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:
Apr. 11, 2017
Filed:
Apr. 01, 2015
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Chihiro Nagura, Yokohama, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The optical encoder includes a scale provided with a scale pattern reflecting or transmitting light from a light source, and a sensor receiving the light from the scale pattern. The sensor is provided with a light-receiving element array. The light-receiving element array includes multiple light-receiving element groups with a pitch P. Each group is constituted by two or more light-receiving elements whose outputs are added together. An intermediate pattern is provided between the scale and the sensor. The intermediate pattern includes a first pattern to form a first light intensity distribution with a first spatial period shorter than the pitch P on the light-receiving element array and a second pattern to form a second light intensity distribution with a second spatial period longer than the pitch P on the light-receiving element array.