CPC G01D 5/16 (2013.01) [G01D 5/142 (2013.01)] | 16 Claims |
1. A linear displacement absolute position encoder used for measuring displacement in a direction of a rail of a tested apparatus, the linear displacement absolute position encoder comprising:
a base,
a magnetoresistive sensor array,
an encoding strip, and
a back magnet;
wherein the encoding strip is fixed on the base and extends in the direction of the rail of the tested apparatus, the encoding strip includes a magnetic material block having recesses and protrusions corresponding to an array of encoding bits used to encode different positions, the array of encoding bits in the encoding strip includes P rows where P is an integer more than one and M columns where M is an integer more than one, each of the encoding bits having a value set based on a corresponding recess or protrusion in the magnetic material block, each of the P rows forming an encoding channel with M encoding bits corresponding to a unique pattern of recesses and protrusions to uniquely encode position information;
wherein the back magnet is configured to generate a non-uniform magnetic field around the encoding strip to magnetize the encoding strip; and
wherein the magnetoresistive sensor array is arranged between the encoding strip and the back magnet in a non-contact manner, the magnetoresistive sensor array includes magnetoresistive sensors in N rows where N is a positive integer and M columns, and the magnetoresistive sensor array is configured to be used to determine the position information using the M encoding bits for at least one of the P rows.
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