THE SHAFT ENCODER
The encoder is an electro-mechanic device, converting angular position of its shaft into a digital electric signal. When connected to suitable electronic circuits and through proper mechanic link, the encoder is able to measure angular displacements, linear and circular movements and also rotational speed and accelerations. Many technics may be used for angular movement detection: capacitive, inductive, potentiometric and photo-electric.
All Elcis transducers make use of  the photo-electric detection, this being the most versatile and reliable method at the present state of the art. The picture shows how an encoder appears and operates.

.
A collimated light beam is aimed against two radial reticles: a static and a moving reticle (disc).
Light that can pass through both reticles drops on a group of phototransistors placed immediately beyond the static reticle.
By using several slots (instead of only one) on both reticles, the resulting electric signal is rather strong and actually is the average of many lines of the rotating disc.
By this way, the electric output is not so sensitive to small disc imperfections or to small spurious parts in the optic system.

.
For that reason, Elcis incremental encoders yield a smaller "jitter" when compared with other encoders having only one slot. Elcis encoders performances are still enhanced by the push-pull method used in the scanning assembly. This system, in fact, compares the output signal of two phototransistors, one of them being in the lighted area while the other is in a dark area , thus obtaining very stable output signals, even under variations of power supply voltage or ambient temperature.

.
Gallium arsenide light source (LED), used on all Elcis encoders, warrants for a long operating life (100000 hours), quite longer than other encoders using filament lamps: filament lamp life is rather short (5000 to 40000 hours); furthermore Elcis encoders are equipped with a proper inside circuit that compensates led's ageing.
Elcis encoders, thanks to their wide range of models, quality and toughness, are applied with great success in all the world on:
industrial process controls, industrial robots, machine tools, measuring instruments, plotters, dividers, sheet treatment machines, scales and balances, antennas and telescopes, glass, marble, cement,wood, processing machines, ecologic plants, textile, pelt processing machines, cranes, bridge cranes, pressing machines, printing machines, packing, etc.
Furthermore Elcis is skilled in the realization of special encoders upon Customers' request. Planning expensex are generally charged up to Elcis and realization's time is very short.