Agilent Technologies, Inc. has introduced what is said to be the industry’s first 125°C multiturn absolute encoder that includes a built-in module integrator chip (MUIC). With its MUIC providing the interface, the AEAT-86AD module synchronizes with the AEAS-7000 plug-and-play absolute encoder to form a complete housed absolute-encoder solution. Targeted applications include servo motors, robotics, machine tools and wafer handlers operating in harsh environments. The combination of the AEAT-86AD series module and the AEAS-7000 absolute encoder features motor-shaft revolution-count capabilities up to 16,384 revolutions. These absolute encoders use a modular approach to reduce the number of assembly steps to four, versus other approaches that require as many as eight. The encoder combination also reduces the number of components needed to produce a housed encoder from approximately 120 to as few as four, said to decrease inventory, manufacturing and purchasing costs by as much as 40 percent. In addition, it reduces manufacturer design cycles by 50 percent by eliminating the need for multiple alignment adjustments with its plug-and-play feature.