What is a optical encoder?！

Optical encoders
Rotary encoder, also called a shaft encoder is a device, the angular position or motion is converted to analog or digital code.

There are two main types: absolute and incremental (relative). Display absolute encoder output shaft of the current position, angle sensors. Incremental encoder output provides information about the movement of the shaft, which is usually other information for further processing, such as speed, distance, rpm and location.

The encoder can use various sensing techniques, but the most common is the optical. In the optical encoder, the light source or by a rotating disk, it is obvious that the light passes through or is blocked. The optical sensor detects light through and generates the corresponding electrical pulses. The optical scale can arrange a series of markers that can be used to measure the angle or movement. Mark scale well - microns.

Thirty years ago, most applications use a parser instead of the optical encoder. Today, the situation is reversed. A major factor is that there are numerous different encoders can be from a variety of manufacturers. Unlike the parser, no separate optical encoder electronics. Their output is immediately available host control system. Thus, they are easier to specify and deploy. Their main weakness is unable to cope with characteristic vibration, shock, or foreign matter under extreme temperature harsh environment possible. There is little or no warning about to fail.

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