Patent ID: 8810791

Claim:
An apparatus for the measurement of the rotary angle of two objects rotating relative to one another about an axis of rotation, comprising: a light source ( 10 ) associated with one of the objects and transmitting unpolarized light, a polarizer ( 12 ), wherein the light source ( 10 ) and the polarizer ( 12 ) rotate relative to one another in dependence on the rotary angle; and a receiver which measures the light intensity passing through or reflected by the polarizer ( 12 ) in order to generate a signal dependent on an angle of rotation, said the receiver being configured as an optoelectronic sensor element ( 20 ), having at least one group comprising at least two reception elements ( 22 , 22 a , 22 b , 22 c , 22 d ) in front of which reception elements a respective polarizing structure ( 24 , 24 a , 24 b , 24 c , 24 d ) is arranged, with the polarization planes of the reception elements being respectively rotated with respect to one another in the group, and which is made from an electrically conductive material; said polarizing structure ( 24 , 24 a , 24 b , 24 c , 24 d ) having a contact connection ( 26 ) for the application of a defined potential and the polarizing structure ( 24 , 24 a , 24 b , 24 c , 24 d ) being configured as a screen for the sensor element ( 20 ).