An encoder apparatus including a reflective scale and a readhead. The readhead includes at least one light emitting element, at least one sensor and at least one optical device, which together with the scale form an optical system in which the optical device forms an image of an illuminated region of the reflective scale onto the sensor. The system's optical path, from the light emitting element to the sensor, passes through the optical device on its way toward and after reflection from the scale. and includes an unreflected optical path between the light emitting element and the optical device and an unreflected optical path between the optical device and the sensor.

A linear rotary encoder includes a pair of rotational surfaces. A contact belt has a first end coupled to a first rotational surface in the pair and a second end coupled to a second rotational surface in the pair. The contact belt is driven to rotate around the pair of rotational surfaces by a driving force applied to media to move the media from the first end toward the second end. An encoding scale is coupled to an inner surface of the contact belt. A reader is positioned to read the encoding scale as the contact belt rotates around the pair of rotational surfaces. The reader generates an output signal indicating a position of the media based on reading of the encoding scale.

A desktop horizontal joint robot, including: a lift apparatus and a fixation apparatus. The lift apparatus includes: a base, a casing supported on the base, a slider seat liftably arranged within the casing, and a lift driving mechanism configured to move the slider seat. The fixation apparatus includes: a fixation seat in fixed connection with the slider seat, a first rotational shaft rotatably supported at the fixation seat, and a first shaft driving assembly configured to rotate the first rotational shaft. An optical length encoder is arranged within the casing and configured to detect a linear displacement of the slider seat. The fixation apparatus further include a first optical angle encoder configured to detect a rotation angle of the first rotational shaft. The desktop horizontal joint robot features non-wear, high reliability, and long service life.

When extending the leader or tape from a traditional tape measure over a large distance, a user situated away from the body of the tape measure is unable to determine the length that has been extended at the leading edge. Presented herein is a retractable measuring device in which the body of the measuring device is configured to compute and broadcast the amount of tape that has been withdrawn from the body to a receiver. The receiver may be located at the leading edge of the tape or comprise a secondary device such as a smartphone. Alternatively, the broadcast may include tactile, audible, or visual feedback relating to the distance that may be received directly by the user. Additionally, the retractable device may include an interface for setting a desired length and provide either the user or receiver with feedback when the desired length has been reached.

There is provided an optical encoder including an encoding medium, a substrate, a light source and a light sensor. The encoding medium includes an index track and a position track. The light source is arranged at a first surface of the substrate to emit light toward the index track and the position track. The light sensor is arranged at a second surface of the substrate, and has a first light sensing region and a second light sensing region for receiving reflective light respectively from the index track and the position track.

An encoder apparatus including a readhead for reading a reflective scale located adjacent the readhead. The readhead includes a circuit board on which a sensor including one or more photodiodes for detecting light reflected from a scale located adjacent the readhead is mounted, and at least one light emitting element. The light emitting element is mounted to the circuit board via a light emitting element support structure which holds the light emitting element away from the circuit board and the sensing plane of the sensor, and at least a part of which extends over the sensor.

An encoder is provided that is capable of suppressing accuracy deterioration even if a scale is disposed in a tilted manner with respect to a receiving unit by being rotated around an axis (i.e., a rotation axis) orthogonal to a receiving surface. The encoder 1 includes scale 2 and detection head 3. The detection head 3 includes light source (transmitting unit) 4 and light-receiving unit (receiving unit) 5. The light-receiving unit includes light-receiving surface (receiving surface) 50 and converts light received at the light-receiving surface 50 into differential detection signals with two phases and outputs the same. The light-receiving surface 50 includes element array group 7 including four element arrays 71-74 provided in a parallel manner along an orthogonal direction, with each element array 71-74 including a plurality of light-receiving elements (receiving elements) 500. The plurality of element arrays 71-74 in the element array group 7 are disposed at positions where the sum of: (i) a distance in the orthogonal direction from a reference position to a positive phase signal element array 71, 72; and (ii) a distance in the orthogonal direction from the reference position to the negative phase signal element array 73, 74, is the same for all the phases of the at least two phases.

A position detection module and a position detection system thereof are provided. The position detection module includes a first output port, a second output port, a third output port and a fourth output port. The first output port outputs a first detection signal, the second output port outputs a first position signal, the third output port outputs a second detection signal, and the fourth output port outputs a second position signal. Thus, the design of two sets of detection signals and position signals enables the position detection module to be fault-tolerant for meeting the requirements of safe dual-channel.

An absolute encoder configured to, when a rotation range of a measurement target member is limited by a brake mechanism, generate an AB-phase signal and a Z-phase signal for calculating a rotation angle of the measurement target member. The absolute encoder includes a brake mechanism, a plurality of Z-phase-signal-detection-target portions each having a Z-phase-signal-rise-detection-target portion and a Z-phase-signal-fall-detection-target portion, a plurality of AB-phase-signal-detection-target portions each located between a Z-phase-signal-rise-detection-target portion and a Z-phase-signal-fall-detection-target portion that are adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction, to thereby form a plurality of restriction ranges each including at least one of the Z-phase-signal-rise-detection-target portions and at least one of the Z-phase-signal-fall-detection-target portions. An interval in the circumferential direction between a Z-phase-signal-rise-detection-target portion and a Z-phase-signal-fall-detection-target portion that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction is different among the plurality of restriction ranges.

An absolute encoder configured to, when a rotation range of a measurement target member is limited by a brake mechanism, generate an AB-phase signal and a Z-phase signal for calculating a rotation angle of the measurement target member. The absolute encoder includes a brake mechanism, a plurality of Z-phase-signal-detection-target portions each having a Z-phase-signal-rise-detection-target portion and a Z-phase-signal-fall-detection-target portion, a plurality of AB-phase-signal-detection-target portions each located between a Z-phase-signal-rise-detection-target portion and a Z-phase-signal-fall-detection-target portion that are adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction, to thereby form a plurality of restriction ranges each including at least one of the Z-phase-signal-rise-detection-target portions and at least one of the Z-phase-signal-fall-detection-target portions. An interval in the circumferential direction between a Z-phase-signal-rise-detection-target portion and a Z-phase-signal-fall-detection-target portion that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction is different among the plurality of restriction ranges.