In robotics and automation technology, rotary encoders or resolvers serve on servo drives as feedback systems for position and speed control. An increasing number of applications require multiturn versions of absolute encoders that are low in cost and as sturdy as resolvers but with features beyond what resolvers can provide. The most important of these is a digital interface for transmitting high-resolution absolute position values. These requirements can be fulfilled with Heidenhain's new, compact EQI 1100 series inductive rotary encoders.
These are available as a single-turn version (ECI 1116) with 65,536 measuring steps per resolution (16 bits) or a multi-turn version (EQI 1128) with 4,096 distinguishable revolutions (12 bits). The total resolution of the EQI 1128 is therefore 268,435,456 positions (28 bits). With an outside diameter of 38 mm, the overall length, including the transmission, is only 28 mm.
In their mating dimensions, these rotary encoders are compatible with optical variants, the ECN 1113 and EQN 1125. Both support the EnDat interface.