Micronor releases MR316 ZapFREE fiber optic rotary encoder

Offshore staff

NEWBURY PARK, California -- Micronor has unveiled the MR316 ZapFREE fiber optic rotary encoder. The product is designed for heavy duty, industrial motor drive applications requiring EMI immunity, ATEX compliance, and IP66 ingress protection.

The sensor is 90 mm (3.5 in.) and features a 12-mm (0.5-in.) shaft and extra heavy duty bearings and shaft seals. Together with the remote MR310 module, the ZapFREE encoder system combines three functions in one - incremental encoder, multi-turn position sensor, and tachometer.

The "passive" MR316 optically links to the "active" MR310 ZapFREE remote encoder interface (REI) Module via a single 62.5/125 multimode fiber link – up to 1,000 m (3,280 ft) away.

With its standard DIN-rail mount, the MR310 module is co-located 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 range of standard interfaces: direct quadrature outputs (both push-pull and line driver), separate multiplier/divider quadrature outputs, two fully programmable analog outputs (4-20mA and +/-10V), and PC-friendly RS232/RS422/RS485 serial interface. For custom applications, the MR310 firmware can be enhanced with additional functions and modes of operation to offload previous forms of remote processing for more efficient system operation.

Based on US Patent 7,196,320, the ZapFREE encoders uses telecom-proven WDM (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.

01/08/2009