Optical Encoder Alignment Angle for Compact Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical encoders face challenges in achieving high resolution and reliable operation while being easy to install and having robustness against positional deviations.
Innovation Solution
The optical encoder is designed with an alignment angle between the emission axis and the reception axis ranging from 30 degrees to 150 degrees, allowing for flexible arrangement and a compact configuration. This design enables a simple installation and the use of a code carrier with high spatial density and accuracy, ensuring robustness against positional deviations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the emission axis and reception axis are aligned at 0 degrees (transmitting encoder configuration), then the robustness against positional deviations is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for precise alignment and larger component spacing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the alignment angle parameter from the conventional 0 degrees to between 30 and 150 degrees. This parameter change allows the system to achieve both compact configuration and simplified installation while maintaining measurement reliability through the specific angular range that balances robustness and space efficiency
2Device complexity
If the emission axis and reception axis are aligned at approximately 180 degrees (reflective encoder configuration), then the device complexity is reduced with simpler design, but the robustness against positional deviations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the alignment angle from the conventional 180 degrees to a range of 30-150 degrees. This adjustment maintains the simpler reflective encoder design while improving robustness against positional deviations by optimizing the angular relationship between emission and reception axes
3Measurement precision
If the emission axis and reception axis are aligned at 0 degrees, then the measurement precision can be improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult installation and alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the alignment angle parameter to 30-150 degrees, which simplifies installation and alignment operations while preserving measurement precision through the optimized angular configuration that maintains adequate optical path geometry
4Ease of operation
If the emission axis and reception axis are aligned at approximately 180 degrees, then the ease of operation is improved with simpler installation, but the measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the alignment angle to 30-150 degrees, balancing installation simplicity with measurement precision by avoiding the extremes of 0 and 180 degrees while maintaining adequate optical geometry for accurate position detection
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The optical encoder achieves high resolution and reliable operation with improved installation ease and robustness against positional deviations, allowing for flexible arrangement and compact configuration.
Implementation Method 1
the reflector has at least one reflection section that deflects the electromagnetic radiation along a reception axis in the direction of the receiver
Implementation Method 2
the code carrier is movably supported and has a sequence of code sections that interrupt the emitted electromagnetic radiation or allow the emitted electromagnetic radiation to impinge on the receiver
Implementation Method 3
The receiver is sensitive to the emitted electromagnetic radiation and converts the electromagnetic radiation received into electrical signals
Data Source
AI summary
An optical encoder comprises an emitter; a receiver; a reflector; and a code carrier, wherein the emitter emits electromagnetic radiation along an emission axis in the direction of the reflector and the reflector deflects the electromagnetic radiation along a reception axis in the direction of the receiver. The code carrier is movably supported and has a sequence of code sections to interrupt or to give way for the emitted electromagnetic radiation to impinge on the detector in dependence on the position of the code carrier, wherein the emission axis and the reception axis extend at an alignment angle with respect to one another that has a value in the range from 30 degrees to 150 degrees.