An improved system for determining the identification of movers in a motion control system is disclosed, where the motion control system includes multiple movers traveling on a closed track. The physical construction of at least one element of one of the movers is different on one mover than on each of the other movers. The control system for the movers detects the difference in construction and identifies the unique mover as a first mover. Each of the other movers along the track are assigned an identifier based on their relative position to the first mover. According to one embodiment, a position sensing system is utilized to identify the first mover. According to another embodiment, the drive system for the movers is utilized to identify the first mover. In still another embodiment, a combination of the position sensing system and the drive system is utilized to identify the first mover.

A rotary encoder that is capable of securing a sufficient synthesis tolerance while achieving miniaturization is provided. The rotary encoder 1 includes a rotor 3, a stator 4, and a calculating unit 5 for calculating the rotation angle. The rotor 3 has a first rotor pattern 31 with a plurality of unit patterns 310 arranged along the measurement direction around the rotating shaft 2, and a second rotor pattern 32 with fewer unit patterns 320 than the plurality of unit patterns 310 in the first rotor pattern 310 arranged along the measurement direction. The number of the plurality of unit patterns 310 of the first rotor pattern 31 and the number of the plurality of unit patterns 320 of the second rotor pattern 32 are provided such that the maximum common divisor therebetween is two or more. The calculating unit calculates the rotation angle of the rotor 3 based on the detection signals from the first rotor pattern 31 and the second rotor pattern 32.

A curvilinear encoder is provided in which an incremental or absolute position for a cart can be detected on a track by applying one or more excitation signals and receiving one or more pick up signals. Analogous to a transformer arrangement, an encoder mover can be placed on the cart moving along the track, and an encoder stator can be placed on the track separated by a gap. The one or more excitation signals can be applied to the one or more excitation coils on the mover or the stator to generate one or more magnetic fields, and the one or more pick up signals can be received by one or more pick up coils on the mover or the stator for sensing changes in the magnetic fields produced by motion of the mover on the track.

An electromagnetic induction type encoder, wherein a detection head has a drive coil generating magnetic flux, wherein a scale has a plurality of connection coils arrayed in a fundamental period in a measurement axis direction, are electromagnetically coupled with the magnetic flux generated by the drive coil and generates magnetic flux fluctuating in a predetermined spatial period in the measurement axis direction, wherein the detection head has a plurality of receiver coils arrayed in the fundamental period in the measurement axis direction and are electromagnetically coupled with the magnetic flux generated by the plurality of connection coils and detects a phase of the magnetic flux, wherein /22d<L</2 is satisfied when a distance between line width centers of the plurality of connection coils is L and a line width of the plurality of connection coils is d.

A rotary position sensor is includes a static portion that comprises a first board and a second board and a rotatable portion that comprises a third board. The second board comprises a first planar coil; and the third board comprises a second planar coil as well as means for generating luminance. The first board comprises means for receiving the generated luminance and the first planar coil of the second board is configured to transmit power to said second planar coil of said third board via inductance. The power received by said second planar coil is configured to supply a current to said means for generating luminance; and said means for generating luminance is configured to emit a luminance signal which has a luminance level.

A curvilinear encoder is provided in which an incremental or absolute position for a cart can be detected on a track by applying one or more excitation signals and receiving one or more pick up signals. Analogous to a transformer arrangement, an encoder mover can be placed on the cart moving along the track, and an encoder stator can be placed on the track separated by a gap. The one or more excitation signals can be applied to the one or more excitation coils on the mover or the stator to generate one or more magnetic fields, and the one or more pick up signals can be received by one or more pick up coils on the mover or the stator for sensing changes in the magnetic fields produced by motion of the mover on the track.

An encoder comprises first and second sensors which reads first and second tracks, the first and second sensors being arranged in a radial direction to face each other, and a processor which generates a first position signal based on first and second periodic signals based on a signal obtained by reading the first and second tracks by the first sensor, and generates a second position signal based on third and fourth periodic signals based on a signal obtained by reading the first and second tracks by the second sensor, wherein the processor generates an absolute position signal indicating an absolute position of at least one of the scale, the first sensor, or the second sensor based on the first and second position signals and the first and third periodic signals.

The present invention relates generally to a new type of inductive displacement sensor, composed of a scale and a winding element. The scale is a conductor with two rows of parallel and uniform distribution of a grid. The scale and winding elements can be moved in the direction of the grid distribution. The winding element is spaced on opposing face of the scale; the winding elements include the first winding, the second winding, the third winding and the fourth winding. The first winding and the second winding cross wind to form the driving winding element, thereby forming the pattern, third winding fourth cross winding constitute two sensing winding elements, with the two sensing winding elements along the direction perpendicular to the grid distribution of each side of the element distribution in driving winding forming patterns. One end of the first winding is connected to one end of the second winding and form a common end which is connected with the electronic device. Both the sensing windings and the driving windings have a space along the grid distribution and aligned along the grid distribution. The present invention reduces the direct coupling between drive winding element and the sensing winding elements, reducing the potential for incompatability of assembling clearance error, and to a certain extent, reduces distortion measurements, enhancing the stability of the sensor and the accuracy of measurement.

A curvilinear encoder is provided in which an incremental or absolute position for a cart can be detected on a track by applying one or more excitation signals and receiving one or more pick up signals. Analogous to a transformer arrangement, an encoder mover can be placed on the cart moving along the track, and an encoder stator can be placed on the track separated by a gap. The one or more excitation signals can be applied to the one or more excitation coils on the mover or the stator to generate one or more magnetic fields, and the one or more pick up signals can be received by one or more pick up coils on the mover or the stator for sensing changes in the magnetic fields produced by motion of the mover on the track.

The electromagnetic induction type position detector includes a scale having a plurality of gradation coils, a head having a transmission unit and a reception unit, and a control unit. Each of the plurality of graduation coils includes a transmission graduation arranged with a pitch L1, a reception graduation arranged with a pitch L0 different from the pitch L1, and a connection unit. The transmission unit includes three transmission coil groups that are constituted by pluralities of transmission coils, each being arranged with a pitch L1, and that are arranged such that adjacent transmission coil groups have a phase difference. The reception unit includes three reception coil groups that are constituted by pluralities of reception coils, each being arranged with a pitch L0, and that are arranged such that adjacent reception coil groups have a phase difference identical to the phase difference of the three transmission coil groups.