Optical-actuator-multiplexed, serial transmission fiber encoder

Abstract An optically-driven, electro-mechanical actuator is described, which can sequentially connect a single multimode input fiber to each fiber of a 12-fiber array. The optical drive is effected remotely over a long fiber cable, and only 16 μ W received optical power is required for resonant scanning of the array. The output array fibers are configured to read ten tracks of a reflective absolute encoder disc, and to transmit the digital word to a readout station. The inherent serial, digital code format conveys the readout with a high level of transmission-path independence.