Fig. 1 click for full size photo.

Better Arduino Rotary Encoder Circuit

by Lewis Loflin

Rotary encoders are often three-wire devices where the phase relationship between the two outputs is an indication of the direction of shaft rotation. This can be a manual control or a disk on a motor shaft.

Shown above is the waveform relationship on channel A and B outputs. If we use the positive going edge of waveform A as a reference, we need to read the logic level channel B.

For example if B is a logical HIGH then we know the direction is say clockwise. And if a logical LOW then we know the direction is counter-clockwise.

The circuit as is suffers from contact noise from the switches and if connected to Arduino or PIC the direction of rotation has to be decided in software which can slow down program response. See the following two examples.

You Tube Video

Fig. 2 click for full size photo.

In the above circuit we use a 1uF capacitor with a SN7414 Schmitt trigger input NAND gates that clean up the switch contact noise.

We use a CD4013 D Flip-Flop that operates as follows: If B is HIGH on pin 5 when A goes from LOW to HIGH on pin 3 the Q output on pin 1 goes HIGH and is stored there. By reading that single bit we know direction say CW.

If the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction B is a LOW on pin 5 is stored on Q when A on pin 3 goes LOW to HIGH. Now we know the shaft was turned in the opposite direction (CCW) when Q is polled by a micro-controller.

In addition Arduino or PIC can poll STEP as a count pulse in addition change in direction on DIR.

Arduino Code with LCD Display

The CLK pulse is connected to DP2 and utilizes interrupt 0 with ISR read_rotary which checks the state of DIR on DP3 and increments or decrements the variable counter which is displayed on the LCD display.

Rotary encoder PC board used with Arduino.

Actual Circuit on PC board.

Demonstrates the use a 16x2 LCD display. The LiquidCrystal library works with all LCD displays that are compatible with the Hitachi HD44780 driver.

 
 The circuit:
 * LCD RS pin to digital pin 12
 * LCD Enable pin to digital pin 11
 * LCD D4 pin to digital pin 8
 * LCD D5 pin to digital pin 7
 * LCD D6 pin to digital pin 6
 * LCD D7 pin to digital pin 5
 * LCD R/W pin to ground
 * 10K resistor:
 * ends to +5V and ground
 * wiper to LCD VO pin (pin 3)

See LCD Connections.

// include the library code:
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>

#define STEP 2 //  interrupt 0
#define DIR 3

static int counter = 0;
char myString[19];

// initialize the LCD library with 
// the numbers of the interface pins
LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 8, 7, 6, 5);

void setup() {
  // set up the LCD's number of columns and rows: 
  lcd.begin(16, 2);
  pinMode(STEP, INPUT); 
  pinMode(DIR, INPUT); 
  attachInterrupt(0, read_rotary, FALLING);
  lcd.print("Count = ");
}

void loop() {
  lcd.setCursor(8, 0); // row 0 col 9
  lcd.print(counter);
  lcd.print("    ");
  delayMicroseconds(10000);
}

// read bit on DIR on D3
void read_rotary(void)   {
  if (digitalRead(DIR)) counter--;
    else counter++;
}

Arduino