Position measuring device for generating position-dependent scanning signals, consisting of a scale and a scanning unit which are arranged movably relative to one another in a measuring direction (x), - the scale comprising at least one incremental graduation track (11; 111; 211; 311) which extends in the measuring direction (x) and consists essentially of a periodic arrangement of graduation regions (12a, 12b) with different optical properties, and has at at least one reference position (x REF) a reference mark which consists of an aperiodic arrangement of graduation regions (12a, 12b), - the scanning unit comprising a light source without upstream collimation optics and an opto-electronic detector arrangement which has at least one reference pulse signal detector unit (24a, 24b; 124a; 224a; 324a) which is tuned to the reference mark in order to generate a reference pulse signal, and there being as a result an the detection plane a periodic stripe pattern which is amplitude-modulated in the region of the reference position (x REF), characterized in that the reference pulse signal detector unit (24a, 24b; 124a; 224a; 324a) consists of a plurality of reference pulse signal detector elements (26, 27.1, 27.2; 126, 127.1, 127.2; 226, 227.1, 227.2) which are dimensioned in such a way and interconnected in such a way, in order to generate a reference pulse signal, that said elements act as bandpass filter on the amplitude-modulated stripe pattern at the reference position (x REF), and there is present on the output side a reference pulse signal in the case of which the periodic signal contribution from the incremental graduation track (11; 111; 211; 311) and low-frequency signal components are substantially filtered out, the reference pulse signal detector unit (24a, 24b; 124a; 224a; 324a) comprising a centrally arranged reference pulse signal detector element (26; 126; 226) and two reference pulse signal detector elements (27.1, 27.2; 127.1, 127.2, 227.1, 227.2) which are arranged symmetrically in the measuring direction (x) in relation to said detector element and generate scanning signals phase-shifted by N * 360° (N = 1, 2,...) in relation to the central reference pulse signal detector element (26; 126; 226), and the centrally arranged reference pulse signal detector element (26; 126; 226), on the one hand, and the two reference pulse signal detector elements (27.1, 27.2; 127.1, 127.2; 227.1, 227.2) arranged symmetrically in relation to said detector element, on the other hand, are differentially connected, and the difference signal represents the reference pulse signal. - the scale comprising at least one incremental graduation track (11; 111; 211; 311) which extends in the measuring direction (x) and consists essentially of a periodic arrangement of graduation regions (12a, 12b) with different optical properties, and has at at least one reference position (x REF) a reference mark which consists of an aperiodic arrangement of graduation regions (12a, 12b), - the scanning unit comprising a light source without upstream collimation optics and an opto-electronic detector arrangement which has at least one reference pulse signal detector unit (24a, 24b; 124a; 224a; 324a) which is tuned to the reference mark in order to generate a reference pulse signal, and there being as a result an the detection plane a periodic stripe pattern which is amplitude-modulated in the region of the reference position (x REF), characterized in that the reference pulse signal detector unit (24a, 24b; 124a; 224a; 324a) consists of a plurality of reference pulse signal detector elements (26, 27.1, 27.2; 126, 127.1, 127.2; 226, 227.1, 227.2) which are dimensioned in such a way and interconnected in such a way, in order to generate a reference pulse signal, that said elements act as bandpass filter on the amplitude-modulated stripe pattern at the reference position (x REF), and there is present on the output side a reference pulse signal in the case of which the periodic signal contribution from the incremental graduation track (11; 111; 211; 311) and low-frequency signal components are substantially filtered out, the reference pulse signal detector unit (24a, 24b; 124a; 224a; 324a) comprising a centrally arranged reference pulse signal detector element (26; 126; 226) and two reference pulse signal detector elements (27.1, 27.2; 127.1, 127.2, 227.1, 227.2) which are arranged symmetrically in the measuring direction (x) in relation to said detector element and generate scanning signals phase-shifted by N * 360° (N = 1, 2,...) in relation to the central reference pulse signal detector element (26; 126; 226), and the centrally arranged reference pulse signal detector element (26; 126; 226), on the one hand, and the two reference pulse signal detector elements (27.1, 27.2; 127.1, 127.2; 227.1, 227.2) arranged symmetrically in relation to said detector element, on the other hand, are differentially connected, and the difference signal represents the reference pulse signal.