Patent ID: 7199355

Claim:
A method for the accurate determination of an angle of rotation (w) by means of an optical detector ( 1 ) comprising a plurality of detector elements ( 2 ) arranged in series and by means of a rotating body ( 3 ) comprising a multiplicity of pattern elements ( 5 , ..., 13 ) which are arranged around a pattern center ( 4 ) and a multiplicity of which is arranged one behind the other in the direction of rotation, which rotating body ( 3 ) is connected to the detector ( 1 ) so as to be rotatable about an axis (a), in which method at least some of the pattern elements ( 5 , ..., 13 ) are focused by means of optical beams at least partly on detector elements ( 2 ), and positions (p) of the focused pattern elements ( 5 , ..., 13 ) are resolved by means of the detector elements ( 2 ) of one and the same detector ( 1 ), wherein effects of an eccentricity (e) of the pattern center ( 4 ) relative to the axis (a) on the determination of an angle of rotation are determined computationally from resolved positions (p) of at least one of the pattern elements ( 5 , .., 13 ), and wherein the angle of rotation (w) is accurately determined from resolved positions (p 1 , p 2 , p 3 ) of a plurality of pattern elements ( 5 , 6 , 7 ) arranged one behind the other, taking into account the effects determined.