An auxiliary device for facilitating the installation of a sensing device and a method therefor are disclosed, and the installation support device includes a main body, a first light source assembly and a second light source assembly. The main body has a clamping mechanism configured for mounting the main body onto the sensing device, the first light source assembly and the second light source assembly are disposed on the main body and has at least one solid state light source, and the first light source assembly projects a first pattern along a first projecting direction, and the second light source assembly projects a second pattern along a second projecting direction. The two projecting directions are crossed each other at a predetermined distance, and whether the sensing device is installed at a desired position is determined according to a relative position between the first pattern and the second pattern.

Systems and methods determine an angle of an articulated trailer relative to a tractor that the trailer is hitched to. An encoder is positioned beneath a fifth-wheel of a tractor to couples with a kingpin of the trailer when the trailer is hitched to the tractor. The coupler has a rotating shaft that may include pins that physically interact with the kingpin and/or may include a magnet that magnetically attaches to the kingpin. A clearance and cleaning block may be positioned on the spring plate to interact with a bottom surface of a kingpin of the trailer during hitching of the trailer to the tractor. A LIDAR attached to the tractor may detect a front end of the trailer to determine the trailer angle relative to the tractor.

There is provided an optical encoding system including a photodiode array and a code disk opposite to each other. The code disk is arranged with multiple code slits at a ring area corresponding to the photodiode array. A length direction of each photodiode of the photodiode array has at least one deviation angle with respect to a length direction of the multiple code slits to reduce the total harmonic distortion in photocurrents.

A gradient-based encoder mechanism for a rotary motor, linear motor, or other actuator can include a color sensor that measures a color at a certain point in front of the sensor. A scale in front of the sensor is encoded with different colors arranged to form one or more gradients. Each color represents a different absolute position of a shaft, screw, slide, belt, or other actuated element. Either the sensor or the scale is coupled to and moves with the actuated element. The other of the sensor or scale remains stationary. As a result, the color that is in front of the sensor changes as the actuated element moves. The color sensor outputs the color measurement to controller circuitry, which converts the color into an output signal representing the position of the actuated element. A combination rotary and linear encoder is also disclosed.

There is provided an optical encoding system including a photodiode array and a code disk opposite to each other. The code disk is arranged with multiple code slits at a ring area corresponding to the photodiode array. A length direction of each photodiode of the photodiode array has at least one deviation angle with respect to a length direction of the multiple code slits to reduce the total harmonic distortion in photocurrents.

Systems and methods determine an angle of an articulated trailer relative to a tractor that the trailer is hitched to. An encoder is positioned beneath a fifth-wheel of a tractor to couples with a kingpin of the trailer when the trailer is hitched to the tractor. The coupler has a rotating shaft that may include pins that physically interact with the kingpin and/or may include a magnet that magnetically attaches to the kingpin. A clearance and cleaning block may be positioned on the spring plate to interact with a bottom surface of a kingpin of the trailer during hitching of the trailer to the tractor. A LIDAR attached to the tractor may detect a front end of the trailer to determine the trailer angle relative to the tractor.

For a light receiving element, signal distortion is suppressed, and an unnecessary space is reduced. The light receiving element includes a plurality of light receiver groups (21g) arranged in an arrangement direction at a predetermined arrangement interval. Light receiver groups (21g) include first light receiver (211) and second light receiver (212). First light receiver (211) has a first main phase portion and a first sub-phase portion having a width of of the arrangement interval. First light receiver (211) is separated into first main body portion (211a) and first separation portion (211b) each having a width in the arrangement direction of less than of the arrangement interval. Second light receiver (212) is separated into second main body portion (212a) and second separation portion (212b) each having a width in the arrangement direction of less than of the arrangement interval. First main body portion (211a) and second main body portion (212a) are arranged in the arrangement direction, and first separation portion (211b) and second separation portion (212b) are arranged in the arrangement direction.

A rotational encoder combined with angle limit braking mechanism. The mechanism includes a braking system and a shock-absorbing spring mechanism integrated within the rotary encoder block to protect the device when operating within the desired angular travel limits. It is applied in scanning devices that require high angular position accuracy and stringent safety standards against external environmental impacts. The product of the invention is used in direct-drive motor mechanisms with high precision for angular travel limitation, such as robotic arms, fixed or mobile multi-sensor automated observation devices, and unmanned vehicles.

An encoder includes a driven wheel, a housing, a carrier, a magnetic spur gear and a magnet. The driven wheel includes a first shaft bushing and a second shaft bushing. The housing includes a first shaft hole. The carrier includes a second shaft hole. The driven wheel is clamped between the housing and the carrier. The first shaft bushing is disposed within the first shaft hole. The second shaft bushing is disposed within the second shaft hole. The magnetic spur gear is installed on the driven wheel and synchronously rotated with the driven wheel. The magnet is located outside the magnetic spur gear and not contacted with the magnetic spur gear. When the driven wheel is rotated, a change of a magnetic attraction force between the magnetic spur gear and the magnet provides intermittent rotational resistance to the magnetic spur gear.