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Encoder

Resolvers separate position signals into vectorial components and are ideal for determining absolute position at rest, while encoders translate rotational motion into electronic pulses and are more cost-effective for relative position during rotation. Encoders can be incremental or absolute, with single-turn and multi-turn variations, but lack directional sensitivity. In manufacturing, resolvers are preferred for position control and encoders for speed sensing, with the choice depending on specific application requirements.

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10 views1 page

Encoder

Resolvers separate position signals into vectorial components and are ideal for determining absolute position at rest, while encoders translate rotational motion into electronic pulses and are more cost-effective for relative position during rotation. Encoders can be incremental or absolute, with single-turn and multi-turn variations, but lack directional sensitivity. In manufacturing, resolvers are preferred for position control and encoders for speed sensing, with the choice depending on specific application requirements.

Uploaded by

xiaostone87
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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By definition, a 'resolver' is a device that separates a position signal into its coordinate 'vectorial'

components.

An 'encoder' translates a rotational motion (or position) into an electronic pulse.

Typically, if the absolute position of the shaft needs to be known while the shaft is AT REST, a
resolver is the correct choice. It is also a better fit for reversing applications, due to the +/- nature of
vector definition. It can be used for speed sensing, but is not normally employed as such.

If the relative position of the shaft needs to be known AT SOME POINT DURING ROTATION an
encoder can be used (and probably be more cost-effective). What actually happens for the encoder is
that there is a 'marker pulse', which denotes a certain shaft position relative to a 'zero' point. As the
speed of rotation is computed (by counting the number of pulses generated), a rotational displacement
is defined. However, there is (usually) no directional sensitivity ...

For example: a motor shaft has both an encoder and a resolver attached to it (serially - encoder to
motor shaft, resolver to encoder). From a 'zero' point (i.e. the marker pulse on the encoder registers),
the motor shaft is rotated through 90 degrees. The encoder will give two points - 90 clockwise or 90
counterclockwise (the smarts to figure out which is correct have to be elsewhere). The resolver will
correctly define a turn of 90 in the CORRECT direction.

In today's manufacturing environments, encoders are used primarily as speed sensors and resolvers
are the (normal) choice for position control. What each device manufacturer is capable of may require
a choice between one and the other - for example, there are few truly digital resolvers! On the other
hand, a highly accurate speed reference (several thousand pulse per rev) may require going to an
encoder, regardless of the original intent.

INCREMENTAL ENCODER: will translate rotational motion into a specific electronic pulse ... which is
NOT direction-specific. It is simply a value relative to another point (at which the counter was
'zeroed').
ABSOLUTE ENCODER: will translate rotational motion into an electronic pulse ... with reference to a
'zero' mark. This is not direction-specific either ... a 90 degree turn in either direction will give the same
encoder value.
SINGLE-TURN ENCODER: counts everything relative to a 'zero' mark, returning its value to zero
when it passes the mark. Thus every position that is exactly 360 mechanical degrees apart will have
the same encoder output.
MULTI-TURN ENCODER: counts everything relative to the 'zero' mark, but has additional capacity to
account for the number of times it passes the zero ... thus it can indicate a certain amount of multiples
of 360 mechanical degrees as well.

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