array, and the point light source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The encoder according to claim 13, wherein: the point light source and the first to third light-receiving arrays are disposed in the order of the first light-receiving array, the second light-receiving array, the point light source, and the third light-receiving array, toward the center axis from an outer portion in a radial direction of a circle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The encoder according to claim 13, wherein: the point light source and the first to third light-receiving arrays are disposed in the order of the first light-receiving array, the third light-receiving array, the point light source, and the second light-receiving array, toward the center axis from an outer portion in a radial direction of a circle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) A motor with an encoder, comprising: a linear motor wherein a mover moves with respect to a stator, or a rotary motor wherein a rotor rotates with respect to a stator; and the encoder according to claim 2 configured to detect at least one of a position and a velocity of the mover or the rotor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) A servo system comprising: a linear motor wherein a mover moves with respect to a stator, or a rotary motor wherein a rotor rotates with respect to a stator; the encoder according to claim 2 configured to detect at least one of a position and a velocity of the mover or the rotor; and a controller configured to control the linear motor or the rotary motor based on a detection result of the encoder.