There is provided an optical encoder with alignable relative positions between elements including an encoding medium, a sensor package and a memory. The sensor package includes a photodiode array and two alignment photodiodes opposite to the encoding medium. The memory records an alignment pattern associated with output signals of the two alignment photodiodes when the encoding medium and the sensor package are at nominal operating positions. When the encoding medium and the sensor package are not at the nominal operating positions, the relative position alignment is performed by adjusting current relative positions between the encoding medium and the sensor package to cause a current pattern associated with output signals of the two alignment photodiodes to be identical to the alignment pattern.

A method and a system for arbitrary optical waveform generation from an optical input, the system comprising an optical shaper comprising unbalanced interferometers with at least one delay, the delay being selected of at least 0.1 ps, an optical sampling readout selected for measuring optical waveforms of at least 0.1 ps; and an electronic processing unit; wherein the optical input is a picosecond pulse; with a minimal pulse duration before the optical shaper equal to a minimal delay of the optical shaper; the optical shaper splitting and interfering optical pulses; the optical sampling readout collecting data at an output of the optical shaper; and the electronic processing unit comparing the collected data with a preset target and updating the optical shaper from results of the comparison until a maximal match between the output of the optical shaper and the preset target output, wherein the maximal match is determined iteratively using one of: machine-learning, optimization algorithms and iterative search algorithms.

There is provided an optical encoder with alignable relative positions between elements including an encoding medium, a sensor package and a memory. The sensor package includes a photodiode array and two alignment photodiodes opposite to the encoding medium. The memory records an alignment pattern associated with output signals of the two alignment photodiodes when the encoding medium and the sensor package are at nominal operating positions. When the encoding medium and the sensor package are not at the nominal operating positions, the relative position alignment is performed by adjusting current relative positions between the encoding medium and the sensor package to cause a current pattern associated with output signals of the two alignment photodiodes to be identical to the alignment pattern.

This invention provides a contact laser encoding anti-theft lock, comprising: a key for generating a set of light signals with different pulse repetition frequencies; a signal processing module for receiving a set of optical pulse signals, in which the optical signals are converted to a set of voltage signals at different voltage values, and for comparing the voltage signals with a predetermined voltage (the voltage signals within the predetermined voltage range can be output as usual otherwise the output voltage is set to be zero); an electrically controlled lock, for opening or locking anti-theft doors according to the output voltage from the signal processing module; and a power supply for the signal processing module and the electrically controlled lock. The contact laser encoding anti-theft lock of this invention shows higher security and duplication of the keys is more difficult compared with prior anti-theft locks.

This invention provides a contact laser encoding anti-theft lock, comprising: a key for generating a set of light signals with different pulse repetition frequencies; a signal processing module for receiving a set of optical pulse signals, in which the optical signals are converted to a set of voltage signals at different voltage values, and for comparing the voltage signals with a predetermined voltage (the voltage signals within the predetermined voltage range can be output as usual otherwise the output voltage is set to be zero); an electrically controlled lock, for opening or locking anti-theft doors according to the output voltage from the signal processing module; and a power supply for the signal processing module and the electrically controlled lock. The contact laser encoding anti-theft lock of this invention shows higher security and duplication of the keys is more difficult compared with prior anti-theft locks.

A rotary encoder system for registering the rotary angle position and/or angular speed of a rotary shaft which extends along an axis of rotation, including at least two optical marks at the rotary shaft, an optical sensor with a pixel matrix having pixel points, an imaging device for imaging each mark in a substantially axial direction on the pixel matrix as a mark image, and an evaluation device for reading and evaluating the pixel matrix in order to determine data in relation to the rotary angle position and/or angular speed. Further, the marks, the imaging device and pixel points are embodied in such a way that the mark images on the pixel matrix have at least the area of a pixel point, and the evaluation device is embodied to establish the location of the centroids of the mark images on the pixel matrix.

A rotary encoder system for registering the rotary angle position and/or angular speed of a rotary shaft which extends along an axis of rotation, including at least two optical marks at the rotary shaft, an optical sensor with a pixel matrix having pixel points, an imaging device for imaging each mark in a substantially axial direction on the pixel matrix as a mark image, and an evaluation device for reading and evaluating the pixel matrix in order to determine data in relation to the rotary angle position and/or angular speed. Further, the marks, the imaging device and pixel points are embodied in such a way that the mark images on the pixel matrix have at least the area of a pixel point, and the evaluation device is embodied to establish the location of the centroids of the mark images on the pixel matrix.

A system may have a mobile device having at least two wheels and a distance measuring device configured to be removably attached to a frame of the mobile device, which can be a mobility assistance device, such as a walker and a wheelchair. The distance measuring device may have at least a sensing mechanism, an accumulator, and a display that are in communication with one another, with the sensing mechanism configured to monitor rotation of the at least one of the at least two wheels of the mobile device and the accumulator configured to determine the distance traveled by the mobile device based on this rotation and output the distance result on the display.

A rotary encoder for detecting the angle of rotation of a first rotatable shaft, with a first mark which is coupled with the first shaft, a second mark which is coupled with the second rotatable shaft, a third mark which is coupled with the second shaft, a fixed fourth mark and means for detecting a passage of the third mark though a vicinity of the fourth mark and means for detecting a coincidence of the angles of rotation of the first and the second marks.

A rotary encoder for detecting the angle of rotation of a first rotatable shaft, with a first mark which is coupled with the first shaft, a second mark which is coupled with the second rotatable shaft, a third mark which is coupled with the second shaft, a fixed fourth mark and means for detecting a passage of the third mark though a vicinity of the fourth mark and means for detecting a coincidence of the angles of rotation of the first and the second marks.