Absolute position miniature grating encoder readhead using fiber optic receiver channels

Abstract

An absolute position fiber optic encoder readhead having multiple readhead portions for sensing the displacement of respective scale grating tracks of a scale is disclosed. The detector channels of the readhead portions are fiber optic detector channels having respective phase grating masks. The fiber optic encoder readhead portions are configured to detect the displacement of a self-image of a respective scale grating track of the scale. In various exemplary embodiments, the fiber optic readhead portions are constructed according to various design relationships that provide a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio. Accordingly, high levels of displacement signal interpolation may be achieved, allowing submicrometer displacement measurements. The fiber optic encoder readhead portions may be assembled in a particularly accurate and economical manner and may be provided in a package with dimensions on the order of 1–2 millimeters, resulting in a very small overall absolute readhead dimension that is dependent on the number of readhead portions that are incorporated. Optical fiber receiver channels carrying binary optical signals derived from a scale code track may be provided in the readhead, to provide an extended absolute measurement range.