12
VDC Automotive Power Option
120
VAC Power Option
4469
Line Driver
5PY Adapter
7272
and
7273
Absolute Encoder
Accuracy
The difference between the theoretical position and the actual position
indicated by the encoder.
AE087 and
AE100 Flexible Shaft Couplings
Anti-Jitter
APR-F040 Aperture (see F Series
Photo-Electronics)
Automotive Power Option
Axial Load (see also Bearing Life)
A constant load applied along the axis of the encoder bearing. This
hypothetical value is used to calculate bearing life.
Bearing Life (L10)
The number of revolutions (or hours at some given constant speed) that 90% of
a group of apparently identical ball bearings will complete or exceed before the
first evidence of fatigue develops assuming certain conditions. This value can
be used as a starting point for determining mean-time-before-failure of an
encoder. Actual operating conditions could significantly influence this value.
Bi-directional (See Quadrature)
Binary Coded Decimal (BCD)
A binary coding scheme used by displays to represent decimal numbers. For
example, a 4-bit BCD code word encodes one digit for a 7-segment display.
Blind Bore
A hollow shaft encoder with a
shaft bore that extends only partially through the encoder.
Cable Assemblies
CE Mark
Centimeters
per Pulse
CLS - Incandescent Light Source (see D
Series and F Series Photo-Electronics)
Complementary Outputs (see also Differential Line Driver)
Two identical encoder output signals where one signal is electrically
inverted from the other. Used in pairs these convey a single stream of pulse
output to a PLC or other control device that uses differential line driver
inputs.
Connectors
Couplings ( Flexible,
Rigid )
Cube Style Encoder (see also RS
and RS-P encoders)
A de facto industry standard encoder that has a 2.25" x 2.25" x
2.25" cube shaped housing.
Current Sinking Output
Current Sourcing Output
D Series Light Sources and Receivers
Data Ready Signal
Differential Line Driver
Direction Indicator
DS-F0 Sensor (see F Series
Photo-Electronics)
Dual Outputs
(see also Quadrature)
Duty Cycle
The total time to complete one on/off cycle for a pulse output.
ECCI
Electronic Counters & Controls, Inc. Many modified Photocraft encoders
can be substituted for ECCI encoders (see modified versions of the model RJ and RS
encoders)
Encoder
An electro-mechanical device that translates mechanical shaft rotation into
electrical signals that can be used by a PLC or other control device to control
or determine position, velocity, acceleration, or direction. (See also: Absolute
Encoder and Incremental Encoder)
Enhanced AJ Feature
Environmentally Sealed
An encoder that includes a shaft seal, O-ring and gasket seals to prevent
moisture from penetrating into the encoder housing (see the RJ
incremental encoder, and R30/SR30 absolute encoder)
ESD Protection
Extension Cable
F Series Light Sources and Receivers
Flange Adapter
A 2.5" square mounting adapter for RG or RJ
incremental encoders (MB-FL).
Flexible
Mounting Bracket
Flexible Shaft Coupling
Gray Code
A reflective binary code originally devised by Frank Gray of Bell
Laboratories. It has the characteristic that only one bit changes between
adjacent code words. When used within an absolute encoder it eliminates the
possibility of ambiguous outputs that could occur if multiple bits were
attempting to change simultaneously, thus greatly simplifying the encoder’s
design.
Hollow Shaft Encoder
HRL and HRL-P Hollow Shaft
Encoders
HRS and HRS-P Hollow Shaft
Encoders
HS20 and HS20-P Hollow
Shaft Encoders
HS25 and HS25-P Hollow
Shaft Encoders
ILS and ILSH - Infrared Light Source (see D
Series and F Series Photo-Electronics)
Incremental Encoder (see hollow
shaft encoders, programmable encoders,
shaft encoders, and wheeled
encoders)
An encoder that generates a fixed number of square wave pulses for each
revolution of the shaft. By counting pulses, a PLC or other control device can
determine velocity, relative position, or relative movement of the shaft.
Index Pulse
(see Zero Marker)
Interrogation Rate
Koyo Adapter
A mounting adapter for RG or RJ encoders, making them interchangeable with
Koyo encoders.
Line Driver
Incremental encoders can be supplied with various output circuits including:
RS422 differential line driver, 4469 line driver, and SN74265 line driver. These
are typically used to provide error-free output pulses in electrically noisy
environments or over long transmission lines. They must be used with a line
receiver of the same type.
Logic Levels
MB-085
Coupling
MB-5PY
Adapter
MB-75 ,
MB-76, MB-78 Adapters
MB-FB1
Flexible Mounting Bracket
MB-FB2
Flexible Tether
MB-FB3
Flexible Mounting Bracket
MB-FL
Adapter
MB-FL3
Adapter
MB-FL4
Adapter
MB-FL5
Adapter
MB-FL6
Adapter
MB-KOYO
Adapter
MB-RD
and MB-RD2 Mounting Brackets
MB-UB1
RH Encoder Under-belt Counterweight Mounting
MB-UB1A
RH Encoder Under-belt Counterweight Mounting with dual
weights
MB-UB2
Offset Mounting for Wheeled Encoders
MB-UB3
RH Encoder Under-belt Spring Mounting
MB-UB4
RH Encoder Under-belt Spring Mounting
Measuring Wheels
Precision ground wheels that can be attached to an encoder shaft for linear
measuring applications. These are typically used on conveyor systems for
improved performance over shaft mounted encoders.
Micro-Change connector
See
M131 Modification
Minimum Speed Indicator
Modifications
Customized version of a standard product. Click on a modification number to
download and view the specifications (note: each specification is 15K to 45K in
size). Modifications that are specific to a product are listed on the web page
for that product.
MR30 / MR31 Modular Absolute Encoders
Multi-Turn Absolute Encoder
An absolute encoder that internally consists of a single turn absolute
encoder that provides angular position of the shaft, and a gear-reducer and
another single turn absolute encoder that indicates the revolution number. For
example, a 16-bit multi-turn encoder might consist of a 10-bit encoder that
provides 1024 values per shaft revolution, and a 6-bit encoder that can indicate
64 turns of the shaft. Photocraft does not manufacture multi-turn encoders.
MW-1 and MW-30
Measuring Wheels
Natural Binary
A binary coding scheme used by computers and PLCs to represent integer numbers.
Non-contact Potentiometer
The SR12 with 0-10 vdc analog output can offer a high reliability option in
place of a standard potentiometer.
Open Collector
Output Code
The position indicating code generated by an absolute
encoder.
Output Current
The maximum current that can be sinked or sourced by each output.
Output Protection (see ESD
Protection, Short Circuit
Protection, and Surge
Protection)
Output Waveform
The description of one or more pulse outputs from an incremental encoder.
Nominally a 50/50 duty cycle, square wave is generated for each pulse output.
The waveform is further described by the following parameters: Pulse On-Off
Ratio, Pulse Interval Jitter, Quadrature
Deviation, Pulse Rise Time, Pulse Fall
Time, Voltage (high), Voltage
(low), and Index Pulse
Over-Belt Mounting (see Y-1
yoke assembly)
Facilitates mounting the model RH wheeled encoder to ride above the conveyor
belt.
Parallel Outputs
Phase (see also Quadrature)
The electrical degrees of displacement between two encoder outputs having the
same pulses per revolution.
PMR Series Logic Level Receivers
PPI (Pulse Position Indicator)
A material handling industry name for an RH wheeled
encoder.
Program
Programmable Encoder
PTR and PTRH Photo-Receivers (see D
Series and F Series Photo-Electronics)
Pulse Fall Time
For the pulse output of an incremental encoder it is the time during which a
pulse changes from 90% to 10% of the difference between its amplitudes, going
from logic one to logic zero.
Pulse Interval Jitter
For the pulse output of an incremental encoder it is the band within which
lie all of the transitions in the same direction of a signal through a specified
amplitude. This is a dynamic value determined at one or more specified speeds.
Pulse On-Off Ratio
For the pulse output of an incremental encoder it is the period during which
the waveform is above the midpoint of its amplitude excursion to the period
during which it is below this value, at a specified speed.
Pulse Position Indicator (PPI)
A material handling industry name for an RH wheeled
encoder.
Pulse Rate
For the pulse output of an incremental encoder it is the number of pulse
intervals per unit time of an output signal at a specified speed.
Pulse Rise Time
For the pulse output of an incremental encoder it is the time during which a
pulse changes from 10% to 90% of the difference between its amplitudes, going
from logic zero to logic one.
Pulses per Foot (PPF) (conveyor applications)
 | For the model RH wheeled encoder when used with 1 foot
measuring wheels
(MW-1-B):
pulses per foot is the same as pulses per revolution. |
 | For a shaft encoder (e.g. model RL) that is directly coupled to
the shaft of a conveyor
roller:
PPF = (pulses-per-revolution x 12) / (roller-diameter-in-inches x π) |
Pulses per Meter (PPM) (conveyor applications)
 | For the model RH wheeled encoder when used with 30 cm.
measuring wheels
(MW-30-B):
PPM = (pulses-per-revolution x 10) / 3 |
 | For a shaft encoder (e.g. model RL) that is directly coupled to
the shaft of a conveyor
roller:
PPM = (pulses-per-revolution x 100) / (roller-diameter-in-centimeters x π) |
Pulses per Revolution
Push/Pull Output
A general purpose circuit capable of either sourcing or sinking up to 50ma
of current per output for any incremental encoder and 5ma
per output for absolute
encoders, and is compatible with most motion control equipment.
Quadrature
Quadrature Deviation
For an incremental encoder, quadrature deviation is the difference between
quadrature and the actual displacement expressed in electrical degrees.
R20 and R20-P Series 20
Shaft Encoders
R30 Absolute Encoder
Radial Load (see also Bearing Life)
A constant load applied perpendicular to the axis of the encoder bearing.
This hypothetical value is used to calculate bearing life.
RBX Shaft Encoder
RC Shaft Encoder
Resolution
RG Shaft Encoder
RH and RH-P Pulse Position
Indicator Encoders
Rigid Shaft Coupling
RJ Shaft Encoder
RL and RL-P Shaft Encoders
Rotation
RS and RS-P Cube
Style Shaft Encoders
RS422 (see also Differential Line Driver)
An E.I.A. standard balanced voltage digital interface circuit well suited
to high data rates, over long distances and through noisy environments. It
includes differential transmission that nullifies the effects of ground shifts
and noise signals which appear as common mode voltages on the transmission
line.
Serial Asynchronous Outputs
Serial Synchronous Outputs
Shaft Encoder
Short Circuit Protection
Single Output
Single Turn Absolute Encoder
An encoder that generates a multi-bit binary code word indicating the
angular position of the shaft. As the shaft is rotated through one complete
revolution, the encoder generates some number of unique position codes
depending on its resolution.
The same output codes are repeated for each successive shaft revolution, such
that it is possible to determine the angular position of the shaft but not the
number of times it has rotated.
Speed Indicator (see Minimum Speed Indicator)
SR12 Abolute Encoder
SR30 / SR31 Absolute Encoders
Supply Current
The maximum current consumption by the encoder excluding output current
(measured when the outputs are not connected).
Supply Voltage
The AC or DC operating voltage of the encoder.
Surge Protection
Tachometer (also known as "Tach")
A common name for a model RH wheeled
encoder.
TPU-H5 Tachometer Pickup
Triac
Output (see also 120 VAC Encoder Option)
Triple Outputs
Under-Belt Mounting (see MB-UB1 Under-belt Mounting)
Facilitates mounting the model RH wheeled encoder to ride under the
conveyor belt.
Unidirectional (see Single Output)
VLS and VLSH Visible Light Sources (see D
Series and F Series Photo-Electronics)
Voltage (high)
The minimum DC offset below the input supply voltage for the high level of
a square wave output pulse.
Voltage (low)
The maximum DC offset above zero volts for the low level of a square wave
output pulse.
Wheeled Encoder
Y-1, Y-2A, or Y-3 Yoke Assembly
Y-1G
Yoke Assembly
Yoke Assembly (Y-1,Y-2A,
Y-3
and Y-1G)
Zero Marker
Zero Speed Switch (see Minimum Speed Indicator)
|