| CPC G01D 5/3473 (2013.01) | 19 Claims |
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1. An optical encoder, comprising:
a light source;
a reflector having a plurality of reflection areas that include a plurality of M-code areas arranged in one line according to a specific bit pattern representing an M-code, the reflector being configured to move together with a movement of an object, the reflector being configured to reflect a light from the light source by one or more areas, corresponding to n-bits, of the plurality of M-code areas, where “n” is a natural number; and
a light receiver configured to receive a reflection light from the reflector to perform a photoelectric conversion on the reflection light,
the plurality of M-code areas having
a first face corresponding to first code information which is one kind of one-bit information of the M-code, and
a second face corresponding to second code information which is another kind of the one-bit information of the M-code, the second face having an inclination structure different from that of the first face,
the light receiver having
a first light-receiving group including a plurality of first light-receiving elements arranged in one direction to receive the reflection light reflected from the first face, and
a second light-receiving group disposed on a side farther away from the reflector than the first light-receiving group is, the second light-receiving group including a plurality of second light-receiving elements arranged along the one direction to receive the reflection light reflected from the second face,
the first light-receiving group and the second light-receiving group being arranged such that positions of the first light-receiving elements and positions of the second light-receiving elements are shifted from each other in the one direction.
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