H03M1/28

Method and apparatus for alignment adjustment of encoder systems
10886932 · 2021-01-05 · ·

An encoder system includes a configurable detector array, wherein the configurable detector array includes a plurality of detectors. In an embodiment, the encoder system includes an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The encoder system may also include a memory operable to store a partition map that defines a state for each of the plurality of detectors. In an embodiment, the memory includes a non-volatile memory. The encoder system may also include a controller, such as a microcontroller, operable to read from the memory the partition map and to adjust the partition map according to a misalignment measurement before configuring the configurable detector array. The encoder system may also include an emitter operable to generate a flux modulated by a motion object, wherein the configurable detector array is operable to receive the flux and generate respective current outputs for each of the detectors in response to the flux.

Imaging element and method for controlling imaging element, imaging apparatus, and electronic apparatus

The present disclosure relates to an imaging element and a method for controlling an imaging element, an imaging apparatus, and an electronic apparatus that can reduce the size of the imaging element and can reduce power consumption. First, a gray code corresponding to a P-phase pixel signal of each pixel is converted into a binary code. Then, a difference between a binary code corresponding to the converted same bit and a binary code of the pixel signal in which all bits are 0 and which is latched in a temporary latch is continuously calculated and is latched as the binary code of the P-phase pixel signal in the temporary latch. Then, a gray code corresponding to a D-phase pixel signal of each pixel is converted into a binary code. Then, a difference between a binary code corresponding to the converted same bit and the binary code of P-phase the pixel signal which is latched in the temporary latch is continuously calculated. The present disclosure can be applied to an imaging apparatus.

Length measuring instrument, code, and code conversion method
10803271 · 2020-10-13 · ·

A length measuring instrument for measuring length with a measure includes: a measure on which a code is printed, a plurality of patterns each allotted to a different number being arranged, each of the patterns having digits to which an N-notation number (N being 3 or greater) is allotted, each of the digits having a different color corresponding to the allotted numerical value, the patterns being arranged in ascending order or descending order, a Hamming distance between patterns adjacent to each other in an array direction being 1, an amount of change in numerical value at the same digit between the adjacent patterns being 1 in the code; a reading unit that optically reads patterns printed on the measure; and a measuring unit that measures a length of a measurement target from a result of the reading by the reading unit.

METHOD OF DETECTING USER INPUT IN A 3D SPACE AND A 3D INPUT SYSTEM EMPLOYING SAME
20200153450 · 2020-05-14 ·

A 3D input system and an angle encoder are disclosed. The 3D input system comprises a computing device and one or more position sensing gloves. The position sensing glove comprises a plurality of angle encoders each installed thereon at a location about a finger joint. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) is installed on the glove. A firmware uses data from the angle encoders and IMU to calculate fingertip positions in a 3D space. The firmware generates keystrokes on a virtual keyboard based on the fingertip positions. The angle encoder comprises a first and a second components rotatable with respect to each other, and an encoder pattern comprising codewords for indicating the angle between the first and second components. The encoder pattern comprises a set of base encoder channels coded with a conventional Gray code, and a set of Booster channels for improving the resolution of angle measurement.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ALIGNMENT ADJUSTMENT OF ENCODER SYSTEMS
20200083898 · 2020-03-12 ·

An encoder system includes a configurable detector array, wherein the configurable detector array includes a plurality of detectors. In an embodiment, the encoder system includes an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The encoder system may also include a memory operable to store a partition map that defines a state for each of the plurality of detectors. In an embodiment, the memory includes a non-volatile memory. The encoder system may also include a controller, such as a microcontroller, operable to read from the memory the partition map and to adjust the partition map according to a misalignment measurement before configuring the configurable detector array. The encoder system may also include an emitter operable to generate a flux modulated by a motion object, wherein the configurable detector array is operable to receive the flux and generate respective current outputs for each of the detectors in response to the flux.

LENGTH MEASURING INSTRUMENT, CODE, AND CODE CONVERSION METHOD
20200074128 · 2020-03-05 · ·

A length measuring instrument for measuring length with a measure includes: a measure on which a code is printed, a plurality of patterns each allotted to a different number being arranged, each of the patterns having digits to which an N-notation number (N being 3 or greater) is allotted, each of the digits having a different color corresponding to the allotted numerical value, the patterns being arranged in ascending order or descending order, a Hamming distance between patterns adjacent to each other in an array direction being 1, an amount of change in numerical value at the same digit between the adjacent patterns being 1 in the code; a reading unit that optically reads patterns printed on the measure; and a measuring unit that measures a length of a measurement target from a result of the reading by the reading unit.

Method of detecting user input in a 3D space and a 3D input system employing same
10560113 · 2020-02-11 · ·

A 3D input system and an angle encoder are disclosed. The 3D input system comprises a computing device and one or more position sensing gloves. The position sensing glove comprises a plurality of angle encoders each installed thereon at a location about a finger joint. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) is installed on the glove. A firmware uses data from the angle encoders and IMU to calculate fingertip positions in a 3D space. The firmware generates keystrokes on a virtual keyboard based on the fingertip positions. The angle encoder comprises a first and a second components rotatable with respect to each other, and an encoder pattern comprising codewords for indicating the angle between the first and second components. The encoder pattern comprises a set of base encoder channels coded with a conventional Gray code, and a set of Booster channels for improving the resolution of angle measurement.

IMAGING ELEMENT AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IMAGING ELEMENT, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS
20190394417 · 2019-12-26 ·

The present disclosure relates to an imaging element and a method for controlling an imaging element, an imaging apparatus, and an electronic apparatus that can reduce the size of the imaging element and can reduce power consumption. First, a gray code corresponding to a P-phase pixel signal of each pixel is converted into a binary code. Then, a difference between a binary code corresponding to the converted same bit and a binary code of the pixel signal in which all bits are 0 and which is latched in a temporary latch is continuously calculated and is latched as the binary code of the P-phase pixel signal in the temporary latch. Then, a gray code corresponding to a D-phase pixel signal of each pixel is converted into a binary code. Then, a difference between a binary code corresponding to the converted same bit and the binary code of P-phase the pixel signal which is latched in the temporary latch is continuously calculated. The present disclosure can be applied to an imaging apparatus.

Dual measurement displacement sensing technique

A method for determining a length of a span of electrically conductive material, comprising a first voltage measurement across the entire span, and a second voltage measurement across a constant-length segment of the span. The dual measurements allow the calculation of the span length in a manner that is robust to many disturbances including ambient temperature, material temperature, and material stress and fatigue.

Encode Inputs to Reduce Energy Usages in Analog Computation Acceleration

A device having: memory cells configured to store a set of first parameters as an input for an operation of multiplication and accumulation; digital to analog converters; an analog section of the operation of multiplication and accumulation; analog to digital converters; and a controller configured to analyze the set of first parameters to identify an encoding parameter for reduced energy consumption in processing the input. The device generates, using the digital to analog converters and according to the set of first parameters, analog inputs to the analog section of the operation of multiplication and accumulation. The analog section generates analog outputs responsive to the analog input. The device determines, using the analog to digital converters and according to the encoding parameter and the analog outputs, a set of second parameters as an output responsive to the input for the operation of multiplication and accumulation.