Patent ID: 7345597

Claim:
A method for determining the absolute value of a rotational angle, the method comprising: imaging a continuous segment of a code track of a code carrier onto a sensor array such that the sensor array generates a corresponding output signal, wherein the code track includes a code in the form of a light and dark transition pattern provided over an angular range of 360°, wherein the code contains a plurality of code words with each code word corresponding to a respective angular value in the angular range; determining the code word of the imaged segment of the code track from a position of the light and dark transitions in the sensor array output signal to determine the angular value of the imaged segment of the code track; comparing the position of the light and dark transitions in the sensor array output signal with a reference curve to determine distribution and magnitude of position deviations between the sensor array output signal and a reference signal, wherein the reference curve represents the light and dark transitions which are expected in the sensor array output signal in an absent of unwanted mechanical influences effecting the code carrier and the sensor array; and determining the unwanted mechanical influences as a function of the determined distribution and magnitude position deviations.