Linear encoder device and reference position detection method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9518842-B2
Application number	US-201414786265-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2014
Priority date	May 9, 2013
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

A linear encoder device ( 60 ) includes: a synchronization signal generation unit ( 83 ) configured to generate a periodic synchronization signal synchronized with a movement distance when a first sensor ( 66 ) installed to face a linear scale ( 61 ) is moved along the linear scale ( 61 ) based on a signal output by the first sensor ( 66 ); a reference signal generation unit ( 82 ) configured to generate a pulse signal indicating that the reference mark is detected based on a signal output by a second sensor ( 67 ) installed along with the first sensor ( 66 ); and a reference position detection unit ( 84 ) configured to generate a reference position signal indicating that a reference position decided in advance is detected when the synchronization signal is changed to a predetermined value after the reference signal generation unit ( 82 ) generates the pulse signal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A linear encoder device that includes a linear scale and a reference mark, the linear encoder device comprising:
a synchronization signal generation unit configured to generate a pulse in a synchronization signal, wherein the pulse is synchronized with a movement distance when a first sensor installed to face the linear scale is moved along the linear scale based on a signal output by the first sensor;
a reference signal generation unit configured to generate a reference signal indicating that the reference mark is detected based on a signal output by a second sensor installed along with the first sensor; and
a reference position detection unit configured to set an internal signal when the reference signal generation unit generates the reference signal, generate a reference position signal indicating that a reference position decided in advance is detected when the pulse is generated in the synchronization signal while the internal signal is set, and reset the internal signal in accordance with an end of the pulse of the synchronization signal.

2. The linear encoder device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the linear scale is a magnetic scale magnetized so that N and S poles are alternately arranged at equal intervals,
wherein the synchronization signal generation unit generates a pulse at a time of a change in a polarity on a surface of the magnetic scale faced by the first sensor in the synchronization signal based on a signal output from the first sensor.

3. The linear encoder device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the reference position detection unit changes an internal signal from an L level to an H level when the reference signal generation unit generates the reference signal, and changes the internal signal from the H level to the L level after an end of the pulse is detected in the synchronization signal, and
wherein a result of a logical operation of the synchronization signal and the internal signal is output as the reference position signal.

4. A reference position detection method performed by a linear encoder device including a linear scale, a reference mark, a synchronization signal generation unit configured to generate a pulse in a synchronization signal, wherein the pulse is synchronized with a movement distance when a first sensor installed to face the linear scale is moved along the linear scale based on a signal output by the first sensor, and a reference signal generation unit configured to generate a reference signal indicating that the reference mark is detected based on a signal output by a second sensor installed along with the first sensor, the reference position detection method comprising:
a reference position detection step of setting an internal signal when the reference signal generation unit generates the reference signal, generating a reference position signal indicating that a reference position decided in advance is detected when the pulse is generated while the internal signal is set, and resetting the internal signal in accordance with an end of the pulse of the synchronization signal.

Assignees

• Thk Co Ltd

Inventors

• MORIYUKI Yoshinobu
• Kaneshige Hiroshi

Classifications

• G01D5/165 Primary

  by relative movement of a point of contact {or actuation} and a resistive track · CPC title

• G01D5/244

  influencing characteristics of pulses or pulse trains; generating pulses or pulse trains · CPC title

• G01D5/2457 Primary

  Incremental encoders having reference marks · CPC title