Agilent Unveils Industry's Smallest Reflective Optical Encoders
1/6/2004 - Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) introduced the industry's smallest surface-mount reflective optical encoders for use in a wide range of consumer, office and industrial automation applications. The Agilent AEDR-8300 series encoders are 45 percent smaller than the industry's current smallest encoder.
Their miniature size and surface-mount packaging make it extremely easy for design engineers to incorporate these devices in tight spaces, such as the inside of a motor case in a copier or directly on a printed-circuit board for storage devices, digital cameras, printers, as well as automotive applications, including seat adjust and mirror control. The encoders offer a wide operating temperature range (-20ºC to 85ºC), enabling them to work in high-temperature environments.
"The AEDR-8300 series offers our customers an unbeatable combination of small size and wide operating temperature range," said Chong Khin Mien, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Motion Control Products Division. "Our track record of innovation, quality, high-volume manufacturing and global customer service is what keeps Agilent the worldwide leader in optical encoders."
The Agilent AEDR-8300 series reflective encoders consist of an LED light source, a special photodetector IC with integrated electronics, and integrated optics. They can be used with a reflective code wheel to sense rotary position and velocity, or with a linear code strip to sense linear position and velocity. The devices provide either one or two-channel TTL-compatible digital outputs in quadrature, which provides both count and direction information. They are available with encoding resolutions of 7.09 lines per mm (180 lines per inch), 5.91 lines per mm (150 lines per inch), 2.95 lines per mm (75 lines per inch) and 1.42 lines per mm (36 lines per inch). The encoders use identical pin-outs for 75 and 150 lines per inch, providing backward compatibility. They are insensitive to axial play and maintain performance and accuracy over a wide variation in the gap between sensor and code wheel or strip.
Agilent's reflective encoders are supplied in a solder-bump (similar to a ball-grid-array) SO-6 lead-free package with overall dimensions of 5.12 mm length x 3.96 width x 1.63 mm height, compared to the Agilent HEDR-8000 series in the SO-8 package, with total dimensions of 5.08 x 6.2 x 3.18 mm (including leads). This reduces the overall area required on a printed circuit board by 30 percent, which reduces system cost. The surface-mount IC configuration is specifically designed for automated assembly, and the solder-bump design provides for self-alignment on PC board solder pads. The encoders operate at rated performance for frequencies up to 30 kHz.
U.S. Pricing and Availability
The Agilent AEDR-8300 reflective optical encoders are priced at $2.48 each in 5,000-unit quantities. These devices are available now through Agilent's direct sales channel and worldwide distribution partners.
Further information on Agilent's motion control products is available at www.agilent.com/view/motioncontrol.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 29,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $6.1 billion in fiscal year 2003. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.
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