Patent 7353618 was granted and assigned to Sony on April, 2008 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A magnetic scale includes a pipe and a polarizable magnetic member closely attached to the inner surface of the pipe so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the pipe. The magnetic member is formed with magnetic marks provided by a plurality of N poles and S poles alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic member. Accordingly, the magnetic member can be reliably protected to thereby improve its durability.