My previous blog Encoders Know All the Angles introduced encoders that provide information about rotary positions. A diagram illustrated the phase relationship of signals from an incremental encoder.

Optical rotary encoders are the most widely used way to transform mechanical rotary motion into electrical signals. There are three basic configurations for optical encoders: incremental, absolute, ...

This application note demonstrates how to read data from the two-channel output of an incremental rotary encoder. Data from these two channels are based on the Gray Encoding System and can be used to ...

Today, there are a large number of different digital rotary encoders, which are used to measure the angle of any rotating object with high accuracy and convert this information into a digital code for ...

Similar in size and shape to the common panel-mounted potentiometer, the incremental rotary encoder provides an inexpensive ‘digital’ alternative to the analog potentiometer. It is typically used to ...

Rotary encoders are electromechanical devices used for sensing in myriad applications—on motors paired with drives and automated machinery for everything from consumer electronics, elevators, and ...

The absolute encoder determines the unique position of the value at every point of rotation by generating distinctive bit configurations. It retains its true position of the rotating shaft throughout ...

To attain accurate positioning, a servo system requires a feedback signal to close its feedback loop. Instruments that typically supply the feedback signal include optical encoders, resolvers, and ...

Last year, Automation World examined the differences between accuracy, resolution, and precision in the encoder world. And while understanding the differences among these terms is important to ...