Optical encoder system including a structured code wheel
US9091568B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 20, 2014 |
| Grant date | Jul 28, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 20, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01D5/3473
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical encoder system includes a module that has a light emitting element and a light detecting element, wherein the light detecting element is operable to detect light at a wavelength emitted by the light emitting element. The optical encoder system also includes a code wheel that has facets on its surface. Each facet has a surface that provides diffuse reflectance, with adjacent facets being inclined by different amounts. The code wheel can be disposed with respect to the module so that at least some light emitted by the light emitting element is reflected by the facets back toward the module, wherein an amount of reflected light detected by the light detecting element in the module depends at least in part on the rotational position of the code wheel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.