Absolute combinational encoders coupled through a fixed gear ratio

摘要

An encoder system and technique is disclosed for providing greater resolution for position indications. The encoder includes multiple small absolute encoders coupled through a fixed gear ratio to provide an increase in the number of positions which may be absolutely resolved by the encoder without a significant increase in the size of the encoder. The resulting configuration produces a size which is the sum of the individual sizes of the multiple encoders but produces a resolution which is proportional to a multiplication of the individual encoder positions. The resulting encoder provides an absolute indication of position without the requirement for knowledge of the previous position or a predetermined rotation prior to position indication.