[simpits-tech] rotary encoder

[Steve Wilson]

Understood Gene - thanks for the clarification.  I'm starting to research
just exactly what and where to find it to flesh out my Viper panels.  Time
to get smart!

Steve W.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gene Buckle" <geneb at deltasoft.com>
To: "Simulator Cockpit tech list" <simpits-tech at simpits.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 3:09 PM
Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] rotary encoder


>
> > I've seen a lot of rotary encoder stuff in the group, and until
> > recently, I didn't understand what the fuss was all about.  With recent
> > dialogue, I do - as far as what key combo is sent depending on which way
> > the knob was turned.
> >
> > This was something I always intended to take care of with some sort of
> > simple rotary switch and my EPIC.  Say you have a rotary with 10
> > contacts.  That's 10 separate connections to the EPIC, and in the EPIC
> > program, all one would need to do is set up some fairly straightforward
> > logic to analyze where the rotary is at.  If the program simply stored
> > the value associated with the current position of the knob, and when a
> > different contact of the 10 was detected, it would be compared to the
> > previously stored value, which would determine which way the knob was
> > being turned.  This would give EPIC enought data to send whatever the
> > appropriate key combination was for increment or decrement.
> >
> > Is there a flaw in this thinking?
>
>
> Steve, rotary encoders are infinite devices.  There are no stops.  You can
> turn it left forever and it won't stop you until it wears out.  These are
> used for things like tuning radios where the display is totally digital.
>
> A rotary encoder is not the device you want to use if the target
> application only has n positions.  For that, you'd use a rotary _switch_
> like your 10 pole example above.  (Rotary switches count their contacts as
> "poles".  A 5 position switch would thus be called a 5 pole rotary.)
>
> Another thing to consider with rotary switches is the physical operation.
> There are two types - make before break and break before make.  The make
> before break types will engage the common pole to the desired pole before
> contact with the prior position is broken.  For example, hold down your
> "A" key, then while holding down the "A" key, hold down the "G" key and
> while holding down the "G" key, release the "A" key.  That's make before
> break.  Break before make works the same way, but you use the same finger
> on key "G" ad you did on A", thus you break the connection at the "A" key
> before making it on the "G".
>
> For our applications, the break before make type are the ones you want.
>
> g.
>
>
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