Patent ID: 7469839
Filing Date: 2008-12-30
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
1. An optical encoder, comprising: a code member having a plurality of reflectors thereon; a light source, positioned to illuminate an area of the code member comprising at least one of the reflectors; and a detector array comprising at least one detector set, each of the at least one detector set comprising a plurality of detector elements, the code member and the detector array being moveable with respect to one another along a displacement direction; wherein, as the code member moves with respect to the detector array, the reflectors on the code member reflect light emitted by the light source to produce light spots that travel across the detector array; wherein the light source, the detector array and the code member are positioned, and the reflectors on the code member are sized, to cause the light spots to have dimensions along the displacement direction that are less than a width of one of the detector sets, but greater than a width of one of the detector elements.