Patent ID: 8525102

Claim:
An encoder for use in an optical encoding system, comprising: an emitter configured to emit light; a detector configured to receive at least a portion of the light emitted by the emitter and convert the received light into one or more electrical signals which are used to generate three output channels, wherein the light used to generate the three output channels at least one of passed through and was reflected by a single optical track, wherein the detector comprises a sensor area that includes an array of incremental photodiodes and an index photodiode, wherein the array of incremental photodiodes comprises a first transitional portion that includes at least one photodiode of a first height, a second transitional portion that includes at least one photodiode of the first height, and a middle portion positioned between the first and second transitional portions, the middle portion including at least one photodiode of a second height that is larger than the first height, and wherein at least one of the first and second transitional portions is closer to the index photodiode than the middle portion.