Patent · US Expired

Optical encoder applying substantially parallel light beams and three periodic optical elements

US7589314B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
3References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 17, 2005
Grant dateSep 15, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 13, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01D5/38
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical encoder for measuring a relative movement of a first scale plate and a second scale plate, comprises: a light source; a first scale plate which converts light from the light source into a cyclic light quantity distribution; a second scale plate which cyclically makes spatial modulation on the light beams from the first scale plate; a third scale plate having slits which allow the light beams from the second scale plate to pass therethrough; and a light-receiving element which receives the light beams from the third scale plate; a lens which converts light from the light source into substantially parallel light beams; and an optic array which converges or diffuses light beams in the direction of periodic change and generates a cyclic light quantity distribution on the first scale plate.

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