The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 26, 1996
Filed:
Nov. 02, 1995
Hideo Maeda, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An encoding apparatus includes: a light source; a diffraction grating, including a number of fine grating portions orthogonally arranged in columns and rows in a diffraction grating surface, for producing first diffracted light rays and second diffracted light rays in accordance with light emitted from the light source, each of the first diffracted light rays having a direction cosine on a first plane, and each of the second diffracted light rays having a direction cosine on a second plane; an interference unit for producing a first interference light ray by subjecting two diffracted light rays of the first diffracted light rays to interference, and for producing a second interference light ray by subjecting two diffracted light rays of the second diffracted light rays to interference; a first detection unit for detecting a phase change of the first interference light ray when an object is moved relative to the light source; and a second detection unit for detecting a phase change of the second interference light ray when the object is moved relative to the light source.