For Harsh & Hazardous Environments
NEWBURY PARK, Calif., April 21 -- Micronor Inc. said its new M314 ZapFree high-resolution hollow shaft
fiber optic rotary encoder for harsh and hazardous environments was
designed to accomodate the needs of large-drive applications that
require EMI immunity, higher resolution (1024 ppr) and the mounting
convenience of a hollow shaft encoder package. No integral electronics
are located within its encoder housing, and its all-optical design
requires just a single optical fiber connection. 
The
company said the encoder’s passive design outperforms conventional
optical or magnetic rotary encoders; it enables wider temperature
operation (-60°C/+150°C), outdistances copper encoder links (up to 1000
meters), is immune to lightning/high-voltage static/plasma fields, is
radiation resistant and is intrinsically safe (and ATEX compliant).
The
"passive" MR314 optically links to the "active" MR310 ZapFree remote
encoder interface (REI) module via a single 62.5/125 multimode fiber
link -- up to 1000 meters (3280 feet) away. With a DIN-rail mount, the
MR310 module is colocated with the PLC or other system interface
electronics, where power supply connections and conventional electrical
interface connections are easily made. The module offers a wide variety
of standard interfaces: direct quadrature outputs (both open collector
and line driver), separate multiplier/divider quadrature outputs, two
fully programmable analog outputs (4-20 mA and +/-10 V) and a
PC-friendly RS232/RS422/RS485 serial interface.
Like the
original MR312 shafted fiber optic encoder, all MR3XX series encoders
use telecom-proven wavelength division multiplexing technology by
assigning each internal optical path (A or B) to a wavelength so that
all wavelengths/paths can be combined onto a single fiber.
In
addition to the MR312/MR314 native incremental encoder mode of
operation, the MR310’s firmware allows the encoder to emulate a
multiturn absolute encoder. The internal 24-bit counter can track up to
32,768 revolutions of the 1024-ppr MR314 or 23,201 revolutions of the
360-ppr MR312. Either a software command or TTL signal input to the
MR310 establishes a calibration or zero reference (resetting the
counter to zero). An external battery backup is required to maintain
operation during power interruptions. A combination power supply/backup
battery trickle charger is available.
Special versions can be
easily engineered for thermal-vac environments. An engineering
evaluation kit (MR314 and MR310) is $3495; larger quantities are
available for as little as $2500. Micronor said typical lead time is
stock to four weeks after receipt of an order.
For more information, visit: www.micronor.com; e-mail: [email protected]
Micronor Inc.
3483 Old Conejo Road
Suite 203
Newbury Park, CA 91320
Phone: (805) 499-0114
Fax: (805) 499-6585