Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
An optical encoder including a first diffraction grating and a second diffraction grating which is displaceable relative to said first diffraction grating, said encoder being capable of detecting said relative displacement. the improvement being characterized in that said second diffraction grating has a grating pattern which removes a component having a period which is a factor of 1/n (n: a positive odd number) of the period of a displacement signal representing said relative displacement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
An optical encoder including a first diffraction grating and a second diffraction grating which is displaceable relative to said first diffraction grating, said encoder being capable of detecting said relative displacement. the improvement being characterized in that said second diffraction grating has a grating pattern which removes a component having a period which is a factor of 1/n (n: a positive odd number) of the period of a displacement signal representing said relative displacement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
An optical encoder according to claim 1, wherein said grating pattern provided on said second diffraction grating includes two grating portions which are out of phase by one sixth a pitch for said first diffraction grating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical encoder according to claim 2, further including a photoelectric conversion means for converting all the light which passes through or is reflected by said two grating portions into an electrical signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
An optical encoder according to claim 1, wherein said grating pattern provided on said second diffraction grating includes four grating portions, one grating portion whose phase is a standard, and three grating portions which are respectively out of phase by one sixth, one tenth and four fifteenth of a pitch for said first diffraction grating relative to the grating portion which serves as the standard.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical encoder according to claim 4, further including a photoelectric conversion means for converting all the light which passes through or is reflected by said four grating portions into an electrical signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
An optical encoder according to claim 1, wherein the grating pattern provided on said second diffraction grating includes pairs of light transmitting portions whose phase is a standard and light transmitting portions which are out of phase by one sixth of a pitch for said first diffraction grating relative to said standard light transmitting portions, said pairs havig a period twice that for said first diffraction grating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
An optical encoder according to claim 1, wherein the grating pattern provided on said second diffraction grating includes sets of light transmitting portions whose phase is a standard and light transmitting portions which are respectively out of phase by one sixth, one tenth and four fifteenth of a pitch for said first diffraction grating relative to said reference light transmitting portions, said sets having a period four times that for said first diffraction grating.