News and New Products

Quadrature counter simplifies encoder feedback

By Bill Schweber -- EDN, 5/12/2005

Using the LS7366 counter from LSI Computer Systems, designers of feedback systems for encoders, “which typically find use on shafts and machinery,” can offload their system processors, according to Jeffrey Sarment, company president. The 14-lead up/down counter IC features a variety of count modes, including quadrature, nonquadrature, and modulo-N, and communicates with the host controller, usually a microcontroller or PLC programmable-logic controller, using the SPI bus. It features user-selectable flag and interrupt modes, which a single-wire interrupt-line signals.

Designers can wire-OR the line to combine multiple counters. Maximum count frequency for this CMOS IC is 40 MHz at 5V, although it operates at voltages as low as 3.3V. The $1.85 (1000) IC is available in DIP, SOIC, and TSSOP packages, and designers can be order it in a ROHS (restriction-of-hazardous-substances)-compliant version.

LSI Computer Systems Inc, www.lsicsi.com.