The moving code plate has uniformly spaced windows as usual, and the fixed masking plate has two groups of identical windows, one above each of the two photodetectors. These two groups of fixed windows are positioned in half-pitch out of phase so that when one detector receives light from its source directly through the aligned windows
of the two plates, the other detector has the light from its source virtually obstructed by the masking plate. Explain the purpose of the two sets of photodiode-detector units, giving a schematic diagram of the necessary electronics. Can the direction of motion be determined with the arrangement shown in Figure P12.13? If so, explain how this could be done. If not, describe a suitable arrangement for detecting the direction of motion.