BiSS Encoders | What You Need to Know

BiSS Encoder Overview

BiSS encoders offer an open source interface for point-to-point or bus communication that sends full absolute position data whenever the controller polls the encoder, rather than just at startup.

Key features include:

BiSS encoders use four data lines, one pair carrying data from the encoder and one carrying clock data to it, plus two power conductors. BiSS uses a variable clock rate of up to 10MHz.

BiSS encoders can be connected either point-to-point or via a bus.

BiSS allows easy recovery from momentary data dropouts during operation and is compatible with SSI and EnDat hardware, requiring only software changes.

BiSS can address internal registers in the encoder that can be read by and written to by the master with data about the encoder itself (identification, device data, resolution, etc.)

BiSS encoders can also carry other digital data (temperature, etc.) and transmit the data to the master on demand, without interfering with real-time operation.

BiSS Encoder Communication Format

BiSS has two modes; sensor mode and register mode. In sensor mode, the sensor or encoder communicates in a manner similar to SSI. The master begins to send a stream of clock pulses. Eventually the data line level will drop low and data sampling will begin. The data can be received and clocked at 10MHz. Due to the transmission speed, many drives may not require additional analog incremental outputs to control motor speed. Since SSI has a slower max transfer rate of 1.5MHz, compared to 10MHz for BiSS encoders, the propagation and calculation delay is less than a full pulse width. This is how BiSS is capable of hardware compatibility with SSI. Only the data length and framework need to be changed in the software.

Figure 1: BiSS Encoder Communication Format

In register mode, the protocol modulates the clock pulse width to address specific slaves and parameters. This mode is unlike any other protocol. If in the sensor mode a warning or alarm bit is set high by the sensor or encoder, the end-user may access the register mode and find specifics on the alarm or warning. This might be an over-temperature warning or, in the case of an encoder, a disk pollution alarm. Dynapar has developed BiSS encoders with the ability to provide single step alarms in case improper position is being provided in sequence.

BiSS Encoder Mode Options

BiSS-B: BiSS-B encoders have two distinct modes, position data and register mode. At startup, the drive instructs the encoder to send position data or toggle into register mode. Custom parameters may also be configured by an equipment manufacturer in addition to position data.

BiSS-C: Also known as BiSS Continuous Mode, BiSS-C encoders only have one mode and break up non time critical data and sends it to the controller over several reads. This allows non time critical data to be read without going into a separate mode. The compromise is that BiSS-C startup time is slightly longer than BiSS-B.
It should be noted that BiSS-B and BiSS-C are not compatible with each other and should be noted when replacing an existing BiSS encoder.

BiSS encoder output with Sin-Cos 1Vpp: BiSS encoders can also provide a 1V p-to-p sin/cos output for real-time control, since the on-demand absolute encoder data can come in too slowly for many control loops.

Feedback Basics

BiSS Encoder Overview

BiSS Encoder Communication Format

BiSS Encoder Mode Options

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