An optical sensor for a delivery device having a piston that displaces a substance, such as a fluid, from a reservoir. The optical sensor has a light source and a detector array for imaging encoding features disposed along a plunger rod coupled to the piston. By virtue of the pattern of encoding features, an absolute position of the plunger rod relative to a fiducial position may be determined uniquely. Thus, the volume of fluid remaining in the reservoir, the rate of fluid delivery, and proper loading of the reservoir may be accurately ascertained. Additionally, the encoding may serve to uniquely identify a version of the reservoir which may be supplied in various versions corresponding, for example, to differing concentrations of a therapeutic agent to be dispensed.

An optical position-measuring device for determining the relative position of two objects includes two scanning units which are connected to one of the objects and each include a light source, one or more gratings and a detector assembly. A scale is connected to the other object and has two tracks each containing incremental graduations extending along a first one of the measurement directions. The incremental graduations each are composed of graduation regions which have different optical properties and are periodically arranged along an incremental graduation direction. The two incremental graduation directions form an angle of between 0 and 90 relative to each other. Each of the two incremental graduations has a reference mark integrated therein such that scanning of the reference mark allows a reference signal to be generated at a defined reference position along each of the measurement directions. The reference marks include both aperiodic and periodic portions.

A shadow-cast encoder apparatus includes a scale and a readhead. The readhead includes at least one electromagnetic radiation source for illuminating the scale in order to produce a shadow-cast fringe pattern at a detector configured to detect the shadow-cast fringe pattern. The encoder apparatus can be configured so as to suppress the total harmonic distortion of the fringe pattern, e.g. such that the total harmonic distortion of the fringe pattern is not more than 6%.

A position measuring device includes a first object with a scale band and a second object. Marker stripes extend in a transverse direction from one side of the scale band to the opposite side. A longitudinal axis divides the scale band into first and second paths. First and second marker sensors on the second object pass over the first and second paths as the second object slides longitudinally along the scale band. Each transition between marker stripes is a straight line oriented at an inclination angle relative to the transverse direction. As the second object moves over each transition, the inclination angle of that transition is determined based on how the first and second marker sensors detect the transition over the first and second paths. The measuring device then determines that the second object is located at a particular transition based on the determined inclination angle associated with that transition.

For providing a reliable determination of the position of an object (1) regarding a relative movement between the object (1) and a path (2) an apparatus is provided comprising: a detector (3) attached to or integrated in the object (1), at least one marker (4) being located along the path (2), wherein the at least one marker (4) is detected by the detector (3) within its spatial detection range (5) for determining the position of the object (1) relative to the marker (4), characterized by generating means for providing a definable signal or signal sequence or graphic representation (7, 8) or graphic representation sequence, wherein said signal or signal sequence or graphic representation (7, 8) or graphic representation sequence is detected by the detector (3) within its spatial detection range (5), and by evaluating means (6) for verifying a coincidence or relationship of the provided signal or signal sequence or graphic representation (7, 8) or graphic representation sequence with corresponding data detected by the detector (3). Further, a corresponding method is claimed.

A position-measuring device includes a scale having first and second measuring graduations, which each include graduation structures that respectively extend parallel to first and second directions. A first scanning unit is associated with the first measuring graduation, and second and third scanning units are associated with the second measuring graduation. A fourth scanning unit is associated with the first or second measuring graduation. In the former case, a first straight connecting line running through scanning locations of the first and fourth scanning units and a second straight connecting line running through scanning locations of the second and third scanning units are parallel or form a predetermined angle therebetween that is not equal to a sum of the angles of the first and second directions. In the latter case, the scanning locations of the second, third and fourth scanning units do not lie on a common straight connecting line.

A one dimensional measuring machine includes a scale having graduations, a mover that has a light source configured to emit light to the graduations of the scale and a light receiving element configured to receive the light having passed through the scale from the light source, and can move along the scale, a light amount information detector that detects information regarding a light amount of the light emitted to the scale from the light source while the mover moves along the scale, and a contamination detector that detects a degree of contamination of the scale, based the information regarding the light amount of the light detected by the light amount information detector.

A positioning apparatus includes a sensor assembly, a moving member, and a detecting plate. The sensor assembly includes a sensor positioning and detecting assembly and a sensor location recognition assembly. The sensor assembly is mounted on the moving member, and the moving member drives the sensor assembly to move on the detecting plate. The sensor assembly moves on the detecting plate, the sensor location recognition assembly recognizes that the sensor assembly reaches a designated location, and the sensor assembly is positioned by the sensor positioning and detecting assembly. The positioning apparatus and the card issuing machine provided by the application avoid the phenomena of step lost and speed reduced, and the location of the sensor assembly can be monitored in real time through the detecting plate.

Optical Position Encoders and methods using the same are described. In embodiments, the optical position encoders include a multitrack Hybrid Cyclic Binary Code-2 (HCBC-2) encoded scale and an Optical Readout Assembly (ORA), where the ORA provides absolute position optical readout and automatic physical alignment to the scale. Linear optical position encoders, rotary optical position encoders, and methods of measuring the position of ORA relative to a scale using such encoders are also described.

Optical Position Encoders and methods using the same are described. In embodiments, the optical position encoders include a multitrack Hybrid Cyclic Binary Code-2 (HCBC-2) encoded scale and an Optical Readout Assembly (ORA), where the ORA provides absolute position optical readout and automatic physical alignment to the scale. Linear optical position encoders, rotary optical position encoders, and methods of measuring the position of ORA relative to a scale using such encoders are also described.