TIDUA05B June 2015 – March 2025
There are typically two sensing methods implemented with encoders, either based on optical or inductive sensing. With optical rotary encoder, the encoder disc modulates a light beam whose intensity is sensed by photo-electrical cells. These produce two 90-degree phase shifted sinusoidal incremental signals A and B. B lags A with clockwise rotating viewed from the shaft of the encoder. The number of periods of the signals A and B over one mechanical revolution equals the line count N of the encoder. A further track carries the reference marker R, which occurs once per mechanical revolution. The reference marker allows for an absolute angle position measurement.
Figure 1-2 Simplified Sine and Cosine Signals for a Sin/Cos Encoder Over One Mechanical Revolution for a Line Count of 16Sin/Cos encoders with a 1-VPP interface provide the differential analog output signals A (A+, A–) and B (B+, B–) with 1 VPP and typically a 2.5-V DC-offset. The differential reference mark signal R (R+, R-) is typically slightly lower amplitude and the peak occurs only once per revolution. Figure 1-3 shows the differential output signals A, B, and R. Note that A, B, and R represent the differential signal of A+ minus A–, B+ minus B–, and R+ minus R–, respectively.
Figure 1-3 Output Voltage Signals A, B, and Marker R of Sin/Cos-Encoders With N Line Counts per RevolutionThe frequency of the of the Sin/Cos encoder’s differential output signal depends on the line count of the encoder as well as the mechanical speed, as outlined in Equation 1:

N represents the Sin/Cos encoder line count and v the encoder shaft mechanical speed in rpm.
Figure 1-4 provides an overview on the output frequency for encoders with line counts N = 100, 1000, and 2000 versus the mechanical speed.
Figure 1-4 Electrical Frequency of SinCos Encoder Output Signals A and B versus Mechanical Speed and Line CountFor example, a Sin/Cos encoder with a line count of N=2000 running at a mechanical speed of
12000 rpm, outputs the signals A and B with a frequency of 400 KHz.