what is digital encoders
Digital encoders are integrated circuits (ICs) that generate coded outputs from numeric input lines. Inputs can be obtained from a measuring system that consists of a light source, code disc, opto-electronic scanner, reticle, and opto-array. When light shines through the code disc, dark spots cover combinations of slashes on the reticle. This interrupts the beam of light on the phototransistor and converts the code on the disc into electronic signals, which are then amplified and converted. Common outputs for digital encoders include binary code, binary coded decimal (BCD), decimal-to-BCD, and octal-to-binary. Input and output lines are available in increments of two, and range from two to 16 lines for inputs and two to eight lines for outputs. With priority encoders, a priority is assigned to each input so that when two or more inputs are active simultaneously, the input with the highest priority is represented on the output.