• Products
  • Industries
  • IIoT & Solutions
  • Service
  • Company

What are encoders

In many manufacturing and production processes, in mobile machines and in the area of renewable energies encoders have become established as reliable instruments. To precisely determine the speed, position, angle or direction of rotation of objects, they convert rotary movements into digital signals. Encoders use wear-free magnetic or photoelectric detection. A pulse disc firmly attached to the shaft or a movable magnet carrier ensures this recognition.

  • Speed and angle detection during one revolution
  • Pulse signal
  • Evaluation unit is required
  • No position traceability in case of power failure
Incremental
encoders
  • Absolute position traceability even when unpowered
Absolute singleturn
encoders
  • Position detection even over several revolutions
Absolute multiturn
encoders

Types of encoders

  Incremental Incremental
via IO-Link
Absolute singleturn Absolute multiturn Absolute multiturn
via IO-Link
Speed
Resolution
Revolutions 1 1 1 1 / ∞ 1 /∞
Position values Relative Absolute Absolute Absolute Absolute
IO-Link infrastructure
required
Position memory
after power break
Fieldbus compatibility
Noise immunity
Settings required