A rotary encoder is incorporated in an annular space formed between a hollow rotating shaft and an encoder case. The rotary encoder has an annular printed wiring substrate, a plurality of mounting substrates that are outward from the printed wiring substrate in the radial direction and are arranged in the circumferential direction, and inter-substrate wiring cables bridged between the printed wiring substrate and each of the mounting substrates in the radial direction. Power supply to the mounting substrates and signal transmission and reception between the mounting substrates can be accomplished without routing around the wiring cables. It is possible to achieve a rotary encoder that is suitable for being incorporated in a narrow annular space.

A rotary encoder is incorporated in an annular space formed between a hollow rotating shaft and an encoder case. The rotary encoder has an annular printed wiring substrate, a plurality of mounting substrates that are outward from the printed wiring substrate in the radial direction and are arranged in the circumferential direction, and inter-substrate wiring cables bridged between the printed wiring substrate and each of the mounting substrates in the radial direction. Power supply to the mounting substrates and signal transmission and reception between the mounting substrates can be accomplished without routing around the wiring cables. It is possible to achieve a rotary encoder that is suitable for being incorporated in a narrow annular space.

An optical detector system provides beam positioning data to an optical tracking system to facilitate optical communications. The optical detector system comprises a plurality of optical photodetectors. For example, a two-by-two array may be used. Incoming light passes through one or more optical elements, such as a lens and a dispersive optical element. A first portion of the beam entering the optical elements is directed into a first spot having a first area on the array. A second portion of the beam entering the optical elements is dispersed to form a second spot having a second area on the array that is larger than the first area. This combination of first portion and second portion of the beam incident on the array provides unambiguous information in the output of the photodetectors that is indicative of a position of the incoming beam with respect to the array.

An optical detector system provides beam positioning data to an optical tracking system to facilitate optical communications. The optical detector system comprises a plurality of optical photodetectors. For example, a two-by-two array may be used. Incoming light passes through one or more optical elements, such as a lens and a dispersive optical element. A first portion of the beam entering the optical elements is directed into a first spot having a first area on the array. A second portion of the beam entering the optical elements is dispersed to form a second spot having a second area on the array that is larger than the first area. This combination of first portion and second portion of the beam incident on the array provides unambiguous information in the output of the photodetectors that is indicative of a position of the incoming beam with respect to the array.

In corner sections of first to fourth quadrants whose origin point is a center of an upper surface of a stage, three each of two-dimensional heads are provided. The three each of two-dimensional heads include one first head and two second heads. The stage is driven, while measuring a position of the stage using three first heads that face a two-dimensional grating of a scale plate provided above the stage from the four first heads, and during the driving, difference data of measurement values of the two second heads with respect to the first head in a measurement direction are taken in for head groups to which the three first heads belong, respectively, and using the difference data, grid errors are calibrated.

In corner sections of first to fourth quadrants whose origin point is a center of an upper surface of a stage, three each of two-dimensional heads are provided. The three each of two-dimensional heads include one first head and two second heads. The stage is driven, while measuring a position of the stage using three first heads that face a two-dimensional grating of a scale plate provided above the stage from the four first heads, and during the driving, difference data of measurement values of the two second heads with respect to the first head in a measurement direction are taken in for head groups to which the three first heads belong, respectively, and using the difference data, grid errors are calibrated.

An ECU device which estimates a length of a lower limb of a seated person who is seated in a vehicle seat is shown. The ECU device includes the following. A thigh angle information obtainer obtains information regarding a thigh angle of the seated person. A back knee angle information obtainer obtains information regarding a back knee angle of the seated person. An estimator estimates the length of the lower limb of the seated person based on the information regarding the thigh angle obtained by the thigh angle information obtainer and information regarding the back knee angle obtained by the back knee angle information obtainer.

A mould tool comprising: a first tool part defining a first mould cavity portion; a second tool part defining a second mould cavity portion; and, a cavity alignment system comprising: a temperature control system configured to control the temperature of a first zone of the first tool part to thereby effect thermal expansion and/or contraction in the first zone of the first tool part; a sensor configured to measure movement of a part of the first tool part in response to the said thermal expansion and/or contraction; and, a controller configured to control the temperature control system in response to feedback from the sensor to thereby control the position of the first mould cavity portion relative to the second mould cavity portion.

The invention relates to a sensor device for examining the coating of a disc as part of a coating process. The sensor device comprises a first optical sensor system for determining the layer thickness of the coating applied to the disc, and comprises a rotation apparatus. The invention is characterized in that the first optical sensor system is designed to simultaneously identify at least one first position-based measured value and one second position-based measured value, the first and the second position-based measured value describing the distance between the sensor systems and the surface of the disc. As a result of this, the sensor system is configured such that the first position-based measured value of a coated region of the disc and the second position-based measured value of an uncoated region of the disc are identified. Furthermore, the first optical sensor system comprises at least one linear guide, which extends from the central region to the edge. In addition, a control and analysis apparatus is provided for calculating the layer thickness of the disc at the position of the first position-based measured value with the aid of the first and the second position-based measured value. Furthermore, the invention relates to a coating for a disc, comprising inspecting the coating for determining the layer thickness of the coating applied to the disc.

The invention relates to a sensor device for examining the coating of a disc as part of a coating process. The sensor device comprises a first optical sensor system for determining the layer thickness of the coating applied to the disc, and comprises a rotation apparatus. The invention is characterized in that the first optical sensor system is designed to simultaneously identify at least one first position-based measured value and one second position-based measured value, the first and the second position-based measured value describing the distance between the sensor systems and the surface of the disc. As a result of this, the sensor system is configured such that the first position-based measured value of a coated region of the disc and the second position-based measured value of an uncoated region of the disc are identified. Furthermore, the first optical sensor system comprises at least one linear guide, which extends from the central region to the edge. In addition, a control and analysis apparatus is provided for calculating the layer thickness of the disc at the position of the first position-based measured value with the aid of the first and the second position-based measured value. Furthermore, the invention relates to a coating for a disc, comprising inspecting the coating for determining the layer thickness of the coating applied to the disc.