Incremental encoder in electrical drives: Modeling and simulation

Abstract

Incremental encoders are electro-mechanical devices used as position sensors in electrical drives. They provide electrical pulses when their shaft is rotating. The number of pulses is proportional to the angular position of the shaft. The paper focuses on the modeling and simulation of an incremental encoder, and associated units serving for direction identification and position computing. Matlab-Simulink® structure was realized and tested. The proposed structure identifies the direction of the rotation in an angular interval equal to a quarter of the angular step of encoder graduation. The incremental encoder was integrated into the simulation structure of an induction motor based drive control system in order to provide the position of the motor shaft. Experimental results are also presented. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.