An encoder system includes a configurable detector array, wherein the configurable detector array includes a plurality of detectors. The encoder system may also include a memory operable to store a partition map that defines a state for each of the plurality of detectors. The encoder system may also include an emitter operable to generate a flux modulated by a motion object, wherein the configurable detector array is operable to receive the flux and generate respective current outputs for each of the detectors in response to the flux. In an embodiment, the current outputs from detectors having a same state are grouped together. The encoder system may also include one or more current duplicators to duplicate the current outputs from detectors having one state to group with the current outputs from detectors having a different state. The encoder system may also adjust weights of the current outputs.

A sensor device comprises a sensor unit for generating a signal indicative of a physical quantity. The device comprises a processing unit for receiving the signal, in which the processing unit comprises a storage memory for storing data derived from the signal as provided by the sensor unit at at least two points in time. The device comprises a bus interface for communicating with an electronic control unit via a digital communication bus. When a read command is received from the electronic control unit, an estimate of the physical quantity is sent in response to the electronic control unit. The processing unit comprises an estimator for calculating the estimate at a reference point in time based on the data stored in the storage memory, in which the reference point in time differs from the point in time at which the read command is received by substantially a predetermined offset.

An encoder includes a scale having a pattern to be detected, a detecting sensor outputting a signal corresponding to the pattern, a position calculator calculating a relative position between the scale and the detecting sensor based on the signal, a position data storage storing the calculated position data, and a position estimator estimating a relative position between the scale and the detecting sensor at a calculation-target time point based on the stored position data. The position estimator estimates the position at the calculation-target time point based on positions at first and second time points each preceding the calculation-target time point by a predetermined time. The position estimator processes position data in a first time width centered on the first time point and position data in a second time width centered on the second time point to calculate the positions at the first and second time points.

A position detection apparatus is provided which eliminates the necessity of space to affix a scale to a track member. A track member of a motion guide apparatus is provided with a through hole into which a fastening member to fasten the track member to a base can be inserted. A carriage that is movably assembled to the track member via a rolling element is provided with magnets generating a magnetic field toward the track member. Magnetic sensors that detect a change in the magnetic fields of the magnets with the travel of the magnets relative to the track member are placed within the magnetic fields of the magnets.

A motor driver integrated circuit comprises a central processing unit, a memory, and a multiple-time programmable memory. The multiple-time programmable memory is configured to store a motor driver program, the memory has a capacity larger than or equal to a capacity of the multiple-time programmable memory. When the motor driver integrated circuit is powered or reset, the central processing unit copies the driven program from the multiple-time programmable memory to the memory. The motor driver integrated circuit is low in cost. The present invention also provides a motor device having the motor driver integrated circuit.

A method for measuring the rotation speed of a wheel including the steps of: acquiring an analog measurement signal (Sma) generated by a magnetic tachometer and containing a useful signal the frequency of which is representative of the rotation speed of the wheel; digitizing in real-time the analog measurement signal (Sma) in order to obtain a time-dependent digital measurement signal (Smnt); calculating a Fourier transform of the time-dependent digital measurement signal (Smnt) in order to obtain a frequency-dependent digital measurement signal (Smnf); and carrying out a frequency analysis in order to identify by a search for peaks a useful spectral line (16) so as to obtain the frequency of the useful signal and therefore the rotation speed of the wheel.

An encoder including an emitter to emit a waveform to a scene including a structure. A receiver to receive the waveform reflected from the scene and to measure phases of the received waveform for a period of time. A memory to store a signal model relating phase measurements of the received waveform with phase parameters, and to store a state model relating the phase parameters with a state of the encoder. Wherein the signal model includes a motion-induced polynomial phase signal (PPS) component and a sinusoidal frequency modulated (FM) component. Wherein the PPS component is a polynomial function of the phase parameters, and wherein the FM component is a sinusoidal function of the phase parameters. A processor to determine the phase parameters using non-linear mapping of the phase measurements on the signal model and to determine the state of the encoder by submitting the phase parameters into the state model.

A position detection apparatus is provided which eliminates the necessity of space to affix a scale to a track member. A track member of a motion guide apparatus is provided with a through hole into which a fastening member to fasten the track member to a base can be inserted. A carriage that is movably assembled to the track member via a rolling element is provided with magnets generating a magnetic field toward the track member. Magnetic sensors that detect a change in the magnetic fields of the magnets with the travel of the magnets relative to the track member are placed within the magnetic fields of the magnets.

A motor-driven integrated circuit comprises a multiple-time programmable memory to store a motor driven program, a memory having a capacity larger than or equal to a capacity of the multiple-time programmable memory, and a central processing unit. When the motor-driven integrated circuit is powered or reset, the central processing unit copies the driven program from the multiple-time programmable memory to the memory.

A method for measuring the rotation speed of a wheel including the steps of: acquiring an analogue measurement signal (Sma) generated by a magnetic tachometer and containing a useful signal the frequency of which is representative of the rotation speed of the wheel; digitizing in real-time the analogue measurement signal (Sma) in order to obtain a time-dependent digital measurement signal (Smnt); calculating a Fourier transform of the time-dependent digital measurement signal (Smnt) in order to obtain a frequency-dependent digital measurement signal (Smnf); and carrying out a frequency analysis in order to identify by a search for peaks a useful spectral line (16) so as to obtain the frequency of the useful signal and therefore the rotation speed of the wheel.