A rotary element is equipped with a pattern representing a reflected binary code on at least three bits. A detection circuit is configured to sense the pattern and deliver an incident signal encoded in reflected binary code on at least three bits. The incident signal is converted by a transcoding circuit into an intermediate signal encoded in reflected binary code on two bits. A decoding stage decodes the intermediate signal and outputs at least one clock signal representing the amount of rotation of the rotary element and a direction signal representing the direction of rotation. A processing circuit determines the movement of the rotary element, and has at least one general purpose timer designed to receive the at least one clock signal and direction signal.

The present disclosure provides an absolute encoder capable of suppressing an increase in size while securing the resolution. An encoder includes a magnet rotating integrally with at least one rotary body and a plurality of rotary sensors detecting magnetic poles of the magnet to output detection signals having sinusoidal waveforms, each sinusoidal waveform having a different phase. The at least one rotary body includes a first rotary body rotating integrally with a main shaft and a third rotary body rotating together with the rotation of the first rotary body. The absolute encoder includes an angular sensor to detect the rotational angle of the first rotary body and the magnet is arranged in the third rotary body.

A position sensor includes a detector and a signal processor. The detector includes a magnet generating a bias magnetic field and a detection element configured to be applied by the bias magnetic field, and generates plural detection signals including distinct phase difference and corresponding to plural ranges aligned in one direction along a movement direction of a detection target, based on a change in a magnetic field received by the detection element from the detection target with a movement of the detection target having a magnetic body. The signal processor acquires the detection signals from the detector, compares the detection signals with a threshold value, and specifies a position of the detection target as a position at one of the ranges based on a combination of magnitude relation between the detection signals and the threshold value.

Disclosed is a magnetic encoder for determining a position of a first object relative to a second object. The encoder comprises a first magnetic member, a second magnetic member and a sensor member. The sensor member comprises a first sensor for measuring a change in magnetic field of the first magnetic member for deducing an unsigned absolute position of the first object relative to the second object, and a second sensor for measuring a change in magnetic field of the second magnetic member for deducing a sign for the unsigned absolute position. The first magnetic member and first sensor are coupled to respectively different ones of the first object and second object, and the second magnetic member and second sensor are coupled to respectively different ones of the first object and second object.

A rotation detecting device includes a magnet, a first magnetic sensing assembly and a second magnetic sensing assembly. The magnet is rotatable about a rotation axis. As the magnet is rotated for one turn, a magnetic characteristic of the magnet is correspondingly changed for a cycle. The first magnetic sensing assembly is located over the magnet, wherein the rotation axis of the magnet passes through the first magnetic sensing assembly. A first lengthwise direction of the first magnetic sensing assembly is in parallel with a rotation radius direction of the magnet. The second magnetic sensing assembly is arranged beside the first magnetic sensing assembly. A second lengthwise direction of the second magnetic sensing assembly is in parallel with a rotation tangential direction of the magnet. An included angle between the second lengthwise direction and the first lengthwise direction is (90+θ) degrees, wherein −30≤θ≤30.

A method of correcting a position reading from a position sensing arrangement. The position sensing arrangement is suitable for sensing the position of a revolute joint of an articulated structure, and comprises a disc having a magnetic ring with magnetic pole pairs and a magnetic sensor assembly comprising a magnetic sensor array for detecting the magnetic pole pairs of the magnetic ring. The method comprises: for each pole pair of the magnetic ring, taking a calibration pole pair position reading with the magnetic sensor array, and generating a pole pair correcting function by comparing the calibration pole pair position reading with a model pole pair position reading; averaging the pole pair correcting functions of the pole pairs of the magnetic ring to generate an average pole pair correcting function for the magnetic ring; taking a position reading with the magnetic sensor array, the position reading comprising a plurality of pole pair position readings; and generating a corrected position reading by deducting the average pole pair correcting function from each pole pair position reading.

An encoder includes a carrier disc, a coded disc, a rotating shaft, a bearing, a bracket, a housing and a sensing assembly is disclosed. The coded disc is disposed on the carrier disc. The rotating shaft includes a first attaching portion and a second attaching portion, and the first attaching portion is partially penetrated through the carrier disc. The bearing includes a bearing inner surface and a bearing outer surface, and the bearing inner surface is connected with the second attaching portion. The bracket includes a bearing attaching portion and a bracket curved feature portion, and the bearing attaching portion is connected with the bearing outer surface. The housing includes a housing curved feature portion, which is connected with the bracket curved feature portion.

An electromagnetic induction type encoder includes a detection head and a scale. The detection head has a first transceiver coil to generate magnetic flux with respect to a first track and a second transceiver coil to generate magnetic flux with respect to a second track. The scale has a first plurality of periodical elements with respect to the first track and a second plurality of periodical elements with respect to the second track. The detection head has a receiver coil that continuously extends from the first track to the second track, is electromagnetically coupled with the magnetic flux generated by the first plurality of periodical elements and the magnetic flux generated by the second plurality of periodical elements, and detects a phase of the magnetic flux generated by the first plurality of periodical elements and a phase of the magnetic flux generated by the second plurality of periodical elements.

A controlling method of an encoder includes: detecting a rotation angle of a rotor of a motor coupled to the encoder to generate a first counting trigger signal and a second counting trigger signal so as to perform a turn number counting procedure; determining whether a period that an operating voltage of a driving circuit of the motor is smaller than a threshold voltage exceeds a preset time; and when the period exceeds the preset time, controlling a switching unit of the encoder to allow a battery of the encoder to provide a backup voltage to the encoder such that the encoder enters a low power processing procedure.

A device for determining the position of a light source, including an optical mask with a periodic pattern casting a shadow on an imager placed at a multiple of the Talbot distance or at a fraction of the Talbot distance.