Engineers using an incremental encoder for the first time often have a misunderstanding about what types of signals are provided by an encoder and how to interface an encoder to their application.

An absolute encoder includes a coding disk in binary or gray code format, the electronics to read it, and communications circuits. A multiturn encoder may have several disks connected by gears as ...

Encoders are widely used in the motion control and automation industry to monitor the position and speed of motors. This information can be used by the motion control electronics to detect if the ...

Rotary encoders sense changes in the position of a rotating shaft, then generate signals that send speed, direction, and position information to a receiving device such as a counter, drive, or ...

Rotary quadrature encoders often are used to command digital potentiometers or digital controllers, and quadrature decoding is typically performed in a programmable device (like an FPGA or ...

This article is part of the Ideas for Design Series: Vol. 3, No. 8. In many applications, accurately sensing the position of an electrically controlled mechanical device such as a motor is critical.