Encoders and Resolvers

Here is another recently rewritten article, if anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

An Encoder is a type of transducer that senses position or orientation, usually for use as a reference or active feedback to control position. Encoders may be rotary or linear, optical or magnetic, analog or digital depending on the type of application.

Rotary optical encoders use a rotating glass or metal disk with slots or perforations along the circumference. An LED emits light along the path of the slots creating a train of pulses which can be used to count or measure distance. By placing two sets of slots 90 degrees out of phase with each other the direction of rotation can also be determined. These two signals are known as the A and B pulses of the encoder. The inverse of the encoder A and B pulses are also often used, commonly known as A not and B not. A single slot is also placed along the circumference known as the Z pulse; this is used for identifying the home or reference position of the encoder or device attached to it. This offset A and B pulse configuration is known as quadrature.

Quadrature

Encoders are often of the multi-turn variety, that is they will turn multiple times providing a count much higher than the number of slots on the disk. This means that the High Speed Counter or servo module that the encoder is connected to must keep track of the number of turns or total count of the pulses. If the power is removed from the counter or control system it is necessary to “home” the axis or device attached to the encoder, typically to an external “home” sensor and the Z pulse.

Absolute encoders use a parallel signal to provide a binary count of the position of the encoder. The signal from an absolute encoder gives an unambiguous position within its travel range without requiring knowledge of any previous position. This means that the encoder will have a fixed range or number of turns. Absolute encoders are often used when a system or axis must retain its position even when powered off and moved. Absolute and incremental encoders provide the same accuracy but the absolute encoder is more robust to interruptions in transducer signal.

Resolvers are also used to detect rotary position and velocity. A resolver is best described as a rotating electrical transformer that provides a sinusoidal output which is then converted to a digital value representing position. A common type is the brushless transmitter resolver. This type of resolver is similar to an electric motor in that it has a rotor and stator. The stator portion is made up of an exciter winding and two two-phase windings, labeled X and Y. These windings are located at 90 degree angles to each other. When an alternating current is induced into the exciter winding the signal is transferred into the rotor windings and then back into the X and Y windings. This provides a sine and cosine feedback current which is measured to determine the angle of the rotor. Upon one full revolution, the two feedback signals repeat their waveforms. Because resolvers are analog, they effectively have infinite resolution.

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Electrical Engineer and business owner from the Nashville, Tennessee area. I also play music, Chess and Go.

3 Comments on “Encoders and Resolvers

  1. I don’t like to add too many complications, but here are some additional thoughts to consider:
    — I would only use multi-turn when discussing absolute encoders. A normal optical incremental encoder only has tracks for the A, B, and Index signals, but since there is no roll-over from the encoder, the maximum range of motion only depends on the number of bits in the receiving device’s encoder input register. A typical multi-turn absolute encoder needs additional tracks to handle more than one turn.
    — Incremental encoders with the standard quadrature output provide 4 counts for every line or cycle; e.g. a rotary 2048 line (or cycle) encoder will provide 8192 counts per revolution.
    — Sin/cos encoders output an analog signal, so the maximum resolution depends on the device digitizing the signal. Maximum accuracy is typically significantly lower than the maximum resolution.
    — Some absolute encoders are actually battery-backed incremental encoders. If battery loses power, the system will have to be zeroed.
    — Not all absolute encoders use a parallel bus; in fact, there are too many serial standards, including EnDAT, SSI, and BiSS.
    — Encoders can be rotary or linear. Linear encoders are much more affordable than they used to be.
    — Optical encoders are the most common; other technologies include capacitive, magnetic, and magneto-restrictive.

    • Your complications are always some of the best! I have incorporated some of these thoughts into my book submission. One of the issues I always have to confront in my manuscript is how far to delve into the details of each subject. I am trying to touch on at least a little bit of everything, but the book will probably be under 400 pages long. I really appreciate the feedback I get and yours is always on point! Thanks!