Auto-Focusing Positioning via Clock Cycle Counting

The patent divides the positioning process into two distinct phases: a first phase where the sensor moves past the target location to detect transitions and count clock cycles, and a second phase where the sensor reverses direction and stops when the predetermined clock cycle count is reached. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both high speed (by moving continuously without intermediate stops) and high accuracy (by using precise clock cycle counting to determine when to stop), directly resolving the contradiction between positioning speed and positioning accuracy.

The patent employs feedback through clock cycle counting to precisely determine the target location. As the sensor moves at constant speed past the target location, transitions are detected and each transition triggers a clock cycle count. The system counts clock cycles until a predetermined number is reached, providing feedback that enables accurate determination of the target location even while moving continuously. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain high positioning speed while achieving high target location detection precision.