TIDUA05B June   2015  – March 2025

 

  1.   1
  2.   Description
  3.   Resources
  4.   Features
  5.   Applications
  6.   6
  7. System Description
    1. 1.1 Design Overview
    2. 1.2 Analog Sin/Cos Incremental Encoder
      1. 1.2.1 Sin/Cos Encoder Output Signals
      2. 1.2.2 Sin/Cos Encoder Electrical Parameter Examples
    3. 1.3 Method to Calculate High-Resolution Position With Sin/Cos Encoders
      1. 1.3.1 Theoretical Approach
        1. 1.3.1.1 Overview
        2. 1.3.1.2 Coarse Resolution Angle Calculation
        3. 1.3.1.3 Fine Resolution Angle Calculation
        4. 1.3.1.4 Interpolated High-Resolution Angle Calculation
        5. 1.3.1.5 Practical Implementaion for Non-Ideal Synchronization
        6. 1.3.1.6 Resolution, Accuracy, and Speed Considerations
    4. 1.4 Sin/Cos Encoder Parameters Impact on Analog Circuit Specification
      1. 1.4.1 Analog Signal Chain Design Consideration for Phase Interpolation
      2. 1.4.2 Comparator Function System Design for Incremental Count
  8. Design Features
    1. 2.1 Sin/Cos Encoder Interface
    2. 2.2 Host Processor Interface
    3. 2.3 Evaluation Firmware
    4. 2.4 Power Management
    5. 2.5 EMC Immunity
  9. Block Diagram
  10. Circuit Design and Component Selection
    1. 4.1 Analog Signal Chain
      1. 4.1.1 High-Resolution Signal Path With 16-Bit Dual Sampling ADC
        1. 4.1.1.1 Component Selection
        2. 4.1.1.2 Input Signal Termination and Protection
        3. 4.1.1.3 Differential Amplifier THS4531A and 16-Bit ADC ADS8354
      2. 4.1.2 Analog Signal Path With Single-Ended Output for MCU With Embedded ADC
      3. 4.1.3 Comparator Subsystem for Digital Signals A, B, and R
        1. 4.1.3.1 Non-Inverting Comparator With Hysteresis
    2. 4.2 Power Management
      1. 4.2.1 24-V Input to 6-V Intermediate Rail
      2. 4.2.2 Encoder Supply
      3. 4.2.3 Signal Chain Power Supply 5 V and 3.3 V
    3. 4.3 Host Processor Interface
      1. 4.3.1 Signal Description
      2. 4.3.2 High-Resolution Path Using 16-Bit Dual ADC ADS8354 With Serial Output
        1. 4.3.2.1 ADS8354 Input Full Scale Range Output Data Format
        2. 4.3.2.2 ADS8354 Serial Interface
        3. 4.3.2.3 ADS8354 Conversion Data Read
        4. 4.3.2.4 ADS8354 Register Configuration
    4. 4.4 Encoder Connector
    5. 4.5 Design Upgrades
  11. Software Design
    1. 5.1 Overview
    2. 5.2 C2000 Piccolo Firmware
    3. 5.3 User Interface
  12. Getting Started
    1. 6.1 TIDA-00176 PCB Overview
    2. 6.2 Connectors and Jumper Settings
      1. 6.2.1 Connector and Jumpers Overview
      2. 6.2.2 Default Jumper Configuration
    3. 6.3 Design Evaluation
      1. 6.3.1 Prerequisites
      2. 6.3.2 Hardware Setup
      3. 6.3.3 Software Setup
      4. 6.3.4 User Interface
  13. Test Results
    1. 7.1 Analog Performance Tests
      1. 7.1.1 High-Resolution Signal Path
        1. 7.1.1.1 Bode Plot of Analog Path from Encoder Connector to ADS8354 Input
        2. 7.1.1.2 Performance Plots (DFT) for Entire High-Resulation Signal Path
        3. 7.1.1.3 Background on AC Performance Definitions With ADCs
      2. 7.1.2 Differential to Single-Ended Analog Signal Path
      3. 7.1.3 Comparator Subsystem With Digital Output Signals ATTL, BTTL, and RTTL
    2. 7.2 Power Supply Tests
      1. 7.2.1 24-V DC/DC Input Supply
        1. 7.2.1.1 Load-Line Regulation
        2. 7.2.1.2 Output Voltage Ripple
        3. 7.2.1.3 Switching Node and Switching Frequency
        4. 7.2.1.4 Efficiency
        5. 7.2.1.5 Bode Plot
        6. 7.2.1.6 Thermal Plot
      2. 7.2.2 Encoder Power Supply Output Voltage
      3. 7.2.3 5-V and 3.3-V Point-of-Load
    3. 7.3 System Performance
      1. 7.3.1 Sin/Cos Encoder Output Signal Emulation
        1. 7.3.1.1 One Period (Incremental Phase) Test
        2. 7.3.1.2 One Mechanical Revolution Test at Maximum Speed
    4. 7.4 Sin/Cos Encoder System Tests
      1. 7.4.1 Zero Index Marker R
      2. 7.4.2 Functional System Tests
    5. 7.5 EMC Test Result
      1. 7.5.1 Test Setup
      2. 7.5.2 IEC-61000-4-2 ESD Test Results
      3. 7.5.3 IEC-61000-4-4 EFT Test Results
      4. 7.5.4 IEC-61000-4-5 Surge Test Results
  14. Design Files
    1. 8.1 Schematics
    2. 8.2 Bill of Materials
    3. 8.3 PCB Layout Guidelines
      1. 8.3.1 PCB Layer Plots
    4. 8.4 Altium Project
    5. 8.5 Gerber Files
    6. 8.6 Software Files
  15. References
  16. 10About the Author
    1.     Recognition
  17. 11Revision History

Sin/Cos Encoder Output Signals

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.

TIDA-00176 Simplified Sine and Cosine Signals for a Sin/Cos Encoder Over One Mechanical Revolution for a Line Count of 16Figure 1-2 Simplified Sine and Cosine Signals for a Sin/Cos Encoder Over One Mechanical Revolution for a Line Count of 16

Sin/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.

TIDA-00176 Output Voltage Signals A, B, and Marker R of Sin/Cos-Encoders With N Line Counts per RevolutionFigure 1-3 Output Voltage Signals A, B, and Marker R of Sin/Cos-Encoders With N Line Counts per Revolution

The 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:

Equation 1. TIDA-00176

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.

TIDA-00176 Electrical Frequency of SinCos Encoder Output Signals A and B versus Mechanical Speed and Line CountFigure 1-4 Electrical Frequency of SinCos Encoder Output Signals A and B versus Mechanical Speed and Line Count

For 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.