Segment counter, linear encoder, process and linear drive

Abstract

Segment counter for counting the number of track segments crossed along a route, wherein the segment counter comprises five pulse wires and permanent magnets arranged movably relative to these, which are arranged linearly along the route at regular intervals from each other, wherein the impulse wires are arranged linearly apart from each other, wherein the signals from the impulse wires are fed to an electronic circuit to determine the number of track sections crossed, including means for detecting the direction of movement during movement along the route, wherein only a single north pole of a permanent magnet is effective for triggering a pulse wire and a south pole is effective for resetting the magnetization of each pulse wire when traversing a full track period length p, where each track section is assigned such a north pole and such a south pole, meaning there are only two magnets per track period, where the distance, i.e. the segment length s, between two impulse wires is one fifth of the path period length p.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a segment counter, a linear encoder, a method and a linear drive.

[0002] Unipolar and bipolar sensors are known from DE 44 07 474 C1. Unipolar pulse wires have the property of emitting a voltage pulse when an external magnetic flux density is exceeded. However, a repeated voltage pulse is only possible if a sufficient flux density has previously been applied in the opposite direction. Unipolar pulse wires therefore have two states: In the untensioned state, if an impulse has already been generated by a north pole, a further impulse is only possible when the impulse wire is tensioned again, ie a sufficiently negative flux density is present.

[0003] In the tensioned state, a pulse can be triggered if the external flux density assumes a sufficiently positive value.

[0004] A voltage pulse is only generated during the transition from the tensioned to the untensioned state.

[0005] DE 44 07 474 C1 also discloses a revolution counter which, with the aid of Wiegand wires and a non-volatile memory, is able to detect the number of revolutions of a shaft independently of an external power supply.

[0006] However, the embodiments described in DE 44 07 474 C1 have considerable disadvantages for technical implementation: Firstly, all the embodiments described that are capable of adjusting the rotation direction depending on the

[0007] To count revolutions, a magnetic pole wheel with more than one north or south pole on its circumference, each with sufficient field strength to activate or trigger the pulse wires, is required. This requirement means that, in technical implementations, multiple magnets must be applied to the pole wheel. Since this application is a relatively complex process step, it is relatively labor-intensive and therefore expensive.

[0008] Another significant disadvantage is that DE 44 07 474 C1 does not disclose or provide the person skilled in the art with any information on how a combined forward and backward counting could be carried out using unipolar pulse wires and only a single magnet arranged to rotate thereon.

[0009] DE 44 07 474 C1 therefore only discloses a combined up and down counter if a) either stationary unipolar pulse counters and at least 3 magnetic rotating poles with sufficient field strength are provided, b) or stationary bipolar pulse wires and a rotating north pole and a rotating south pole are used.

[0010] In order to obtain non-volatile information about the rotation speed from the signals generated by the Wiegand wires, this design requires a sequential algorithm running over seven steps, as well as the processing and updating of three state variables: the counter reading, the last rotation state, and the rotation direction state. This process must be implemented using the extremely low energy of the pulse of the pulse wire. Since the typical pulse length of a pulse wire is only 10 µs, the implementation of algorithms with multiple steps is either impossible or only possible with considerable effort, for example, by keeping the step speed low through additional technical measures.

[0011] In addition, a complex pulse cancellation circuit is required.

[0012] Furthermore, the revolution counter can only be operated in conjunction with a fine angle sensor, since otherwise the correct number of revolutions N' cannot be calculated from the counter value N.

[0013] From the website www.linmot.com / linmot / linear_motors.htm a linear motor with an electric lifting cylinder is known, which includes areas with different magnetization directions in the axial direction.

[0014] An incremental position sensor is known from DE 30 08 582 A1, which, however, does not include detection of the direction of rotation.

[0015] From DE 42 24 129 A1, an inductive, rotary pulse encoder is known, which, however, requires a large number of Wiegand wires per magnetic period length in the circumferential direction. Fig. 2, it is clear that during rapid movement, a three-phase current is essentially generated by the pulse wires connected via diodes. This phase position contains information about the position and direction of rotation. However, the system functions poorly when the relative speed decreases. Especially when the direction of rotation changes, the angle information is inaccurate. This is especially true when, for example, the direction of rotation is repeated several times with very small angle values.

[0016] EP 0 343 373 A1 discloses a method for monitoring pulse wire sensors of a revolution encoder for sensor line short circuits.

[0017] A position detector with pulse wire is known from DE 20 2004 000 413 U1.

[0018] A position detector is also known from DE 102 59 223 B3, where FRAM or EEPROM is used.

[0019] The present invention is therefore based on the object of developing a method for determining the number of revolutions which requires a minimum of process steps for processing after the triggering of a pulse by a pulse wire.

[0020] The invention is therefore based on the object of developing a direction-dependent linear encoder which can be manufactured with less effort and at lower costs.

[0021] According to the invention, the object is achieved in the segment counter according to the features specified in claim 1, 2 or 3, in the linear encoder according to the features specified in claim 17 and in the method according to the features specified in claim 19 or 20 and in the linear drive according to the features specified in claim 28.

[0022] Essential features of the invention are that segment counters for counting the number of exceeded route sections, wherein it comprises five impulse wires, in particular Wiegand wires, and permanent magnets arranged to be movable relative to these, which are arranged linearly along the path at regular intervals from one another, wherein the pulse wires are arranged linearly spaced from each other, whereby the signals of the pulse wires can be fed to an electronic circuit for determining the number of track sections exceeded, wherein means for direction detection are provided, wherein only a single north pole of a permanent magnet is effective for triggering and at least one south pole, in particular a single south pole, is effective for resetting each pulse wire when traveling through a full track period length, whereby each section of the route is assigned one such north pole and one or more such south poles.

[0023] The advantage is that only two permanent magnets are required per track period, allowing for an extremely low moment of inertia. This reduces costs or increases the dynamics of the system—depending on the selected moving component. Furthermore, manufacturing effort and costs are reduced because only two permanent magnets need to be installed along the track.

[0024] Advantageously, no complex pulse cancellation circuit is required, and the segment counter can be provided even without a connected high-resolution linear encoder. This allows the correct number of traveled segments to be determined.

[0025] Another significant advantage is that counting dependent on the direction of rotation is possible with only five pulse wires. In particular, even when the direction of rotation changes, the direction of rotation is correctly detected and the number of segments crossed is correctly counted, specifically the number of segments crossed backwards subtracted from the number of segments crossed forwards. Only one north pole and one south pole are required per track period.

[0026] Alternatively, the counter is characterized in that it comprises three pulse wires, in particular Wiegand wires, and relative to these, movably arranged permanent magnet north poles, which are arranged linearly along the track, regularly spaced from each other, where at least one south pole is located in front of and behind each north pole, wherein the pulse wires are arranged linearly spaced from each other, whereby the signals of the pulse wires can be fed to an electronic circuit for determining the number of track sections exceeded, wherein means are provided for direction detection, wherein only a single north pole of a permanent magnet is effective for triggering and at least two south poles are effective for resetting each pulse wire when traveling through a full track period length, whereby each section is assigned one such north pole and at least two such south poles.

[0027] A key advantage is that the minimum number of pulse wires required can even be reduced to three, provided that each north pole is assigned a south pole.

[0028] In an advantageous embodiment, the distance in the track direction between the two south poles surrounding the respective north pole assigned to the respective track section is smaller than the smallest distance between two adjacent pulse wires. This advantageously allows for a low error rate.

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment, the electronic circuit can be powered from the signals when determining the revolutions. This is advantageous because no power supply circuit is required, in particular no battery or other energy storage device capable of supplying electrical energy.

[0030] In an advantageous embodiment, the permanent magnet(s) are oriented perpendicular to the direction of movement. This is advantageous because it is easy to position during manufacturing.

[0031] In an advantageous embodiment, each segment is assigned one of the impulse wires. In particular, the segments each comprise a track section of approximately the same size. This is advantageous because each segment can be assigned a segment length. With a number of five or more segments, even detection of the direction of movement and thus determination of the correct number of track sections is possible if only two oppositely magnetized magnets are used per track section.

[0032] In an advantageous embodiment, data can be exchanged with the electronic circuit via a connected bus system. This has the advantage that the information about the number can be sent to any bus participant, for example, a converter that uses the information to control a linear motor.

[0033] Preferably, the electronic circuit can be supplied from the pulse wires, at least during the counting process.

[0034] Key features of the linear encoder include a segment counter of the aforementioned type. Optionally, it also includes a high-resolution linear encoder for determining the precise relative position. The advantage of this is that a sensor can be manufactured that does not require a battery and can still count the correct distance segments traveled, thus determining the absolute position or the distance traveled over the entire service life.

[0035] Essential features of the method are that the method for counting the number of exceeded segments is provided in a device which comprises five pulse wires, in particular Wiegand wires, and permanent magnets which are arranged to be movable relative to these wires and which are arranged linearly along the route at regular intervals from one another, wherein the pulse wires are arranged linearly spaced from each other, the signals of the pulse wires are fed to an electronic circuit to determine the number of sections exceeded, the direction is taken into account, with only a single north pole of a permanent magnet being effective for triggering and at least one south pole, in particular a single south pole, being effective for resetting each pulse wire when traveling through a full track period length, whereby each section of the route is assigned one such north pole and one or more such south poles.

[0036] Alternatively, the method is applied to a device comprising three pulse wires, in particular Wiegand wires, and permanent magnet north poles which are arranged to be movable relative to these and which are arranged linearly along the path at regular intervals from one another. where at least one south pole is located in front of and behind each north pole, wherein the pulse wires are arranged linearly spaced from each other, wherein the signals of the pulse wires are fed to an electronic circuit for determining the number of track sections exceeded, taking the direction into account, with only a single north pole of a permanent magnet being effective for triggering and at least two south poles being effective for resetting each pulse wire when passing through a full track period length, whereby each section is assigned one such north pole and at least two such south poles.

[0037] Advantageously, the number is always correct, even with frequent changes in direction of rotation, especially with small angular values. This is especially true for slow relative speeds.

[0038] It is also essential for the invention that magnetic periods are counted correctly.

[0039] In an advantageous embodiment, the counting process is implemented by a single transfer of a value into a register. The advantage here is that the counting can be performed in just one machine logic, in particular, for example, in just one clock cycle. This is a crucial and surprising advantage because it allows the new count value to be determined and stored in the very short time in which the electronic circuit can be supplied with the pulse energy from the pulse wires. The typical length of the pulses from pulse wires, for example, is only 10 µs. The algorithm is therefore so fast that it can be executed within such short or even shorter time periods.

[0040] In an advantageous embodiment, only one register is used to determine the number of traveled sections. This allows for the use of a very simple microchip and allows the single register to be written to in just one machine cycle. In contrast, using multiple registers would require several machine cycles to process the determination and storage of the counter reading.

[0041] In an advantageous embodiment, the unsigned modulo K value is formed from the counter reading Z stored in the register during the counting process, where K is the number of pulse wires. The advantage here is that the modulo formation is very simple, fast, and can be implemented with low energy consumption.

[0042] In an advantageous embodiment, the difference S is calculated from the input signal N formed by the pulse wires and the unsigned modulo K value. In particular, at least one tuple formed from an addition value and a new direction of movement value is assigned to a tuple formed from at least the difference S and the direction of movement D stored in the register. The advantage here is that only a few computational steps are required, but rather a table can be used. Thus, the energy consumption when executing the method is very low, and the result is available very quickly, in particular within a few µs or less.

[0043] In an advantageous embodiment, the new movement direction value and a sum formed from the addition value A and the counter reading Z stored in the register are fed to the register for storage as the new counter reading. The advantage here is that this can be carried out within a short period of time, i.e., one machine cycle. In an advantageous embodiment, the method is implemented as hardware and / or software in an electronic circuit of a segment counter or another device. The advantage here is that the method can be integrated into a PC or a device comprising a microcontroller.

[0044] Key features of the linear drive are that it comprises an electric lifting cylinder that comprises permanent magnets arranged linearly one after the other, which are alternately magnetized differently, wherein the electric lifting cylinder is not only intended to generate driving force, but is also comprised of a segment counter for determining the linear position.

[0045] Thus, the lifting cylinder is both part of the force generation chain and the basis for position measurement. Therefore, no additional sensor component is required in the segment counter. Only a small circuit board with Wiegand sensors needs to be attached to the part of the linear motor that is movable relative to the electric lifting cylinder. Since the number of Wiegand sensors is extremely small, the manufacturing costs for the drive are also low.

[0046] Further advantages arise from the subclaims.

[0047] The invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of illustrations: In the Fig. Figure 1 shows a pulse wire arrangement according to the invention for a revolution counter. The tensioned pulse wires (1, 2) are symbolized by an arrow within a rectangle, and the non-tensioned pulse wires (0, 3, 4) are symbolized by a triangle.

[0048] The Fig. The states of the impulse wires entered in Figure 1 result in a mathematically positive sense after at most one revolution of the magnet.

[0049] Advantageously, the pulse wires, such as Wiegand wires, can be mounted on a circuit board. A permanent magnet is arranged so that it can rotate relative to the pulse wires (0, 1, 2, 3, 4), which, when rotated, can trigger the tensioning and release. The pulse wires, i.e., pulse sensors, are unipolar sensors.

[0050] In further embodiments according to the invention, more than 5 pulse wires can be used instead of the 5 shown, or even fewer than 5. If the number is K, the pulse wires are arranged in a circle around the rotating magnet, with their spacing being approximately 360° / K. With fewer than 5 pulse wires, however, at least 2 south poles must be arranged effectively for resetting on the pole wheel, i.e., at one revolution.

[0051] In the case K= 5 and in the Fig. In the position shown in figure 1, the segment counter Z is initialized with the number 0 and the direction of rotation D with 1 (=upwards).

[0052] The segment counting process is as follows. Each pulse wire is assigned a number. The assignment begins with the number 0 for the pulse wire positioned at an angle of 0° and proceeds in ascending order with the angle up to the number K-1. If a pulse wire triggers a pulse, its number N serves as the input signal for the segment counting.

[0053] The logical structure of the segment counter consisting of the states Z and D as well as the input signal N and is in Fig. 2 shown.

[0054] The present invention eliminates the need for a complex pulse cancellation circuit. Furthermore, a fine angle sensor is not required, since the correct rotation speed N' can be determined from the measurement results described.

[0055] In particular, no revolution counter is used to determine multiple revolutions, in which the information about whole revolutions is stored in a counter, but the information is stored in an angle section counter, i.e. a segment counter.

[0056] The method according to the invention is explained in more detail below: A pulse wire is a sensor element capable of generating a voltage pulse of approximately 3 V and a duration of approximately 10 µs. This pulse can be used not only as an information source but also as an energy source. A pulse wire delivers this voltage pulse as soon as the external magnetic flux density aligned parallel to the sensor element exceeds a threshold value—in this case, caused, for example, by the north pole passing by the pulse wire.

[0057] A prerequisite for triggering the pulse is that the pulse wire was previously magnetically tensioned; ie, a magnetic flux density above a minimum value was applied antiparallel to the sensor element; in the present invention, this is achieved, for example, by the south pole passing the pulse wire.

[0058] Fig. 2 shows the automaton logic of the segment counter.

[0059] A particularly simple implementation can be derived if the segment counter reading is stored in a K number system, i.e., for K=5, in a five number system.

[0060] In this case, the modulo operation is trivial, since one simply needs to use the least significant digit of the number representation.

[0061] The subsequent calculation of the difference between two numbers in the value range from 0 to K-1 with a result in the same value range can be realized as a simple table.

[0062] Likewise, the subsequent table operation in which the addition value A and the future direction of rotation D+ are determined from the difference result S and the current direction of rotation D.

[0063] The future segment counter value Z+ is formed from the current value Z added with the signed addition value A.

[0064] The values ​​D+ and Z+ can therefore be determined solely from logical 'AND' and 'OR' operations of the values ​​D, Z, and N. As soon as a pulse is applied from a pulse wire, valid values ​​for D+ and Z+ are available after the gate delay has elapsed. If a clock signal is generated after this gate delay, a new valid segment counter reading is obtained in just a single step.

[0065] In contrast to the state of the art, in particular DE 44 07 474 C1, in the implementation shown it is also not necessary to delete the applied pulse energy after calculating a new counter reading.

[0066] Even if additional clock signals are generated with the present invention during continuous pulse energy, the segment counter reading remains stable. This feature significantly reduces circuit complexity. Furthermore, reliability is increased, as reliable pulse cancellation is virtually impossible. This is because a voltage is required to drive the cancellation transistor, which in turn must be dissipated by a cancellation transistor. Complete cancellation is therefore not possible.

[0067] In Fig. 2 also implements error detection. If the combinations (S = 4, D = 1) or (S = 1, D = 0) are present at the inputs, it is clear that an error has occurred. These combinations cannot occur with functioning components.

[0068] In addition, the method performs error detection, particularly for detecting the failure of a pulse wire, without requiring any significant additional effort. This is because only one or more tuples formed from at least the difference S and the direction of rotation D stored in the register need trigger the generation of an error signal. The error is then transmitted and indicated by means of optical, electrical, or acoustic display.

[0069] An implementation of the segment counter according to the invention shows Fig. 3.

[0070] The solution presented therefore has the following differences from the state of the art, in particular from DE 44 07 474 C1: 1) The segment counter according to the invention does not consist of a non-volatile expensive memory which has several addresses (for direction bit, old state and counter value) and sequential operation of extracting a value, processing the value and storing the value. 2) According to the invention, a simple register consisting of non-volatile flip-flops is provided. 3) According to the invention, the segment counter provided can be operated independently of a fine angle sensor and can be used as a position sensor with low resolution. 4) The control circuit (19) contained in the counting circuit (13) of DE 44 07 474 C1, which provides for clocked sequential processing, is omitted and replaced in the invention by a simple, non-clocked counting logic, thereby increasing the processing speed of the invention. The invention requires only a clock generator with a pulse that activates the register output upon return of VCC (rising edge of the clock signal) and, after the gate delay of the counting logic has elapsed, allows the register to accept the new input value (falling edge of the clock signal).

[0071] Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 4. It shows a variant of the counting method according to the invention for K=3. This variant has the advantage of requiring only three pulse wires, but the disadvantage of a more complex pole wheel construction with three magnets arranged one behind the other at a small angular distance. The angular distance is smaller than the angular value attributable to the smallest segment.

[0072] Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b. Instead of the Fig. In contrast to the radial arrangement shown in Figure 1 between the pulse wire and the magnetic pole wheel, an axial arrangement is implemented there.

[0073] The Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b shows a sectional view for the respective axial arrangement of pulse wire and magnet.

[0074] The rotatably arranged magnet in the embodiment according to Fig. 5a is in the embodiment according to Fig. 5b as a pair of magnets with the same orientation direction.

[0075] In a further embodiment according to the invention, the described arrangement is analogously implemented in a linear arrangement. In this case, the segments or angular sections are no longer angular ranges, but rather line segments, i.e., line sections. Angular values ​​are then lines, and angular distances are merely distances. Instead of an additional fine rotation angle sensor, a fine-resolution linear sensor can then be used.

[0076] The Fig. 1, Fig. 4, Fig. 5a, Fig. The rotary arrangement described in Figure 5b must be continued periodically in the linear embodiment. The number of revolutions derived from the pulses in the rotary case is converted into the number of traveled distance periods in the linear case. One distance period p corresponds to K segments. Therefore, p = K x s, where s is the segment length.

[0077] In the Fig. 6 shows a first linear embodiment according to the invention with K = 5. Only two magnets per track period are necessary.

[0078] In the Fig. Figure 7 shows a first linear embodiment according to the invention. With K = 3, three magnets are required per track period.

[0079] The arrangement can be arranged as shown in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, or executed one above the other.

[0080] Fig. Figure 8 shows an exemplary arrangement of the permanent magnets for the embodiment with K = 5. They are arranged there as a rod magnetized differently in the axial direction.

[0081] Thus, the invention also relates to linear drives comprising a linear motor with permanent magnets arranged linearly one behind the other, each of which is alternately magnetized differently. For example, a linear motor with an electric lifting cylinder can also be used, so that the electric lifting cylinder not only serves to generate the drive force but also simultaneously interacts with the segment counter to determine the linear position. List of reference symbols 0 impulse wire 1 impulse wire 2 impulse wire 3 impulse wire 4 impulse wire Z Meter reading D Direction of rotation A Addition value K Number of impulse wires S Sum D+ new direction of rotation value Z+ new meter reading N signal of the pulse wires

Claims

[1] Segment counter for counting the number of exceeded sections along a route, wherein the segment counter comprises five pulse wires and permanent magnets arranged to be movable relative to these, which are arranged linearly along the path at regular intervals from one another, wherein the pulse wires are arranged linearly spaced from each other, the signals of the pulse wires are fed to an electronic circuit to determine the number of sections exceeded, means for detecting the direction of movement when moving along the route are provided, where only a single north pole of a permanent magnet is effective for triggering a pulse wire and a south pole is effective for resetting the magnetization of each pulse wire when traveling through a full track period length p, where each section is assigned such a north pole and such a south pole, i.e. there are only two magnets per section period, where the distance, i.e. the segment length s, between two pulse wires is one fifth of the path period length p. [2] Segment counter for counting the number of exceeded route sections, wherein the segment counter comprises three pulse wires and relative to these, movable permanent magnet north poles, which are arranged linearly along the track, regularly spaced from each other, where at least one south pole is located in front of and behind each north pole along the route, wherein the pulse wires are arranged linearly spaced from each other, the signals of the pulse wires are fed to an electronic circuit for counting the number of sections crossed, wherein means are provided for detecting the direction of movement of the permanent magnet north poles arranged to be movable relative to the pulse wires during movement along the track, where only a single north pole of a permanent magnet is effective for triggering a signal of a pulse wire and at least two south poles are effective for resetting the magnetization of each pulse wire when traveling through a full track period length, each section being assigned one such north pole and at least two such south poles, whereby the distance in the track direction between the two south poles surrounding the respective north pole assigned to the respective track section is smaller than the smallest distance between two adjacent pulse wires. [3] Segment counter for counting the number of exceeded sections along a route, wherein the segment counter comprises five pulse wires and permanent magnets arranged to be movable relative to these, which are arranged linearly along the path at regular intervals from one another, wherein the pulse wires are arranged linearly spaced from each other, the signals of the pulse wires are fed to an electronic circuit to determine the number of sections exceeded, means for detecting the direction of movement when moving along the route are provided, where only a single north pole of a permanent magnet is effective for triggering a pulse wire and at least one south pole is effective for resetting the magnetization of each pulse wire when traveling through a full track period length p, each section being assigned one such north pole and one or more such south poles, wherein the electronic circuit is designed in such a way that during the counting process the unsigned modulo K value is formed from the counter reading Z stored in the register, where K is the number of pulse wires. [4] Segment counter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that when counting the number of route sections exceeded, a single value is transferred into a register. [5] Segment counter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the impulse wires are unipolar. [6] Segment counter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the pulse wires provide a voltage to supply the electronic circuit. [7] Segment counter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the polarization axes of the permanent magnets are oriented perpendicular to their direction of movement. [8] Segment counter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that each section of the track is assigned one of the impulse wires. [9] Segment counter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the route sections each cover approximately the same length. [10] Segment counter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that data can be exchanged with the electronic circuit via a connected bus system. [11] Segment counter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the electronic circuit can be supplied with voltage from the pulse wires, at least during the counting process. [12] Segment counter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that only one register is provided for determining the number of exceeded route sections. [13] Segment counter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the electronic circuit is designed in such a way that during the counting process the unsigned modulo K value is formed from the counter reading Z stored in the register, where K is the number of pulse wires. [14] Segment counter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the electronic circuit comprises means for forming the difference S between the input signal N formed from the pulse wires and the unsigned modulo K value. [15] Segment counter according to claim 14, characterized by that the electronic circuit comprises means for assignment which assigns to a tuple formed at least from difference S and the direction of movement D stored in the register at least one tuple which is formed from a predetermined addition value and a movement direction value newly determined after the arrival of the next signal from a pulse wire. [16] Segment counter according to the preceding claim, characterized bythat the electronic circuit comprises means for calculating the sum of the addition value A and the counter reading Z stored in the register, wherein the sum thus calculated and the new movement direction value can be fed to the register for storage. [17] Linear encoder, characterized by that it comprises a segment counter according to one of the preceding claims. [18] Linear encoder according to the preceding claim, characterized by that it includes the segment counter and another linear encoder with a finer resolution. [19] Method for counting the number of exceeded segments in a device comprising five pulse wires and permanent magnets arranged to be movable relative to them, which are arranged linearly and regularly spaced from one another along the path, wherein the pulse wires are arranged linearly spaced from each other, the signals of the pulse wires are fed to an electronic circuit for counting the number of sections crossed, taking into account the direction of movement when moving along the route, where only a single north pole of a permanent magnet is effective for triggering a pulse wire and a south pole is effective for resetting the magnetization of each pulse wire when traveling through a full track period length p, where each section is assigned such a north pole and such a south pole, i.e. there are only two magnets per section period, where the distance, i.e. the segment length s, between two pulse wires is one fifth of the path period length p. [20] Method for counting the number of exceeded segments in a device comprising three pulse wires and permanent magnet north poles which are arranged to be movable relative to these and which are arranged linearly and regularly spaced from one another along the path, where at least one south pole is located in front of and behind each north pole along the route, wherein the pulse wires are arranged linearly spaced from each other, the signals of the pulse wires are fed to an electronic circuit for counting the number of sections crossed, taking into account the direction of movement, with only a single north pole of a permanent magnet being effective to trigger a signal of a pulse wire and at least two south poles are effective for resetting the magnetization of each pulse wire when traveling through a full track period length, each section being assigned one such north pole and at least two such south poles, whereby the distance in the track direction between the two south poles surrounding the respective north pole assigned to the respective track section is smaller than the smallest distance between two adjacent pulse wires. [21] Method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized by that the counting of the number of exceeded route sections is realized by a single transfer of a value into a register. [22] Method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized by that only one register is used when determining the number of track period lengths traveled. [23] Method according to one of claims 21 or 22 characterized by that during the counting process the unsigned modulo K value is formed from the counter value Z stored in the register, where K is the number of pulse wires. [24] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the difference S is formed from the input signal N formed from the pulse wires and the unsigned modulo K value. [25] Method according to claim 24, characterized by that at least one tuple formed from a predetermined addition value and a movement direction value newly determined after the arrival of the next signal from a pulse wire is assigned to a tuple formed at least from the difference S and the movement direction D stored in the register. [26] Method according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the new movement direction value and a sum which is formed from the addition value A and the counter reading Z stored in the register are fed to the register for storage as a new counter reading. [27] Method according to one of claims 19 to 26, characterized bythat the method is implemented as hardware and / or software in an electronic circuit of a segment counter according to one of claims 1 to 16. [28] Linear drive, comprising an electric lifting cylinder comprising permanent magnets arranged linearly one behind the other, which are alternately magnetized differently, wherein the electric lifting cylinder is not only provided for generating driving force, but is also comprised of a segment counter for determining the linear position according to one of claims 1 to 16.

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