All rotary encoders consist of a light source, light detector, code wheel, and signal processor. There are two basic encoder styles: absolute and incremental.

It works by using two absolute rotary encoders that each have a whopping 1024 positions available. One encoder is stuck into the South Pole, and it reads the lines of longitude as the user spins ...

Absolute encoders have an encoder disc which has marks or slots on a power-transmission shaft and a stationary pickup. The disc records a unique code for each shaft position.

For thoseknobs, you have the choice betweeneither a potentiometer boasting lowcost, high resolution, and absolutereadout but only limited travel—typicallyless than 340°—or a mechanical-opticalrotary ...