ABSOLUTE ANGLE CODING AND ANGLE MEASURING DEVICE

Abstract

An absolute angle coding that includes a first code sequence disposed within 360°, wherein the first code sequence has a first length and is disposed NA times in succession. The absolute angle coding includes a second code sequence disposed within 360°, wherein the second code sequence has a second length and is disposed NB times in succession, wherein the first code sequence and the second code sequence in combination absolutely unambiguously encode said 360°. In addition, NA is greater than or equal to 2 and NB is greater than or equal to 2 and NA is not equal to NB. The first length is not equal to the second length and the first code sequence and the second code sequence are disposed in one common track, in that a part of the first code sequence and a part of the second code sequence are disposed in alternation.

Description

In many fields, absolute angle measuring devices are used to determine the position of two bodies moved relative to one another. Compared to systems that measure purely incrementally, absolute angle measuring devices have the advantage that in every relative position, even after the energy supply has been interrupted, correct position information can be output immediately.

The absolute position is embodied by an angle coding. Disposing the position information in a single code track, with code elements disposed in succession in the measurement direction, is especially space-saving. The code elements are disposed in succession in pseudo-random distribution, so that a certain number of successive code elements each form one code word, which unambiguously defines the absolute position. When the scanning unit is displaced relative to the angle coding by a single code element, a new code word is already formed, and over the entire range (360°) to be detected absolutely, a succession of different code words is available. This kind of serial or sequential code is also often called a chain code or a pseudo-random code (PRC).

For determining the absolute position from the scanned code words—also called decoding—a decoding table is used, in which one position is associated with each code word. For associating the absolute position with a scanned code word, the code word forms the address for the decoding table, so that at the output, the absolute position stored in memory for this code word is present and is available for further processing. These nonvolatile tables can be designed today in hardware-wired fashion in an ASIC, to make fast access possible.

The demands in terms of resolution of angle measuring devices are becoming more and more stringent, so that over 360°, many positions have to be encoded unambiguously. The more positions have to be encoded, the more complex is the ensuing decoding. In serial encoding, it is problematic that for high resolution, a very great number of different code words have to be generated and decoded. If the decoding is done by means of tables, a large table is required, in which for every possible code word, one associated absolute position is stored in memory. If the decoding is done with a computer, the result is relatively long computation times.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,522 B1 shows a provision for how an angle coding and an angle measuring device can be designed in order to reduce the complexity of decoding. In it, a first code sequence of a first length and a second code sequence of a second length are disposed over 360°, in tracks extending parallel to one another. The first code sequence is disposed five times over 360°, and the second code sequence is disposed fourteen times over 360°. The bit width of the first code sequence differs from the bit width of the second code sequence. The decoder device has a first value set for decoding the first code sequence and a second value set for decoding the second code sequence. The absolute position is unambiguous because of the combination of the two partial positions at every point over 360°.

A disadvantage of a parallel arrangement of code sequences is on the one hand the vulnerability to moiré shifts in scanning, and the relatively few absolutely codable positions over 360°.

It is therefore the object of the invention to disclose an angle coding with which many positions over 360° can be unambiguously encoded, and with which in an angle measuring device, simple decoding of the successions of code words, generated by scanning this angle coding, is made possible.

This object is attained by the angle coding recited in claim 1.

In claim 12, an absolute angle measuring device with an angle coding of this kind is recited.

The absolute angle coding has a plurality of code sequences disposed within 360°, which in combination absolutely unambiguously encode the 360°. The first code sequence has a first length L_A and is disposed N_A times in succession, and the second code sequence has a second length L_B and is disposed N_A times in succession, where

N_A is greater than or equal to 2 and is an integer or not an integer;

N_B is greater than or equal to 2 and is an integer or not an integer;

N_A is not equal to N_B;

L_A and L_B are integers

L_A is not equal to L_B;

Furthermore, the first code sequence and the second code sequence are disposed in one common track, in that a part of the first code sequence and a part of the second code sequence are disposed in alternation. In particular, one code element of the first code sequence is followed by a single code element of the second code sequence each time, and a code element of the second code sequence is followed by a single code element of the first code sequence each time.

The code sequences are disposed circularly on a disk or over the circumference of a drum concentrically to the pivot point. A part of the code sequence means that this can be one or more successive code elements of this code sequence. In the exemplary embodiments that follow, this part in each case is a single code element. A code element in each case is a range of the angle coding from which a bit 0 or 1 can be derived.

“Code sequence” means a succession of a plurality of code elements that defines different positions, over the total length of the code sequence, in the grid of a code element.

The term “cyclically continued code sequence” means that at the end of the code sequence, the beginning of this same code sequence ensues again.

The length of a code sequence defines the angle sector that one code sequence includes. Since the code elements of all the code sequences each include identical angle sectors, the length of the code sequence is equal to the number of code elements within the code sequence, and thus to the number of bits that can be derived therefrom.

For generating a shift of the positions of both code sequences, the length of the first code sequence is advantageously not a multiple of the length of the second code sequence. The shifting length of the code sequences is maximal when the length of the first code sequence differs by 1 from the length of the second code sequence, or in other words when one of the two code sequences has one single code element more than the other of the two code sequences.

A first angle coding that is especially simple to decode is obtained if over 360°, the first code sequence is disposed N_A times, and the second code sequence is disposed N_B times, where N_A and N_B are both integers.

This angle coding that is especially simple to decode endlessly over the entire circumference (360°) has M₁ different absolute positions over 360°, if the angle coding has a number M₁=2*KGV (L_A, L_B) code elements are disposed, where

KGV (L_A, L_B) is the least common multiple of L_A and L_B

L_A is the length of the first code sequence A;

L_B is the length of the second code sequence B

For N_A the following is then true: N_A=KGV (L_A, L_B)/L_A.

For N_B the following is then true: N_B=KGV (L_A, L_B)/L_B.

The maximum number of different positions is attainable if L_A differs from L_B by 1. Then the following is true:

M _1max=2*L_A*L_B

The words (bit patterns) obtained in the scanning of this angle coding by means of a detector array can be decoded by means of two value sets available in a decoding device. The first value set is embodied for decoding a first succession of code words, which occurs in each case upon scanning of the first code sequence and its cyclical continuation. The second value set is embodied for decoding a second succession of code words, which occurs each time upon the scanning of the second code sequence and of its cyclical continuation.

The outcome of the decoding of the first succession of code words is a first partial position within the first code sequence, and the outcome of the decoding of the further succession of code words is a second partial position within the second code sequence. The total position value is obtained from the two partial positions.

If over 360°, a number M₂ of absolute positions that differs from M₁=2* KGV (L_A, L_B) is required, in particular M₂=2^k different positions, then in a second angle coding over 360° the number of the code elements is as follows:

M ₂<2*KGV (L_A, L_B), where

KGV (L_A, L_B) is the least common multiple of L_A and L_B

L_A is the length of the first code sequence A;

L_B is the length of the second code sequence B

The first code sequence is disposed N_A times, where

N_A>2 and N_A is not an integer,

so that the first code sequence has a joint, and/or

the second code sequence is disposed N_B times, where

N_B>2 and N_B is not an integer,

so that the second code sequence has a joint.

In other words, in that case at least one of the two code sequences is plotted only partially once within 360°, and the part of this code sequence not plotted is cut out, and the remainder is attached to the next code sequence. At this attachment point, this code sequence is interrupted, since an joint region occurs here, at which in the scanning a new succession of code elements occurs, that is, new bit patterns or words. New bit patterns means that these bit patterns are not a component of the code sequences or their cyclical continuations. The “cutting out” or the “joint” is done at a boundary between two code elements, so that over 360°, a whole number of code elements of all the code sequences is always present.

In this second angle coding, in order to utilize the code sequences well and to enable the highest possible number of positions, the number over 360° is advantageously

M₂=2*(KGV (L_A, L_B)−E*L_A), which means that only one of the second code sequences B is incomplete, or

M₂=2*(KGV (L_A, L_B)−E*L_B), which means that only one of the first code sequences A is incomplete.

Here, E>0 and is an integer.

The second angle coding now makes it possible to dispose M₂=2^k code elements over 360°, where k is preferably less than 4 and an integer.

For decoding the words obtained in the scanning of the second angle coding, a further value set is now required besides the first and second value sets. This further value set is designed for decoding the joint in the cyclical continuation of the first and/or second code sequence, that is, the joint region, and it now contains the bit patterns which occur newly in the scanning of the joint region, or in other words which are not a component of the first or second value set.

Further advantageous features of the invention are recited in the dependent claims.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in further detail in conjunction with the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first angle measuring device with a first angle coding in a schematic illustration;

FIG. 2 shows a bit pattern of the detector array of the first angle measuring device;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart with algorithms for ascertaining the position of the first angle measuring device;

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the position of read-out bit patterns (words) based on an example of the first angle coding;

FIG. 5 shows a second angle measuring device with a second angle coding in a schematic illustration;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart with algorithms for ascertaining the position of the second angle measuring device; and

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the position of read-out bit patterns (words) based on an example of the second angle coding.

In the invention, the Nonius principle is employed. For absolute position measurement, two serial code sequences A, B are used, which include different lengths L_A and L_B. At each position within the measurement range of 360°, the unambiguous absolute position POS is now obtained from the combination of partial positions x_A, x_B of the plurality of serial code sequences A, B. The advantage of such encoding is that a decoder device 3 has to decode only the relatively short plurality of serial code sequences A, B and their cyclical continuations, and then the unambiguous position POS can be ascertained over 360° by relatively simple relations from these decoded code sequences A, B. If the decoding is done by means of tables, all that is needed is a plurality of small tables. This requires far fewer table entries than there are absolute positions that can be output.

In FIG. 1, a first absolute angle coding 1 and angle measuring device embodied according to the invention are shown schematically. The angle coding 1 is embodied such that within one complete revolution, that is, endlessly over 360°, it defines one unambiguous absolute position POS at every position. To that end, the angle coding 1 comprises a succession, disposed one after the other, of code elements A0 through A4 and B0 through B3, which each include one angle sector of the same size.

The principle of the position measurement is based on the shifting of two code sequences A, B of different lengths L_A and L_B, where L_A, L_B are integral and preferably relatively prime. The maximum length to be decoded, M_1max, is obtained if L_A differs from L_B by 1.

Let the first code sequence A be defined by the bit sequence

A₀,A₁,A₂,A₃ . . . A_LA-1 of length L_A.

Let the second code sequence B be defined by the bit sequence

B₀,B₁,B₂,B₃ . . . B_LB-1 of length L_B.

Here, A_i, B_i∈{0;1}. The angle coding 1 is then produced by the alternation disposition of one bit from the code sequence A and then one bit from the code sequence B:

$\underset{M_{1\max }=2*L_A*L_B}{\overset{A_0B_0A_1B_1A_2B_2\dots A_{\mathrm{LA}-1}B_{\mathrm{LB}-1}}{}}A_0B_{0}\dots$

Because of the different lengths L_A, L_B of the code sequence A and the code sequence B, the result is a shift between the code sequences A and B. The total encodable length M_1max (that is, the length after which the bit pattern repeats) is defined, when L_A−L_B=1, by

M _1max=2*KGV (L_A, L_B)=2*L_A*L_B,

where KGV (L_A, L_B)=the least common multiple of L_A and L_B.

According to the invention, angle codings with code sequences of arbitrary length difference L_A−L_B are also possible. In the case where L_A−L_B is not equal to 1, however, the maximum codable length M_1max is less, and the evaluation algorithm may be more complicated, so that here, only the especially advantageous example in which L_A differs from L_B by 1 will be described in detail.

For the position measurement, the angle coding 1 is scanned, for instance optically, in that the code elements modulate a beam of light as a function of position, so that at the location of a detector array 2 of a scanning unit, a position-dependent distribution of light occurs that is converted by the detector array 2 into electrical scanning signals w. The detector array 2 is a line sensor, with a succession of detector elements disposed in the measurement direction. The detector elements are embodied such that at least one of the detector elements is unambiguously associated with each of the code elements in each relative position, and thus from each of the code elements, one bit, 0 or 1, can be obtained. To that end, in the case of the optical scanning principle, the code elements are reflective or nonreflective, or opaque or nonopaque, and the reflective code elements are for instance assigned the bit value 1 while the nonflective code elements are assigned the bit value 0. The succession of these bits (bit pattern) within one code sequence A, B, whose number is dependent on the scanning length L_L, forms one code word w for each of the two code sequences A, B. The scanning signals, that is, the code words w, are delivered to a decoder device 3, which from each of the code words w of one of the code sequences A, B derives a partial position x_A, x_B, and from these partial positions x_A, x_B, then forms an absolute position POS therefrom. When the detector array 2 is displaced relative to the angle coding 1 by the width or length of one code element A, B, one new code word w is generated from each of the code sequences A, B.

For decoding the code words w, the decoding device 3 has two tables T_A, T_B, that is, table T_A for the code sequence A and table T_B for the code sequence B. A certain number of code elements is scanned by the detector array 2 to generate the code words w. The number of scanned code elements of the two code sequences A, B is called the scanning length L_L and is preferably an even number of code elements or bits. The bit succession (bit pattern) generated by the detector array 2 is decoded into two words w₁ and w₂, as shown in FIG. 2. For the decoding, the two words w₁ and w₂ are searched for in the two tables T_A, T_B of the decoding device 3:

w₁→T_A; w₁→T_B; w₂→T_A; w₂→T_B in order to attain an association:

w₁→w_A and w₁→w_B, respectively, and w₂→w_A and w₂→w_B, respectively.

In the search, the following possibilities exist:

Positions               Decoding
Even-numbered positions XA = TA(w1)
(0, 2, 4 . . . )        XB = TB(w2)
Odd-numbered positions  XA = TA(w2)
(1, 3, 5 . . . )        XB = TB(w1)

In these:

• • w₁, w₂ are the words w read by the angle coding 1
  • x_A, x_B are partial positions within the code sequences A and B, respectively, and thus within the tables T_A and T_B, respectively
  • the decoding is the ascertainment of positions x_A, x_B from the words w₁, w₂.

In this first exemplary embodiment, the two code sequences A, B are each disposed N_A and N_B times, respectively, within 360°, and N_A and N_B are integers. Each code sequence A, B is adjoined by the beginning of the same code sequence A, B again, so that at each seam of successive code sequences A, B, this code sequence A, B is cyclically continued.

The flow chart shown in FIG. 3 and the algorithms given for it describe the calculation of the total position POS from the positions x_A, x_B. As FIG. 1 schematically shows, the algorithms R1, R2 in the decoding device 3 are implemented in order to ascertain the total position POS by means of the partial positions x_A, x_B obtained from the tables T_A and T_B, respectively.

With the angle coding 1 shown as an example in FIG. 1, the results are thus as follows:

length of the code sequence A: L_A=5

code sequence A: A₀A₁A₂A₃A₄

length of the code sequence B: L_B=4

code sequence B: B₀B₁B₂B₃

scanning length: L_L=8

M_1max=2*L_A*L_B=40

KGV (L_A, L_B)=20

N_A=KGV (L_A, L_B)/L_A=4

N_B=KGV (L_A, L_B)/L_B=5

The table T_A for code sequence A:

Bit Pattern	Word w	Partial Position xA
A0A1A2A3	WA0	0
A1A2A3A4	WA1	1
A2A3A4A0	WA2	2
A3A4A0A1	WA3	3
A4A0A1A2	WA4	4

The table T_B for code sequence B:

Bit Pattern	Word w	Partial Position xB
B0B1B2B3	WB0	0
B1B2B3B0	WB1	1
B2B3B0B1	WB2	2
B3B0B1B2	WB3	3

These two tables T_A, T_B together contain 9 entries, and with these 9 entries, 40 different positions can be decoded unambiguously, specifically over 360° in angular steps corresponding to the width of one code element. The prerequisite for such decoding is that each of the two code sequences A, B is disposed in complete form multiple times over 360°; that is, at the end of one code sequence A, B, that code sequence A, B begins again and is disposed completely until the beginning of the next code sequence A, B.

In FIG. 4, a graph is shown for ascertaining the position POS from read-out bit patterns (words) w based on the example of the first angle coding 1. In the second and third columns, the words w1 and w2 ascertained from the words w of FIG. 2 are shown. The five further columns show the question of whether the words w1 or w2 have been found in the tables T_A or T_B. A “1” defines “found”. The next column marked “RV” defines the algorithm R1 or R2 to be used. In the following two columns, the partial positions x_A and x_B are given. The next column contains the value “n” calculated by the rules given in FIG. 3. The last column now contains the position POS calculated in accordance with the corresponding algorithms R1 and R2.

If the position measurement value ascertained from the two code sequences A, B is to be resolved further, then the above-described angle coding 1 can be expanded by one further track or a plurality of further tracks with absolute codes or with incremental graduations.

It can also be advantageous, from the absolute angle coding 1, additionally to derive a periodic incremental signal.

One example of an advantageous arrangement of an additional incremental track 4 is shown in FIG. 1. An incremental track 4 is provided parallel, that is, concentrically, to the track having the code sequences A, B. The graduation period of this incremental track 4 is for instance a fraction of the width of one code element of the code sequences A, B, and the boundaries of the code elements are aligned with boundaries of the graduation period of the incremental track 4. Within one angle sector of one code element, a whole number, advantageously greater than 1, of incremental graduation periods is advantageously disposed. This dimensioning of the incremental track 4 makes it possible to further subdivide the width of one code element. To that end, the incremental graduation 4 is scanned by means of a further detector unit, not shown, which in a known manner generates a plurality of incremental signals phase-offset from one another. These incremental signals are delivered to an interpolator, which further subdivides the incremental signals and outputs an absolute partial position within the width of one code element. The absolute position POS obtained from the absolute angle coding 1 and the partial position obtained from the incremental track 4 are delivered to a combination unit, which from them forms a total position, which over the measurement range of 360° is absolute and thus unambiguous and has a resolution corresponding to the interpolation step ascertained from the incremental graduation.

For many applications, however, an angle coding is now wanted which defines M₂=2^k different positions over one revolution, that is, within 360°. Below, in conjunction with FIGS. 5 through 7, a second exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described, in which for forming an angle coding 10, at least one of the code sequences A, B within the 360° is therefore embodied incompletely once, in order to define the desired M₂=2^k different positions. Once again, the angle coding 10 is defined by the lengths L_A and L_B of the code sequences A and B, and L_A is not equal to L_B, and L_A and L_B are integers. It is thus not possible to select L_A and L_B such that M₂=2*KGV (L_A, L_B)=2^k, where k>0 and an integer. To achieve that, from the angle coding 1 of the maximum length M_1max described for the first example, only one range V of the length M₂=2^k is now adopted.

Let there now also be a detector array 20 with a scanning length L_L, with L_L being an even number. For this system, there are now two ranges:

First Range: Positions 0 . . . to (M₂-L_L):

This is the range in which for the angle coding 10, the range V adopted from the angle coding 1 is present, and in which the total position POS can be calculated by means of the algorithms R₁ and R₂ of the first exemplary embodiment.

Second Range: Positions (M₂-L_L+1) . . . to(M₂-1):

By joining together the range V taken over, a new joint ST is obtained, at which at least one of the code sequences A, B and the cyclical continuation of at least one of the code sequences (in this case the code sequence A) is interrupted. This range over this joint ST dictates special treatment with at least one additional value set for decoding bit patterns, that is, a special table, since the bit patterns generated in the scanning over this joint ST are not present in the tables T_A and/or T_B.

Further explanations will be made below in terms of one example:

Number of bits required per circumference: M₂=32=2⁵

Scanning length: L_L=8

L_A=5

L_B=4

The full angle coding 1 has a length=2*L_A*L_B=40 positions, and to create the requisite angle coding 10 it is cut off or reduced to a length M₂ of 32 positions. In FIGS. 1 and 5, this reduced range is marked V.

The code sequences A and B are defined by the following:

Code sequence A: A₀A₁A₂A₃A₄

Code sequence B: B₀B₁B₂B₃

The tables T_A and T_B are then defined as follows:

TABLE TA
For code sequence A
Bit Pattern	Word w	Partial Position xA
A0A1A2A3	WA0	0
A1A2A3A4	WA1	1
A2A3A4A0	WA2	2
A3A4A0A1	WA3	3
A4A0A1A2	WA4	4

TABLE TB
For code sequence B
Bit Pattern	Word w	Partial Position xB
B0B1B2B3	WB0	0
B1B2B3B0	WB1	1
B2B3B0B1	WB2	2
B3B0B1B2	WB3	3

Now, what happens to the code sequences A and B at the new joint ST?

First, one can see that the code sequence B was cut off precisely at its cyclical continuation (that is, between B₃ and B₀). Thus if the detector array 20 moves past the joint ST, no problems arise with the code sequence B (“B grid”) and with the table T_B: the bit B₃ is followed again by the bit B₀. The code sequence B and its cyclical continuation are accordingly not interrupted.

Conversely, the code sequence A is interrupted at the joint ST. For the code sequence A, as the detector array 20 passes over the joint ST, new bit patterns now occur, which do not occur in the table T_A. The bit A₀ is in fact not followed by A₁ but rather by A₀ again and only then by A₁. The new positions of the code sequence A at the joint ST can be summarized in a new table T_STA (“ST” stands for joint; “A” stands for code sequence A).

TABLE TSTA
Bit Pattern	Word w	Partial Position xSTA
A3A4A0A0	WSTA0	0
A4A0A0A1	WSTA1	1
A0A0A1A2	WSTA2	2

POS_ST can now be ascertained by means of the tables T_B and T_STA. The associated algorithms R3 and R4 are shown in FIG. 6. It should be noted that these algorithms R3 and R4 are given only as examples, since still other relations may be used instead. The algorithms R1 and R2 correspond to the algorithms R1 and R2 of the first exemplary embodiment (FIG. 3), with the special treatment for the position 31.

Another possibility for ascertaining the positions POS_ST at the joint ST is to look at the successive bit patterns in their entirety and not to divide them at the joint ST into the two code sequences A and B. To that end, the (L_L-1)=7 bit patterns of the joint ST are written into a table T_ST, in which the word length in this table T_ST is now L_L, or in the example, 8.

TABLE TST
Bit Pattern	Word w	Position xST
B0A3B1A4B2A0B3A0	WST0	25
A3B1A4B2A0B3A0B0	WST1	26
B1A4B2A0B3A0B0A1	WST2	27
A4B2A0B3A0B0A1B	WST3	28
B2A0B3A0B0A1B1A2	WST4	29
A0B3A0B0A1B1A2B2	WST5	30
B3A0B0A1B1A2B2A3	WST6	31

Finally, for the above example, one code in the associated tables will also be given:

Code sequence A: 01111

Code sequence B: 0100

Angle coding 1 (length 40 bits):

0011101010011010101100101011100010111010

Angle coding 10 (32-bit excerpt V):

00111010100110101011001010111000

TABLE TA
for code sequence A
Bit Pattern	Word w	Partial Position xA
0111	WA0	0
1111	WA1	1
1110	WA2	2
1101	WA3	3
1011	WA4	4

TABLE TB
for code sequence B
Bit Pattern	Word w	Partial Position xB
0100	WB0	0
1000	WB1	1
0001	WB2	2
0010	WB3	3

TABLE TSTA
Bit Pattern	Word w	Partial Position xSTA
1100	WSTA0	0
1001	WSTA1	1
0011	WSTA2	2

TABLE TST
Bit Pattern	Word w	Position xST
01110000	WST0	25
11100000	WST1	26
11000001	WST2	27
10000011	WST3	28
00000111	WST4	29
00001110	WST5	30
00011101	WST6	31

In the example, one can see that it is especially advantageous if one of the code sequence lengths (L_A or L_B) is already a power of two. In the second example above, the total length is M₂=32 and L_B=4. The advantage here is then that only one of the code sequences A or B (specifically only code sequence A) has to be “cut off”. In the other code sequence (in this case the code sequence B), all the code sequences as well as their cyclical continuations are kept complete in their entirety over 360°.

For the number of code elements within 360°, the following then applies:

M ₂=2*(KGV(L_A, L_B)−E*L_A),

which means that only one of the code sequences B within 360° is incomplete, but all the code sequences A are plotted completely and are cyclically continued, or

M ₂=2*(KGV(L_A, L_B)−E*L_B),

which means that only one of the code sequences A is incomplete, but all the code sequences A are plotted completely and are cyclically continued, and E is an integer>0.

In FIG. 7, a graph is shown for ascertaining the position POS from read-out bit patterns (words) w based on the example of the second angle coding 10. In the second and third columns, the words w1 and w2 ascertained from the words w of FIG. 2 are shown. The six further columns show the question of whether the words w1 or w2 have been found in the tables T_A, T_B, T_STA. A “1” defines “found”. The next column marked “RV” defines the algorithm R1, R2, R3 or R4 to be used. In the following three columns, the partial positions x_A, x_B and x_STA are given. The next column contains the value “n” calculated by the rules given in FIG. 6. The last column now contains the position POS calculated in accordance with the corresponding algorithms R1, R2, R3, and R4.

The decoder device 3, 30 is advantageously embodied as an ASIC, and the required tables T, that is, the value sets required, are each hard-wired in the production of the ASIC. Alternatively, the tables T or value sets could instead be stored in memory in read-only memories, such as EPROMs.

In the second angle measuring device, a mixed form of memories is especially advantageous; on the one hand, fast access to the memory data, that is, the value sets, is attained, and on the other, rapid adaptation to the intended use is made possible. This is attained on the one hand because the value set T_A, T_B for the code sequences A and B and their cyclical continuations is embodied in hard-wired form, and in addition, a memory that is also programmable after the mask production is provided, and the individually required value set T_ST, T_STA of the joint ST is stored in this programmable memory, in other words, in the tables T_ST and T_STA, respectively. The programmable memory is a read-only memory and is embodied for instance as an EPROM.

As shown schematically in FIG. 5, the absolute angle coding 10 in the example of FIG. 1 can be expanded with an incremental graduation 40. Once again within one angle sector of one code element, a whole number, advantageously greater than 1, of incremental graduation periods is disposed.

The invention can be especially advantageously used on the optical scanning principle, since an optically scannable angle coding 1, 10 with a maximum number of possible different positions over 360° (one revolution of the angle coding 1, 10) can be produced replicably, and thus especially high-resolution position measurement is made possible. The detector array 2, 20 and the decoder device 3, 30 can be accommodated jointly in an opto-ASIC.

However, the invention is not limited to the optical scanning principle, but can also be used with magnetic, inductive and capacitive scanning principles.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An absolute angle coding comprising: a first code sequence disposed within 360°, wherein said first code sequence has a first length and is disposed NA times in succession;a second code sequence disposed within 360°, wherein said second code sequence has a second length and is disposed NB times in succession, wherein said first code sequence and said second code sequence in combination absolutely unambiguously encode said 360°, wherein:NA is greater than or equal to 2;NB is greater than or equal to 2 and NA is not equal to NB;said first length is not equal to said second length; andsaid first code sequence and said second code sequence are disposed in one common track, in that a part of said first code sequence and a part of said second code sequence are disposed in alternation.

17. The absolute angle coding as defined by claim 16, wherein said first length is not an integral multiple of said second length.

18. The absolute angle coding as defined by claim 17, wherein said first length differs by 1 from said second length.

19. The absolute angle coding as defined by claim 16, wherein NA and NB are integers.

20. The absolute angle coding as defined by claim 19, wherein one code element of said first code sequence and one code element of said second code sequence are disposed in alternation, and over 360°, a number M1=2*KGV (LA, LB) code elements are disposed, where KGV (LA, LB) is the least common multiple of LA and LB, wherein LA is said first length and LB is the second length.

21. The absolute angle coding as defined by claim 20, wherein over 360°, a number M1=2*LA*LB code elements are disposed.

22. The absolute angle coding as defined by claim 16, wherein one code element of said first code sequence and one code element of said second code sequence are disposed in alternation, and over 360°, a number M2<2*KGV (LA, LB) code elements are disposed, where KGV (LA, LB) is the least common multiple of LA and LB, wherein LA is the first length and LB is the second length.

23. The absolute angle coding as defined by claim 22, wherein over 360°, M2=2k code elements are disposed, where k is greater than 4 and is an integer.

24. The absolute angle coding as defined by claim 22, wherein over 360°, a number M2=2*(KGV (LA, LB)−E * LA) is disposed, or a number M2=2*(KGV (LA, LB)−E * LB) is disposed,where E is an integer>0.

25. The absolute angle coding as defined by claim 24, wherein over 360°, M2=2k code elements are disposed, where k is greater than 4 and is an integer.

26. An absolute angle measuring device, comprising: an angle coding comprising:a first code sequence disposed within 360°, wherein said first code sequence has a first length and is disposed NA times in succession;a second code sequence disposed within 360°, wherein said second code sequence has a second length and is disposed NB times in succession, wherein said first code sequence and said second code sequence in combination absolutely unambiguously encode said 360°, wherein:NA is greater than or equal to 2;NB is greater than or equal to 2 and NA is not equal to NB;said first length is not equal to said second length; andsaid first code sequence and said second code sequence are disposed in one common track, in that a part of said first code sequence and a part of said second code sequence are disposed in alternation; anda detector array for scanning said first code sequence and said second code sequence and for generating code words; anda decoding device for decoding said code words and for generating position values.

27. The absolute angle measuring device as defined by claim 26, wherein said first length is not an integral multiple of said second length.

28. The absolute angle measuring device as defined by claim 27, wherein said first length differs by 1 from said second length.

29. The absolute angle measuring device as defined by claim 26, wherein NA and NB are integers.

30. The absolute angle measuring device as defined by claim 29, wherein one code element of said first code sequence and one code element of said second code sequence are disposed in alternation, and over 360°, a number M1=2*KGV (LA, LB) code elements are disposed, where KGV (LA, LB) is the least common multiple of LA and LB, wherein LA is said first length and LB is the second length.

31. The absolute angle measuring device as defined by claim 30, wherein over 360°, a number M1=2*LA*LB code elements are disposed.

32. The absolute angle measuring device as defined by claim 26, wherein one code element of said first code sequence and one code element of said second code sequence are disposed in alternation, and over 360°, a number M2<2*KGV (LA, LB) code elements are disposed, where KGV (LA, LB) is the least common multiple of LA and LB, wherein LA is the first length and LB is the second length.

33. The absolute angle measuring device as defined by claim 32, wherein over 360°, M2=2k code elements are disposed, where k is greater than 4 and is an integer.

34. The absolute angle measuring device as defined by claim 33, wherein over 360°, a number M2=2*(KGV (LA, LB)−E * LA) is disposed, or a number M2=2*(KGV (LA, LB)−E * LB) is disposed,where E is an integer>0.

35. The absolute angle measuring device as defined by claim 34, wherein over 360°, M2=2k code elements are disposed, where k is greater than 4 and is an integer.

36. The absolute angle measuring device as defined by claim 26, wherein said decoding device comprises a first value set for decoding a first succession of code words, which occurs each time upon scanning of one of said first code sequence and of its cyclical continuation; and said decoding device comprises a second value set for decoding a second succession of code words, which occurs each time upon scanning of one of said second code sequence and of its cyclical continuation.

37. The absolute angle measuring device as defined by claim 36, wherein wherein one code element of said first code sequence and one code element of said second code sequence are disposed in alternation, and over 360°, a number M2<2*KGV (LA, LB) code elements are disposed, whereKGV (LA, LB) is the least common multiple of LA and LB, wherein LA is the first length and LB is the second length; andsaid decoding device comprises:a second value set for decoding a second succession of code words, which occurs each time upon scanning of one of said second code sequence and of its cyclical continuation; anda third value set, which is suitable for decoding a joint of said first code sequence and/or of said second code sequence.

38. The absolute angle measuring device as defined by claim 37, wherein said third value set is stored in a programmable read-only memory, and said first value set and said second value set are in hard-wired form.

39. The absolute angle measuring device as defined by claim 26, further comprising an incremental track disposed concentrically to said absolute angle coding, and within one code element, a whole number of incremental graduation periods is disposed.

40. The absolute angle measuring device as defined by claim 40, wherein within one code element a whole number greater than 1 of incremental graduation periods is disposed.