Encoders and Transducers
Encode and convert physical quantities into electrical signals or vice versa.
Simscape Blocks
| Hall-Effect Rotary Encoder | Four-element Hall-effect rotary encoder |
| Incremental Shaft Encoder | Behavioral model that converts angular position to electrical pulses |
| Inductive Rotor Position Sensor | Inductive rotor position sensor with four inductive coils |
| Light-Emitting Diode | Exponential light-emitting diode with optical power output port |
| Peltier Device | Electrothermal cooler or thermoelectric generator |
| Photodiode | Photodiode with incident flux input port |
| Pressure Transducer | Pressure transducer that converts pressure measurement into voltage |
| PTC Thermistor | Positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor |
| Resolver | Rotary transformer that measures angle of rotation |
| Strain Gauge | Deformation sensor |
| Thermistor | Negative temperature coefficient thermistor using B-parameter equation |
| Thermocouple | Sensor that converts thermal potential difference into electrical potential difference |
Topics
- Essential Electrical Modeling Techniques
Apply Simscape™ modeling rules when you build electronic, mechatronic, and electrical power system networks using Simscape Electrical™.
- Three-Phase Ports
Connect three-phase blocks using composite ports for three-phase lines or expanded ports for single-phase lines.
- Parameterizing Blocks from Datasheets
Overview of techniques used to specify block parameters to match the data from manufacturer datasheets.
Featured Examples
Sense Stepper Motor Angle Using Hall Effect Encoder
Detect the angle of a stepper motor using a Hall-Effect Rotary Encoder block.
Use of Peltier Device as Thermoelectric Cooler
A Peltier device working in cooling mode with a hot side temperature of 50 degC. In cooling mode, the Coefficient of Performance (COP) of the Peltier cell is equal to the total heat transferred through the Thermoelectric cooler (TEC) divided by the electric input power, COP = Qc/Pin.
Strain Gauge and Wheatstone Bridge
How to model a strain gauge and measurement amplifier. The strain gauge forms one leg of a Wheatstone bridge, which is connected to a differential amplifier. A second op-amp is then used to both amplify and apply a low-pass filter to the measurement signal. The op-amps are modeled at a system level, with the user specifying parameters such as open-loop bandwidth, gain and maximum slew rate. In this circuit, the dynamics are primarily set by the low-pass filter. The op-amp bandwidth and maximum slew rate have little impact on the step response.
Thermistor-Controlled Fan
How fundamental thermal, mechanical and electrical components can be used to model a thermistor-controlled fan. The heat-generating device starts producing 2 watts at time zero, and then at 40 seconds this increases to 20 watts. The thermistor therefore heats up, and its resistance decreases thereby increasing the voltage across the PWM reference pins. This increases the PWM frequency which in turn increases average motor current, and the fan speeds up. The additional fan speed increases the convective cooling of the device, moderating the temperature increase of the device.
Measure Temperature During Quenching of Steel Using Thermocouple Block
Use the Thermocouple block to measure the temperature of steel during quenching. During quenching, you heat the steel to a temperature above its recrystallization temperature and then rapidly cool the steel by submerging it in liquid. Because of the high temperature, you cannot use traditional temperature measurement apparatus such as thermistor-based or semiconductor-based temperature sensors or liquid thermometers. To measure temperatures in such harsh environments, industries and laboratories employ thermocouples, which convert thermal potential difference to electrical potential difference.
