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Digitalencoder

The document discusses different types of encoders used to measure linear and rotary motion, including contact encoders, optical encoders, and magnetic encoders. It provides details on how each type works, such as how optical encoders use light passing through transparent and opaque segments on a disk to generate electrical pulses representing motion. The document also covers non-contact encoder types and compares their advantages over contact encoders.

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Priyabrat Dash
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
31 views4 pages

Digitalencoder

The document discusses different types of encoders used to measure linear and rotary motion, including contact encoders, optical encoders, and magnetic encoders. It provides details on how each type works, such as how optical encoders use light passing through transparent and opaque segments on a disk to generate electrical pulses representing motion. The document also covers non-contact encoder types and compares their advantages over contact encoders.

Uploaded by

Priyabrat Dash
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DIGITAL ENCODERS

PRIYABRAT DASH | Admission No.: 16JE001875| Semester:7th

MEASUREMENT OF LINEAR AND ROTARY MOTION


Measurement and control often involve monitoring rotary and linear motion. Measurement and control are
multi-stage processes with the first stage of either process, the generation of an electrical signal, to represent
the motion. When measurement is the objective, this signal is used to quantify the desired property (i.e.,
displacement, velocity, etc.), and the data are translated to a format that can be understood by the end user.
When control is the objective, the signal is used directly by the associated controller. Whether measurement
or control is required, generation of the electrical signal to represent the motion is accomplished with
transducers. The design and selection of a transducer is determined through the evaluation of application
considerations. Major types of transducers used to monitor motion are
 Proximity Switches
 Potentiometers
 Analog Inductive Components
 Encoders
In this assignment, the area of focus is on encoders.
WHAT IS AN ENCODER?
An encoder is an electromechanical device that can measure motion or position. Most encoders use optical
sensors to provide electrical signals in the form of pulse trains, which can, in turn, be translated into motion,
direction, or position. Encoders are classified by the
 method used to read the coded element: contact or non-contact
 type of output: absolute digital word or series of incremental pulses
 physical phenomenon employed to produce the output: electrical conduction, magnetic, optical,
 capacitive
Encoders usually have from 100 to 6,000 segments per revolution/ oscillation. This means that these
encoders can provide 3.6 degree of resolution for the encoder with 100 segments and 0.06 degree of
resolution for the encoder with 6,000 segments. Linear encoders work under the same principle as rotary
encoders except that instead of a rotating disk, there is a stationary opaque strip with transparent slits along
its surface, and the LED-detector assembly is attached to the moving body. To make encoder measurements, a
basic electronic component called a counter is needed. Based on its several inputs, a basic counter emits a
value that represents the number of edges (low to high transitions in the waveform) counted. Most counters
have three relevant inputs – gate, source, and up/down. The counter counts the events registered in the
source input, and, depending on the state of the up/down line, it either increments the count or decrements
it..
CONTACT TYPE ENCODERS
Contact encoders are those which employ mechanical contact between a brush or pin sensor and the coded
disk. The disk contains a series of concentric rings or tracks which are thin metallic strips joined at their base
as shown in the following figure. The four tracks shown in the figure represent a binary code consisting of 20,
21, 22 . The associated contact sensors are identified at B0, B1, B2, and encode the numerals 0 through 7. As the
disk rotates, the sensors alternately contact conductive strips and adjacent insulators, producing a series of
square wave patterns. Uniform and non-uniform disc patterns can be utilized depending on the application.
Virtually any pattern which can be produced photographically can be imaged on an encoder disc. The typical
application is measurement of shaft position which utilizes a uniform pattern. Any non-uniformity in the disc
is a source of error. Non-uniform segment spacing produces position error and eccentricity causes an error
which is a sinusoidal function of the shaft angle. Performance specifications are limited for factors such as,
practical segmenting limitations on discs, bridging of disc segments, and wear of contacts.

NON CONTACT TYPE ENCODERS


Non-contact encoders are those which employ physical phenomena other than electrical conduction to read
the coded disc. The most common types are magnetic, capacitive, and optical.
OPTICAL ENCODERS
The optical encoder was the earliest of the non-contact devices
developed to eliminate the wear problems inherent with contact
encoders. Present day optical encoders provide the highest
resolution and encoding accuracy and can be operated efficiently at
high speeds. Optical encoder discs have opaque and transparent
segments. The discs can be produced by exposing a photographic
emulsion to light, by plating metal on the substrate or by etching
segments into a metal substrate. Each type has characteristics that
may make it preferable in certain applications. The optical encoder is
a transducer commonly used for measuring rotational motion. It
consists of a shaft connected to a circular disc, containing one or
more tracks of alternating transparent and opaque areas. A light
source and an optical sensor are mounted on opposite sides of each
track. As the shaft rotates, the light sensor emits a series of pulses as
the light source is interrupted by the pattern on the disc. This output
signal can be directly compatible with digital circuitry. The number
of output pulses per rotation of the disc is a known quantity, so the
number of output pulses per second can be directly converted to the
rotational speed (or rotations per second) of the shaft. Encoders are
commonly used in motor speed control applications.
Light detection can be performed by one of several devices. Materials
for all types of light detecting devices are selected from groups III, IV,
V of the periodic table and lie halfway in the spectrum between metals and non-metals. As such they are
semiconductors. Each device responds to light in a different manner. Silicon or selenium based photovoltaic
cells generate an electric current when exposed to light. The resistance of photoconductive cells varies with
light intensity. The composition of photoconductive devices is usually cadmium sulfide or cadmium selenide,
depending on the desired response of the device or the portion of the light spectrum for which sensitivity is
desired. Current capabilities varies with the intensity of light. Photodiodes are similar to photoconductive
cells. Photodiodes are used because their very small surface areas allow very high frequency response. They
are generally run with back bias and the reverse leakage current is modulated with the light. Phototransistors
are photodiodes with built-in transistor amplification. Photodiodes have better frequency response and are
less sensitive to temperature than phototransistors. In phototransistors, silicon controlled rectifiers (SCR’s)
act as sensitive high current switches when exposed to light.
MAGNETIC ENCODER

Magnetic encoders use a combination of permanent magnets and magnetic sensors to detect movement and
position. A typical construction uses magnets placed around the edge of a rotor disc attached to a shaft and
positioned so the sensor detects changes in the magnetic field as the alternating poles of the magnet pass over
it. The simplest configuration would have a single magnet, with its north and south poles on opposite edges of
the rotor, and a single sensor. Such a device would produce a sine wave output with a frequency equal to the
rotational speed of the shaft. With a second sensor, set 90° apart from the first and therefore generating a
cosine output, it becomes possible to not only detect the direction of rotation but also to interpolate the
absolute position of the shaft from the sine and cosine signals . For incremental encoders, the sinusoidal
outputs from the sensors are converted to square waves so the resulting quadrature waveforms can only be
encoded to one of four possible angular positions. Greater resolution is achieved by increasing the number of
magnetic poles around the rotor and by having more sensors. For example, 1024 positions (or 10-bit
resolution) can be achieved with four sensors and 128 poles.
Resolution is limited by the size of the magnetized spot and complicated by interaction between magnetized
spots on adjacent tracks. Magnetic encoders overcome the basic speed limitation of contact encoders and
offer greater longevity by eliminating physical contact between disc and sensor. Also, magnetic encoders
function well in environments hostile to contact types where any of the magnetic scanning techniques can be
successfully employed. However, high ambient fluxes or radiation densities can destroy the disc pattern or
inhibit saturated core operation. Greater precaution against mutual electromagnetic interference is required
when magnetic encoders are included in the system.
CAPACITIVE ENCODER
The basic principle behind capacitive encoders is that they
detect changes in capacitance using a high-frequency reference
signal. This is accomplished with the three main parts—a
stationary transmitter, a rotor, and a stationary receiver.
(Capacitive encoders can also be provided in a “two-part”
configuration, with a rotor and a combined
transmitter/receiver.) The rotor is etched with a sinusoidal
pattern, and as it rotates, this pattern modulates the high-
frequency signal of the transmitter in a predictable way.
The receiver disk reads the modulations, and on-board electronics translate them into increments of rotary
motion. The electronics also produce quadrature signals for incremental encoding, with resolution ranging
from 48 to 2,048 pulses per revolution (PPR). Although capacitive devices are not generally available as
standard hardware, up to 19-bit, single turn units have been produced. Theoretically, the capacitive technique
can be used to accomplish any of the encoding tasks performed by the contact, optical, or magnetic type.
However, practical problems of design, manufacture, and operation have limited the use of capacitive
detection.
ABSOLUTE AND INCREMENTAL ENCODERS
Rotary encoders track speed and position. Absolute and incremental encoders both do this, but operate
differently and have different methods of implementation. Rotary incremental encoders work by generating a
series of pulses during movement. The encoder disc (sporting marks or slots) attaches to a power-
transmission shaft, and a stationary pickup device mounts nearby. When the shaft and disc turn, the pickup
tracks the motion to output the relative position. Such encoders generally supply square-wave signals in two
channels that are offset from each other by 90° — in other words, out of phase by 90°. Each increment of
rotation spurs an output signal. Note that rotary incremental encoders begin counting from zero each time
the encoder powers up, and electronics store the data in an external buffer or counter. This is true regardless
of where the shaft actually is radially. As such, incremental encoders must always come back to a reference
point. This must occur both when the machine initially starts and whenever something interrupts its power
supply. Here, battery backups can help eliminate the need for re-homing after shutdowns.

Fig: Incremental Encoder Fig: Absolute Encoder

Incremental encoders are generally simpler and cheaper than absolute encoders. Absolute encoders have an
encoder disc (sporting marks or slots) on a power-transmission shaft and a stationary pickup, but the disc
marks output a unique code for each shaft position. Absolute encoders are either single-turn or multi turn
encoders. Single turn absolute encoders can verify position within a single turn of the encoder shaft. This
makes them useful for short travel situations. In contrast, multiple-turn absolute encoders are better for more
complex or longer positioning situations. Encoders are generally termed as absolute encoders by the number
of their output bits, which correlates to the number of the disc’s tracks—and the maximum rotary angle the
encoder registers. Absolute rotary encoders have the advantage of non-volatile memory. That is, they do not
lose track of positioning even when power fails. So even if something moves the machine shaft when power is
off, an absolute encoder keeps track of the rotary-position change when the machine powers on again.
Usually, electronics store this information as binary code, ideally Gray binary code. Absolute rotary encoders
can operate point-to-point as well. They are useful in situations where safety is a concern, because they
position whenever machines power on. Immunity to electoral noise is another benefit. It must be noted that
absolute rotary encoders are generally more expensive than incremental encoders. However, the cost of
absolute encoders has steadily decreased over the last decade, and that’s driven steady increase of their use.

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