Getting Started

Welcome to the 1057 user guide! In order to get started, make sure you have the following hardware on hand:

• 1057 PhidgetEncoder
• USB cable and computer
• encoder

Next, you will need to connect the pieces:

1. Connect the encoder to the PhidgetEncoder's input.
2. Connect the PhidgetEncoder to your computer using the USB cable.

Now that you have everything together, let's start using the 1057!

Using the 1057

Phidget Control Panel

In order to demonstrate the functionality of the 1057, the Phidget Control Panel running on a Windows machine will be used.

The Phidget Control Panel is available for use on both macOS and Windows machines.

Windows

To open the Phidget Control Panel on Windows, find the icon in the taskbar. If it is not there, open up the start menu and search for Phidget Control Panel

macOS

To open the Phidget Control Panel on macOS, open Finder and navigate to the Phidget Control Panel in the Applications list. Double click on the icon to bring up the Phidget Control Panel.

For more information, take a look at the getting started guide for your operating system:

• Getting started with Windows
• Getting started with macOS

Linux users can follow the getting started with Linux guide and continue reading here for more information about the 1057.

First Look

After plugging the 1057 into your computer and opening the Phidget Control Panel, you will see something like this:

The Phidget Control Panel will list all connected Phidgets and associated objects, as well as the following information:

• Serial number: allows you to differentiate between similar Phidgets.
• Channel: allows you to differentiate between similar objects on a Phidget.
• Version number: corresponds to the firmware version your Phidget is running. If your Phidget is listed in red, your firmware is out of date. Update the firmware by double-clicking the entry.

The Phidget Control Panel can also be used to test your device. Double-clicking on an object will open an example.

Encoder

Double-click on the Encoder object, labelled PhidgetEncoder HighSpeed, in order to run the example:

General information about the selected object will be displayed at the top of the window. You can also experiment with the following functionality:

• Position Change: the number of ticks (or quadrature cycles) that have occurred since the last change event.
• Time Change: the amount of time in milliseconds that has elapsed since the last change event.
• Position: the total position in ticks relative to where the encoder was when the window was opened.
• Index Position: the position where the index channel was last encountered. Some encoders do not support index, check your encoder's datasheet for more information.
• Velocity: the average velocity in rotations per second. A CPR must be specified to enable this functionality.
• Specify a counts per revolution (CPR) value to enable velocity calculation.

Finding The Addressing Information

Before you can access the device in your own code, and from our examples, you'll need to take note of the addressing parameters for your Phidget. These will indicate how the Phidget is physically connected to your application. For simplicity, these parameters can be found by clicking the button at the top of the Control Panel example for that Phidget.

In the Addressing Information window, the section above the line displays information you will need to connect to your Phidget from any application. In particular, note the Channel Class field as this will be the API you will need to use with your Phidget, and the type of example you should use to get started with it. The section below the line provides information about the network the Phidget is connected on if it is attached remotely. Keep track of these parameters moving forward, as you will need them once you start running our examples or your own code.

Using Your Own Program

You are now ready to start writing your own code for the device. The best way to do that is to start from our Code Samples.

Select your programming language of choice from the drop-down list to get an example for your device. You can use the options provided to further customize the example to best suit your needs.

Once you have your example, you will need to follow the instructions on the page for your programming language to get it running. To find these instructions, select your programming language from the Programming Languages page.

Technical Details

General

The 1057 can be used with a wide assortment of mechanical and optical encoders. The encoder should be of quadrature output type, indicating that there will be two output channels (usually labeled A and B). Specifically, the 1057 reads a standard incremental non-differential TTL encoder.

The maximum rate of the 1057 is specified at 500,000 cycles per second. In your application, this number relates directly to the number of revolutions per second you wish to measure, and the number of counts per revolution specified for your encoder. If your encoder's wheel has 1000 counts per revolution, then the limit on measurable revolutions per second is 500, or 30,000rpm (which, for the 1057, corresponds to 2000 position changes in software per second).

Choosing Encoders

Both mechanical and optical encoders are available, with optical encoders prevailing in quality at higher revolution speeds. Review the data sheet for the encoder that your are selecting carefully before purchasing it to ensure it is compatible with the 1057. Almost any incremental quadrature encoder will work but it is important to verify this before connecting it. Absolute encoders will not work with this device. Warning: The 1057 incorporates a 1kOhm pull-up resistor on each line from the encoder input connector. Some encoders will not be able to sink enough current to reliably signal to the 1057. They may work initially, or not at all.

We have reviewed the following encoders, and found that they can be used with the 1057. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list but should be used as a comparison with other encoders.

Connectors

The encoder input on the 1057 uses a 5-pin, 0.100 inch pitch locking connector. The connectors are commonly available - refer to the Table below for manufacturer part numbers.

Note: Most of the above components can be bought at Digikey.

Connector Pinout Diagram

Further Reading

If you want to know more about encoders, check out the Encoder Guide.

What to do Next

• Programming Languages - Find your preferred programming language here and learn how to write your own code with Phidgets!
• Phidget Programming Basics - Once you have set up Phidgets to work with your programming environment, we recommend you read our page on to learn the fundamentals of programming with Phidgets.