1.12.18 Quadrature Encoder Interface (QEI)

The Quadrature Encoder Interface (QEI) module provides the interface to incremental encoders for obtaining mechanical position data. This module provides below features:

  • Four input pins: two phase signals, an index pulse and a home pulse

  • Programmable digital noise filters on inputs

  • Count direction status

  • Index (INDX) pulse to reset the position counter

  • General purpose 32-bit Timer/Counter mode

  • Interrupts generated by QEI or counter events

  • 32-bit velocity counter

  • 32-bit position counter

  • 32-bit index pulse counter

  • 32-bit interval timer

  • 32-bit position Initialization/Capture register

  • 32-bit Compare Less Than and Greater Than registers

Using The Library

Quadrature encoder signals Phase A, Phase B and an optional index signal and an optional home signal are connected to the QEI peripheral. The quadrature decoder in the QEI peripheral processes these signals with an internal counter to get the position, velocity and revolution count. The quadrature decoder increments or decrements the 32-bit Up/Down Counter for each change of state. The counter increments when QEA leads QEB and decrements when QEB leads QEA

Library Interface

Peripheral library provides the following interfaces:

Functions

Name Description
QEIx_Initialize Initializes given instance of QEI peripheral in quadrature mode
QEIx_Start Starts the given QEI instance counter
QEIx_Stop Stops the given QEI instance counter
QEIx_PositionGet Reads the position from the quadrature encoder
QEIx_VelocityGet Reads the velocity counter from the quadrature encoder
QEIx_RevolutionsGet Reads the number of revolutions tracked by the quadrature encoder
QEIx_CallbackRegister Registers the function to be called from interrupt

Data types and constants

Name Type Description
QEI_INTERRUPT Enum Identifies Quadrature mode interrupt source
QEI_STATUS Enum Identifies Quadrature mode interrupt source mask
QEI_CALLBACK Typedef Defines the function pointer data type and function signature for the qei peripheral callback function