Encoder systems offer noise immunity

An Inmoco product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 13, 2007

Inmoco's M3000 and M2000 programmable encoder systems enable engineers to optimise motion platform performance in real-time

Inmoco's new Mercury 3000 and 2000 programmable encoder systems, from MicroE Systems, combine superior noise immunity for demanding industrial applications with the highest level of positional resolution: 20nm or 0.020um.

The M3000 and M2000 units enable engineers to optimise motion platform performance in real-time.

They deliver operating speeds of up to 7.2m/s and provide bolt-in alignment in many applications.

The new Mercury 3000 and 2000 encoder systems feature the smallest sensor in the industry.

Just half the height and less than half the volume of competitive encoder sensors, Mercury's miniature microphotonic sensor enables designers to downsize motion platform size and reduce total platform weight in both rotary and linear applications.

The benefits of this are twofold: the use of smaller and lower cost motors to drive motion platforms, and improved system performance.

Also aiding system performance and adding unparalleled levels of system flexibility are the programmable interpolation and output speed features integrated into the Mercury 3000 and 2000 encoders.

These features mean that the Mercury 3000 and 2000 units are the only available encoder systems that allow engineers to optimise motion platform performance in real time.

Using MicroE's SmartPrecision Software system, users can set the depth of interpolation in integer steps, as well as output speed for the SmartPrecision electronics module.

For the M3000, the interpolation depth ranges from x4 to x1024, with maximum resolution of 20nm, or 0.020um.

For the M2000, maximum interpolation is x256 yielding a resolution of 78nm or 0.078um.

What is more, Mercury encoder systems deliver this performance at the highest possible speed: 7.2m/s for the M3000Si at full resolution with the serial word interface.

The Mercury series offers bolt-in alignment capability in many applications, thanks to its relaxed tolerances - a full 2 degrees in the theta Z axis.

That's four times the alignment flexibility of the closest competitive encoder.

In addition, no external test gear is required to align the sensor.

LEDs on the SmartPrecision electronics module indicate when the user has achieved alignment and when they have established an index.

As a result, virtually anyone can install and align a Mercury encoder, with no external test gear or special training.

Optimising the operation of the M3000 and M2000 encoders is MicroE's optional SmartPrecision software.

This equips engineers with a tool to assess encoder performance in real time for initial motion loop tuning, and for system monitoring over time.

In addition to initial setup of interpolation depth, SmartPrecision software generates graphical displays of signal strength, Lissajous plots, as well as position and velocity data and output speed.

The software can even be used for data capture and displaying alarms.

Moreover, if the set-up is changed for a faster controller at a later date, the user can easily reprogram the output bandwidth to match the new controller.