Optical encoder comprising a plurality of encoder wheels
US5640007A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 21, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jun 17, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 21, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01D5/34792
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An absolute encoder monitors rotary position and senses rotary displacement relative to a measuring scale. The absolute encoder evaluates rotary displacement by providing a plurality of rotatably mounted encoder wheels, and each wheel includes at least one code sequence which in combination comprises the measuring scale. A pinion is provided between each pair of encoder wheels in order that each of the encoder wheels will be rotated upon the rotation of the shaft. Each code sequence of the encoder wheel is monitored by a sensing mechanism and this information is utilized to evaluate the shaft position. The sensing mechanism includes both light emitting and light detecting devices which monitor a defined region of each code sequence and this is evaluated in determining the rotary position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.