Technology/Business Opportunity

Non-Confidential Description

University of California - Santa Cruz Campus

ENCODER FOR MEASURING BOTH INCREMENTAL AND ABSOLUTE POSITION
DESCRIPTION: Engineers at the University of California have developed a novel hybrid incremental/absolute position encoder which offers advantages over present positional encoders and improvements for large scale positional measurements. This hybrid encoder can be produced in a standard rotary or linear encoder package, and requires only three optical tracks. Its simple design provides both absolute and incremental position encoding of information, enabling the encoder to validate the position data and to self-diagnose malfunctions. These features are not available in present encoders.

Incremental encoders may intermittently generate position feedback errors when operated in electrically-noisy factory environments. These errors are difficult and costly to isolate from other error sources such as lost motion caused by backlash, flexure, slipped couplings, or dropped stepper motor steps. The hybrid encoder eliminates this ambiguity by detecting its own malfunctions via its built-in error detection and correction mechanisms.

The hybrid encoder design may also be used to measure the position and velocity of large moving structures. The accuracy of such measurements is often limited by the mechanical coupling between the position encoder and the moving surface. In such applications, the opto-mechanical components of the hybrid encoder can be integrated into the moving surface.

APPLICATIONS: General purpose position measurement and measurement of large systems such as telescope domes, hangar doors, antennas, conveyor belts, manufacturing equipment, and elevators.

PATENT STATUS:

INQUIRIES TO: Linda Stevenson, Prosecution Analyst
Tel: (510) 748-6600
Fax: (510) 748-6639
Email: linda.stevenson@ucop.edu

REFERENCE: UC Case 86-015