What is the shaft encoder?

The shaft code, also known as a swivel encoder, is a device that reports a rotary shaft angle. In general, it is connected to a motor shaft or other rotary device and is used to monitor its current position. Shaft code encoders are often used in robotic applications, computer mouse and industrial inspections. They are also often used in machines, lenses and binoculars. Unlike the incremental encoder, it monitors the position of the absolute shaft rather than the position as it started. Absolute rotary encoder can use mechanical, magnetic or optical sensors with a rotating disc to determine the position of the shaft. Mechanical encoders use sliding contacts and disk with metal patterns designed to encode shaft position. The magnetic encoders feel the position of the magnetized strips on the disk, while the optical disc devices read special-coded light and dark areas.

Position data from AbsoluteThe shaft encoder is issued in digital or analog form depending on the design of the device. Digital data is often represented in binary, gray or binary coded decimal code. The gray code is a modified form of binary coding in which adjacent patterns differ by only one bit, which reduces the errors in the position. Digital data can usually be the output in parallel or in a serial format, such as an asynchronous recommended standard (RS) 422. Standards such as serial synchronous interface (SSI) and controller network (CAN) are also often supported.

Incremental rotary encoders, also known as quadratural encoders, measure the relative movement of the shaft. This type of shaft encoder uses only two optical or mechanical sensors to detect the shaft rotation from one angle to another. If you want to watch the current position, external circuit can be used to count shaft movements from the reference point. In the mechanical encoders, the cams on the shaft bought contact with mechanical sensors, andwould indicate the position. Optical encoders can determine the movement of two light and dark coded songs with photodios.

While most of the incremental encoders of data output positions with square waves that are 90 degrees off the phase, some can instead create sinus waves. The linear incremental encoders measure the distance in the straight line rather than in rotation. They are often used in machines. Some incremental encoders include memory with a backup of batteries to record the number of information. This type of shaft encoder combined with a reference point can be used to monitor absolute position, even when switching on.

The optical encoder of the rotary shaft may usually rotate at high speeds. Some units can rotate up to 30,000 revolutions per minute (RPM). On the other hand, most mechanical encoders have much more limited.