April 5, 2009 – POSITAL’s recently introduced OPTOCODE models with EtherNet/IP interfaces are now the world’s first encoders to be certified by the ODVA. The Open DeviceNet Vendors Association, which sets the standards for this Industrial Ethernet protocol, were able to conclude all functional and compliance testing for the EtherNet/IP-capable encoders quickly and smoothly. Equipped with an Ertec200 Ethernet chip, these devices support application cycle times of less than 10 ms. EtherNet/IP does not require terminating resistors or switches for address allocation or data transfer speed adjustment, which simplifies setup and reduces the overall size of the package. Since there is no connection cap, these encoders have a small installation depth.
Combined with a 58 mm (2.3”) diameter, this means that OPTOCODE encoders can fit into tight spaces. The certified encoders feature two M12 connections for communication lines and one M12 connector for voltage supply. An integrated switch simplifies wiring, while six LEDs display diagnostic information directly at the device to help technicians diagnose current bus communication status from the factory floor. The devices provide a resolution of 16 bits per revolution, and an additional 14 bits in multi-turn mode, yielding a 30 bit overall measuring range.
Thanks to their opto-electronic scanning technology, these encoders can report their current absolute position values as soon as they are powered up, without need for referencing or re-zeroing. POSITAL also provides a new tool which allows users to detect encoder IP addresses when BOOTP or DHCP protocols are disabled.
