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:
Sep. 20, 2005
Filed:
Jul. 01, 2004
Kazuo Aikawa, Carmel, IN (US);
Hideyasu Hayashi, Miyagi-pref., JP;
Kazuo Aikawa, Carmel, IN (US);
Hideyasu Hayashi, Miyagi-pref., JP;
Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An encoder includes a rotary member having a predetermined electrode pattern and a fixed member having multiple channel contacts which are opposed to the electrode. The rotary member has stable reference phases where at most one pair of the contacts is ON (in electrical contact) and at least another pair is OFF (not in electrical contact), i.e. both pairs may be OFF. When the rotary member is rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise from one reference phase, both pairs of contacts are temporarily on before reaching the adjacent reference phase. The pairs of contacts that are ON or OFF at the adjacent reference phase differ dependent on the direction of rotation. A counter is incremented or decremented according to the direction of rotation.