| US 7,432,497 B2 | ||
| Absolute linear encoder | ||
| Seiji Sakagami, Kawasaki (Japan); and Mikiya Teraguchi, Kawasaki (Japan) | ||
| Assigned to Mitutoyo Corporation, Kawasaki-shi (Japan) | ||
| Filed on Sep. 27, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/535,783. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 2005-283625 (JP), filed on Sep. 29, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0069117 A1, Mar. 29, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. G01D 5/34 (2006.01); G01D 5/36 (2006.01); H03M 1/22 (2006.01); G01B 11/14 (2006.01); G01B 7/30 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 250—231.18 [250/237 R; 341/11; 356/617; 33/1 PT] | 11 Claims |
| 1. An absolute linear encoder for detecting an absolute position, comprising:
a plurality of absolute scales aligned in a direction of detection, each of the absolute scales having absolute calibrations
that are identical to one another and used to detect the absolute position;
a plurality of detectors for detecting the calibrations on the absolute scales, the detectors being fixed at intervals so
as to simultaneously detect the calibrations of two adjoining absolute scales in a scale connecting section;
absolute position data generating portions of each scale for generating absolute position data of each detector;
a calculator for outputting the absolute position over the whole length of connected whole absolute scales by adding the absolute
position data of each detector and an offset value between the detectors, and
means for distinguishing the plurality of absolute scales from each other, said distinguishing means including a distinguishing
code that is distinct from the absolute calibrations and provided on at least one of the plurality of absolute scales.
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