An electronic absolute position encoder is provided including a scale, a detector portion and a signal processing configuration. The scale includes a first scale pattern of signal modulating elements, wherein the first scale pattern includes a spatial characteristic of the signal modulating elements which progressively changes as a function of position along a measuring axis direction and defines an absolute measuring range. The spatial characteristic includes at least one of a spatial wavelength or a spatial frequency of the signal modulating elements and is unique at each unique position in the absolute measuring range. The detector portion includes a group of sensing elements, and the signal processing configuration determines an absolute position of the sensing elements relative to the scale within the absolute measuring range. In various implementations, the signal processing configuration may utilize Fourier transform processing and/or other processing for determining the absolute position.
