Optical position transmitter with analog memory unit
AssigneeHexagon Technology Center GmbH
InventorRobert Fritsch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a position transmitter with a position code and an optical sensor element for detecting at least one part of the position code. The sensor element has a row of photosensitive detection regions, which convert incident photons into electric charges, and a readout structure for outputting an electric data signal corresponding to the stored electric charges. The sensor element has an analog memory unit structure with a number of N>1 rows of photo-insensitive analog memory cells in order to temporarily store the electric charges and an electric switching structure, by means of which a charge transfer can be carried out between the detection regions and the memory cells, between the memory cells amongst one another, and between the memory cells and the readout row.
Claims21
A position encoder, comprising a position code and an optical sensor element for acquiring at least part of the position code, wherein the sensor element comprises:
- a line of photosensitive acquisition regions, which convert incident photons (p) into electric charges;
- and
- a readout structure for outputting an electric data signal corresponding to the electric charges, wherein:
- the sensor element, for the purposes of temporarily storing the electric charges, comprises:
- an analog memory array structure with a number of N>1 lines of photo-insensitive analog memory cells, wherein the number of lines of memory cells is greater than a multiple of, the number of acquisition regions;
- and
- an electrical switching structure, by means of which switching structure a charge transfer is performable between the acquisition regions, the memory cells and the readout structure and which is configured in such a way that the charge transfer is in-between the lines of memory cells from one line to another line and is performable for individual lines or for a subset of the lines in the memory structure, wherein an upper part of the lines in the memory structure is shiftable independently of a lower part of the lines in the memory structure.
A method for optical acquisition of at least part of a position code by a line of photosensitive acquisition elements, comprising:
- an acquisition and conversion of photons into electric charges in the acquisition elements;
- and
- an output—triggered by a readout signal—of an electric data signal corresponding to the electric charges, wherein:
- triggering a time of the optical acquisition by an external trigger signal and, triggered thereby, transferring the electric charges from the acquisition elements into a memory structure configured as an array with N>1 lines of analog memory cells, wherein the number of lines in the memory structure is greater than the number of acquisition elements;
- temporary buffer storing of the analog charges in this memory structure prior to the output, during which the transfer in the memory structure to individual lines or to a subset of the lines in-between the lines of the memory structure is performed selectively, wherein an upper part of the lines in the memory structure is shiftable independently of a lower part of the lines in the memory structure;
- and
- wherein, as a result of the buffer storing, the acquisition can be effected asynchronously in relation to the output.
A position encoder comprising a position code and an optical sensor element for acquiring at least part of the position code, wherein the sensor element comprises:
- a line of photosensitive acquisition regions, which convert incident photons into electric charges;
- a readout structure for outputting an electric data signal corresponding to the electric charges;
- wherein:
- the sensor element, for the purposes of temporarily storing the electric charges, comprises:
- an analog memory structure configured as an array with a number of N>1 lines of photo-insensitive analog memory cells, wherein the number of lines of memory cells is greater than the number of acquisition regions;
- and
- an electrical switching structure, by means of which switching structure a charge transfer is performable between the acquisition regions, the memory cells and the readout structure, wherein the charge can be transferred in-between the lines of memory cells from one memory line to another memory line.
A method for optical acquisition of at least part of a position code by a line of photosensitive acquisition elements, comprising:
- an acquisition and conversion of photons into electric charges in the acquisition elements;
- an output—triggered by a readout signal—of an electric data signal corresponding to the electric charges;
- characterized by;
- triggered by a trigger signal, transferring the electric charges from the acquisition elements into a memory structure configured as an array with N>1 lines of analog memory cells, wherein the charge can be transferred in-between the lines of memory cells from one memory line to another memory line;
- temporary buffer storing of the analog charges in this memory structure prior to the output;
- and
- wherein, as a result of the buffer storing, the acquisition can be effected asynchronously in relation to the output.
A position encoder comprising a position code and an optical sensor element for acquiring at least part of the position code, wherein the sensor element comprises:
- a line of photosensitive acquisition regions, which convert incident photons into electric charges;
- a readout structure for outputting an electric data signal corresponding to the electric charges;
- wherein:
- the sensor element, for the purposes of temporarily storing the electric charges, comprises:
- an analog memory structure configured as an array with a number of N>1 lines of photo-insensitive analog memory cells, wherein the number of lines of memory cells is greater than the number of acquisition regions;
- and
- an electrical switching structure, by means of which switching structure a charge transfer is performable between the acquisition regions, the memory cells and the readout structure, wherein the charge can be transferred:
- between the acquisition regions and the analog memory cells;
- between the lines of memory cells from one memory line to another memory line;
- or
- between the memory cells and readout structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.