A position-measuring device includes a carrier body having a first and second measuring graduations and a reference mark. The first and second measuring graduations include graduation structures periodically arranged along first and second measurement directions, respectively, that are perpendicular to each other. The graduation structures of the first measuring graduation each extend parallel to a first direction and the reference mark extends in a second direction that forms an angle different from 0 with the first direction. First and second scanners are configured to scan the first and second measuring graduations and generate first and second scanning signals, respectively. A third scanner is configured to scan the reference mark and generate a reference pulse. The position-measuring device is configured such that a phase angle of the reference pulse is determined as a function of the first scanning signals and the reference pulse.

An encoder includes: a disk having a pattern of slits arranged in one direction; a light emitting element for emitting light toward the pattern of the disk; a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in the direction in which the slits are arranged and configured to receive the light emitted from the light emitting element, by way of the slits; and an optical element configured to magnify an image formed by the light which is emitted by the light emitting element and then reaches the optical element by way of the slits and to transmit the magnified image toward the light receiving elements, the optical element having a magnification ratio that is set so as to magnify the formed image at least in the direction in which the light receiving elements are arranged, depending on the pitch of the slits and the pitch of the light receiving elements.

By configuring an encoder scale as an angled or inclined magnet or pair of oppositely arranged, adjacent magnets, a magnetic field sensor in a travel path of the scale can detect an absolute position of the scale for use in an industrial control system. Due to the angle or incline, when a first side of the scale is proximal to the sensor, the sensor can detect an angle of 180. As the scale moves to center with respect to the sensor, the sensor can detect an increasing angle to 0. Then, as a second side of the scale becomes proximal to the sensor, the sensor can detect an increasing angle to +180. The angle changes linearly with position. In one aspect, the pair of oppositely arranged magnets can be rotated with respect to the travel path to provide the angle. In another aspect, the pair of oppositely arranged magnets can be magnetized diagonally to provide the angle.

A method for measuring a distance between features of a sample, according to one embodiment, includes moving a precision stage having the sample thereon for positioning a first feature of the sample in a field of view of an imaging device. The imaging device is instructed to generate a first image of the first feature of the sample. The sample is moved a defined distance using the precision stage. The imaging device is instructed to generate a second image of a second feature of the sample at the defined distance. The first image and the second image are used to determine an actual distance between the first feature and the second feature. A product, according to one embodiment, includes a thin film structure having a plurality of elements, and at least two features dedicated for enabling measurement therebetween. Each feature is positioned at a known position relative to a respective one of the elements.

In an encoder device, a first gear is made of a transparent resin allowing transmission of light and includes: a detection target on which an optical pattern for detecting the absolute rotation angle within one rotation is formed, and a plurality of teeth formed on the outer periphery of the detection target. A first sensor includes a light emitter configured to emit light toward the detection target and a light receiver configured to receive the light transmitted through the detection target.

A relative position identifying unit identifies a relative position of a scale to a light receiving unit. An absolute position identifying unit identifies an absolute position of the scale at a timing of execution of a synchronization instruction. A determining unit determines a measurement reference position based on the absolute position at the timing and the relative position at the timing. A current position calculator calculates a current position of the scale based on the measurement reference position and the relative position identified by the relative position identifying unit. A control unit as a synchronization instructing unit executes the synchronization instruction on the absolute position identifying unit and the determining unit.

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 encoder includes a scale, a detector, and a processor. The processor executes a second process while executing a first process, calculates a first relative position of one of the scale and the detector to the other of the scale and the detector when a calculation of a relative position between them starts, and then calculates a second relative position of the one to the other based on a relative displacement amount between them and the first relative position.

A position detection encoder includes a scale that has a position detection pattern and a linear pattern that is formed in a direction parallel to a length direction of the position detection pattern; and a position detector generating a position detection signal with a different value due to a displacement of the position detection pattern in the length direction. In the position detector, a position confirmation pattern is formed that includes two markers arranged at an interval equal to or less than an offset tolerance value for a positional relationship of the position detector and the scale in a width direction of the position detection pattern.

An encoder includes rotatable plate including first and second patterns, light emission unit, and light receiving unit. The first pattern includes first and second unit regions. The first unit regions guide the light from light emission unit to the light receiving unit. The second unit regions are configured not to guide light from the light emission unit to the light receiving unit. The second pattern includes first and second unit regions. The first unit regions of the second pattern guide light from light emission unit to the light receiving unit. The second unit regions of the second pattern are configured not to guide light from the light emission unit to the light receiving unit. The first and second unit regions of the first pattern are reverse to the first and second unit regions of the second pattern in a direction perpendicular to a rotation direction of the rotatable plate.