Performance and flexibility from novel encoder

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team May 10, 2002

The novel CoreTech encoder combines custom-designed opto-ASIC technology with a modular mechanical concept.

The novel CoreTech encoder line from Stegmann combines custom-designed opto-ASIC technology with a modular mechanical concept.

Customers can choose from a large variety of incremental and absolute encoder solutions with different mechanical interfaces, housing styles, resolutions and new electronic features, all with standard lead times of 48 hours.

The new programmable sensor module, which is the core of every incremental and absolute encoder, makes this possible.

As soon as a customer order is placed, the core module is programmed and put into the desired housing.

After the specified driver board, shaft, and connector or cable is added the product is ready for shipping.

CoreTech encoders are the first to offer incremental counts from 1 to 8192 without extra lead time or price adder, even for the most uncommon resolutions.

The same applies to all absolute encoders with any resolution between 2 and 32,768 steps.

Both encoder types are supplied in a variety of solid shaft, hub shaft, and hollow shaft versions and 2in, 2.5in and 60mm housings.

Thanks to an innovative zero set feature, alignment of electrical position to the mechanical encoder position has never been easier and faster.

It is another standard CoreTech feature for the incremental marker pulse, and for the start position of absolute encoders.

Activation is realised via set button or setline.

Thanks to an electrical bandwidth of up to 820kHz and a firmware generated marker pulse of 90 or 180 degrees, this new technology allows engineers to receive reliable incremental feedback for speeds up to 10,000 rpm while maintaining marker width and synchronisation.

Absolute versions can be ordered with Gray, Gray excess, BCD or binary code in combination with count direction adjustment by the customer and enable, store, and parity check functions.

All electronics are designed in accordance with CE requirements, and thanks to a differential sensor principle, high signal quality and noise immunity is guaranteed.

Because long LED lifetime is important for industrial applications, an integrated current controller that adjusts for any potential aging and temperature drift is included.

The reduction of electronic components and built-in monitoring functions also greatly enhance reliability.

In contrast to conventional encoders with a continuous repetition of opaque and transparent fields on the code disk, CoreTech condenses the position information into one circular barcode track.

A second analogue sin/cos precision track supplies additional synchronisation data required for high resolution and accuracy.

With CoreTech, Stegmann is currently the only known company to reduce the form factor of 15bit absolute and 8192-line incremental feedback to a 2in housing size, while still maintaining a direct read from the code disk.