Leine & Linde’s XHI 801 and XHI 803 rotary encoders are now available with Optolink to transmit encoder position data using fiber optics. The Optolink transmitter provides secure data transmission in harsh industrial environments where electrical noise and long cable lengths can be problematic, such as in many mining, steel, cranes, wind turbines and pulp/paper processing applications, to name a few.
The Optolink technology permits signal transmission up to 1500 meters. Because data is transmitted over optical fiber, the signal is not affected by electromagnetic disturbances. This reduces the chance of measurement errors in electrically noisy environments, something that may be difficult to mitigate when copper cable is used. Optical fiber has other advantages as well; it is significantly lighter than copper, and the the galvanic isolation offered by the fiber can help to prevent damage from lightning when applied in wind turbines and cranes for example.
Optolink is provided in addition to the standard encoder outputs. This allows the standard output to interface with a local control system, and the optical channel can then be used for long distance transmission to a remote facility or for Safety systems. To convert the optical signal back into a protocol accepted by the controller, Leine & Linde provides an Optolink receiver which converts the signal back into standard electrical encoder interfaces like HTL or RS-422.
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