FR2619660A2 - Incremental or absolute coder apparatus for the conversion of a displacement of the encoder disc into directly utilisable information - Google Patents

Abstract

Incremental or absolute coder apparatus for the conversion of a displacement of the encoder disc into directly utilisable information. It consists of, firstly, a sufficiently powerful light source 1, then of a moving support including on its surface a succession of absorbent zones and of reflecting zones 5, and, finally, of an electronic circuit 3 including optical sensors 2. It is intended to allow, through a physical displacement, a conversion into a binary value which can be understood directly by a computer or the like and whose object is a functional modification remedying the problems of scatter of the characteristics of optoelectronic components such as emissive diodes or sensors.

Description

 The subject of the invention relates to a first certificate of addition to French patent N 8611242 concerning an incremental or absolute encoder device for converting a displacement of the encoder disc into directly exploitable information.

 It is intended to allow, by a physical displacement, a conversion into a binary value directly understandable by a computer or similar and has for its object a functional modification remedying the problems of dispersion of the characteristics of optoelectronic components such as emissive diodes or sensors .

 The object of the invention consists, on the one hand, in the use of a light source sufficiently powerful to saturate optical sensors and, on the other hand, in an electronic process slaving these sensors so as to automatically adjust the gain below the saturation threshold.

 From the process described above, it can be concluded that the source no longer plays a critical role in detecting movement.

 This device is made up, first, of a sufficiently powerful light source, then by a mobile support comprising on its surface a succession of absorbing zones and reflecting zones, and finally, by an electronic circuit comprising the optical sensors as well as their treatment analog and logic.

 This device then makes it possible to quantify any movement applied to the mobile support. The dimension to be respected being the minimum quantity of light energy resulting from the reflection of the rays coming from the emitting diodes on the areas of the mobile support necessary to saturate the sensors.

In the appended drawings given by way of nonlimiting example of one of the embodiments of the subject of the invention:
Figure 1 shows the positioning of the elements
Figure 2 is a sectional view on a different scale, of an apparatus on which the device can be applied.

The emitting diodes 1 are polarized so as to obtain a light source sufficiently powerful to saturate the sensors 2 installed on the electronic circuit 3 serving
I of basic support.

 The electronic circuit 3 incorporates an automatic biasing method of the sensors 2 which makes it possible to adjust their gain below the saturation threshold. This circuit also makes it possible to process the signals obtained so as to make them compatible with the system bus of any microprocessor.

The encoder disc 5 thus becomes a composite surface.
of a succession of reflective zones and absorbed zones
bantes. Thus the upper wall 4 of the casing no longer plays a
reflective role.

The other elements described on the original patent
such as cowlings 16, micro electronic circuits and the like,
being unchanged.

Claims (2)

 10 Incremental or absolute encoder device allowing the conversion of a displacement of a digital informative disc directly exploitable by a computer or similar, with electronic interface incorporated in the mechanical components and a printed circuit with self-alignment of the light transmitters and receivers, having for object, in order to remedy the problems of dispersion of the characteristics of opto-electronic components, to achieve the polarization of the emitting diodes so as to obtain a light source sufficiently powerful to saturate the sensors, transform the encoder disc (5) into a succession of zones absorbent and reflective, making the reflective effect of the upper casing unnecessary, a source of inaccuracy  signal transmissions, characterized in that the emitting diodes (1) are polarized so as to obtain a light source sufficiently powerful to saturate the sensors (2), at the same time as the electronic circuit (3) incorporates on the one hand an automatic polarization process of the sensors (2) which makes it possible to adjust their gain below the saturation threshold on the other hand, the interface necessary for the logical and analog processing of the signals so as to make them compatible with the bus-system of any microprocessor.  20 Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the encoder disc (3) becomes a surface composed of a succession of reflecting zones and absorbing zones eliminating the reflecting function of the casing (4).