Patent · US Expired

Reflective encoder with reduced background noise

US7304294B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
3References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 9, 2006
Grant dateDec 4, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 23, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01D5/345
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An encoder having a code scale and an emitter detector module is disclosed. The code scale includes alternating reflective and opaque stripes. The emitter-detector module includes a light source that generates light and directs a portion of the generated light to the imaging element and a photodetector that generates a signal representing an intensity of light having a linear polarization in a predetermined direction received by the photodetector, the light source and the photodetector are encapsulated in a transparent medium, wherein there is a gap between the transparent medium and the code scale. The predetermined direction is chosen to reduce the intensity of light received by the photodetector that is reflected from an interface between the transparent medium and the gap. A polarization filter can also be included in the light source to further improve the rejection of the light reflected from the interface of the transparent medium and the gap.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.