Is it really possible to build a rotary encoder out of a flattened tin can and a couple of photodetectors? Sure it’s possible, but what kind of resolution are you going to get from such a contraption?

Rotary and linear optical encoders are common in position and motion sensing. Here, a disc or plate containing opaque and transparent segments passes between an LED and detector to interrupt a light ...

A quadrature encoder uses two output channels offset in phase to detect both direction and position with greater precision.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Digital video encoders are much more complex than their predecessors, analog modulators, which ...

A typical linear encoder consists of a scanning unit and a scale. The scale is generally glass and is cemented to a support, usually an aluminum extrusion. The scanning unit contains a light source, ...

Alignment of optical encoder commutation signals to a Brushless DC (BLDC) motor could be thought of as being comparable to timing the distributor on a car engine. The distributor tells the spark plugs ...

Encoders are a vital component in many applications that require motion control and feedback information. Whether a system’s requirement is speed, direction, or distance, an encoder produces control ...