Position measuring device and method of operating a position measuring device

It is a position measuring device, which is particularly suitable for the detection of absolute positions, and a method for operating a position measuring device. The position measuring device comprises a scale and a relatively movable to the scale in a measuring direction the scanning unit. On the scale, at least a first and a second track is arranged, from which scanning by means of the scanning unit, a first and a second position-dependent scanning signal can be generated. The scan signals generated from the different tracks have in the case of a pitch tilt of the scanning unit or of the scale about an axis which is oriented parallel to the scale plane, a different pitch behavior arises in that the first sampling signal then indicates erroneous position while the second sampling signal further indicating a correct position. The scanning unit is configured such that from one of the two tracks, a third sampling signal is generated having a different pitch behavior as the other scanning signal from this track. the existence of a possible pitch movement can be detected (Figure 4) from the comparison of the third scanning signal with the scanning signal from the same track.