News and New Products

Absolute encoder offers relative benefits

By Bill Schweber -- EDN, 9/25/2003

Designed for industrial applications, the AEAS-7000 absolute encoder from Agilent Technologies reduces parts count for increased reliability and ease of installation, and it eliminates the need for some initial alignment procedures. Supporting resolutions of 12 to 16 bits, it offers a 16-MHz serial-data output, which allows servomotor operation to 12,000 rpm. The design also eliminates manual hunting for MSB and LSB, and a Gray-code correction to one LSB decreases code-wheel misalignment problems. The encoder sells for $28 (5000).

Agilent Technologies, 1-800-235-0312, www.agilent.com.