{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8537377","patent":{"patent_number":"US-8537377","title":"Absolute position encoder","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2011-04-27T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2013-09-17T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["G01D","G01D"],"num_claims":18,"abstract":"In an absolute position encoder, a multi-spectral light source illuminates a position on a topographic surface at an angle of incidence determined from a vector normal to the surface. A target on, and positionally-registered to, the topographic surface comprises a variable grating that diffracts the incident light to form a multi-spectral diffraction pattern in which the angular dispersion of the diffraction pattern varies with the absolute position of the incident light along the grating. A chromatically responsive sensor detects a narrow band of the diffraction pattern through an entrance aperture positioned at an angle of detection determined from the vector normal to the topographic surface and outputs a signal responsive to the change in the angular dispersion of the detected narrow band of the diffraction pattern. The source/sensor unit maintains (within an acceptable noise tolerance) its geometric relationship to the vector normal to the topographic surface at the position of illumination. A processing element uses a system transfer function to map the detected signal to an absolute-position on the topographic surface."},"analysis":{"summary":null,"layman_explanation":null,"technical_analysis":null,"business_analysis":null,"faqs":null,"topics":[],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Absolute position encoder","description":"In an absolute position encoder, a multi-spectral light source illuminates a position on a topographic surface at an angle of incidence determined from a vector normal to the surface. A target on, and","keywords":[]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8537377","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8537377","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Absolute position encoder\" (US-8537377). https://patentable.app/patents/US-8537377","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8537377","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-8537377","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-30T18:04:06.924Z"}