Absolute position detection
First Claim
1. A measurement system for measuring the absolute position of a first object with respect to a second object along an axis of motion representing a direction of relative motion between the first object and the second object, the system comprising:
- a scalar element attached to the first object, the scalar element comprising a series of coded regions positioned along an axis of the scalar element, wherein the axis of the scalar element is parallel to the axis of motion, wherein;
each coded region of the series of coded regions comprises a respective pattern of a series of patterns,each pattern of the series of patterns is formed on and along a respective line perpendicular to the axis of motion, andvariation of each of the respective patterns on and along the respective lines encodes information that represents a number designating a position of the respective line along the axis of the scalar element;
a measuring device attached to the second object, the measuring device comprising a two-dimensional optical sensor array configured to capture an image of a portion of the scalar element, the image comprising a first pattern in one coded region of the series of coded regions; and
a processor configured to;
receive the image; and
determine an absolute position of the first object with respect to the second object based on the first pattern, wherein determining the absolute position includes determining an offset from an optical center of the measuring device based on a difference between (a) a pixel group of the respective pattern on and along the respective line and (b) a center of the image.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for determining the absolute position of a first object with respect to a second object includes a scalar element attached to the first object and a measuring device attached to the second object. The scalar element comprises a series of coded regions. The coded region represents a number designating a position along an axis of the scalar element. The measuring device includes a two-dimensional optical sensor array configured to capture an image of a portion of the scalar element. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the image and determine an absolute position of the first object with respect to the second object based on at least one coded region of the series of coded regions.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A measurement system for measuring the absolute position of a first object with respect to a second object along an axis of motion representing a direction of relative motion between the first object and the second object, the system comprising:
-
a scalar element attached to the first object, the scalar element comprising a series of coded regions positioned along an axis of the scalar element, wherein the axis of the scalar element is parallel to the axis of motion, wherein; each coded region of the series of coded regions comprises a respective pattern of a series of patterns, each pattern of the series of patterns is formed on and along a respective line perpendicular to the axis of motion, and variation of each of the respective patterns on and along the respective lines encodes information that represents a number designating a position of the respective line along the axis of the scalar element; a measuring device attached to the second object, the measuring device comprising a two-dimensional optical sensor array configured to capture an image of a portion of the scalar element, the image comprising a first pattern in one coded region of the series of coded regions; and a processor configured to; receive the image; and determine an absolute position of the first object with respect to the second object based on the first pattern, wherein determining the absolute position includes determining an offset from an optical center of the measuring device based on a difference between (a) a pixel group of the respective pattern on and along the respective line and (b) a center of the image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of determining absolute position of a first object with respect to a second object along an axis of motion representing a direction of relative motion between the first object and the second object, the method comprising:
-
acquiring an image of a portion of a scalar element attached to the first object using a measuring device attached to the second object, wherein; the scalar element comprises a series of coded regions positioned along an axis of the scalar element, wherein the axis of the scalar element is parallel to the axis of motion, each coded region of the series of coded regions comprises a respective pattern of a series of patterns, each pattern of the series of patterns is formed on and along a respective line perpendicular to the axis of motion, variation of each of the respective patterns on and along the respective lines encodes information that represents a number designating a position of the respective line pattern along the axis of the scalar element; and the measuring device comprises a two-dimensional optical sensor array configured to capture an image of a portion of the scalar element, the image comprising a first pattern in one coded region of the series of coded regions; performing image processing on the acquired image to obtain a representation of the one coded region; determining a number value represented by the representation of the one coded region, wherein the number value defines the absolute position of the first pattern along the axis of the scalar element based on the information encoded by the first pattern; determining the absolute position of the first object with respect to the second object along the scalar element based on the number value, wherein determining the absolute position includes determining an offset from an optical center of the measuring device based on a difference between (a) a pixel group of the respective pattern on and along the respective line and (b) a center of the image. - View Dependent Claims (12)
-
Specification