S4T Product Description
The S4T miniature optical shaft encoder is a non-contacting rotary to digital converter. The S4T contains an LED light source, monolithic photodetector, and mylar disk. The S4T encoder is available with shaft bushing or ball bearings for motion control applications or with shaft torque designed to feel like a potentiometer for front-panel manual interfaces. The encoder converts real-time shaft angle, speed, and direction into TTL-compatible quadrature outputs without index. It operates from a single +5VDC supply.
The S4T uses a high retention, 4 conductor snap-in polarized 1.25mm pitch connector. Mating cables and connectors (see the Cables/Connectors web page) are not included and are available separately.
Product Specifications
View here or download the specifications
ENVIRONMENTAL
PARAMETER |
VALUE |
UNITS |
Operating Temperature |
-20 to 100 |
C |
Electrostatic Discharge, IEC 61000-4-2 Single-ended (-S version) Differential (-D version) |
± 12 ± 7 |
kV |
Vibration (10Hz to 2kHz, sinusoidal) |
20 |
G |
Shock (6 milliseconds, half-sine) |
75 |
G |
MECHANICAL
SPECIFICATION |
SLEEVE BUSHING |
BALL BEARING |
Max. Acceleration |
10000 rad/sec² |
250000 rad/sec² |
Max. Shaft Speed (1) (mechanical) |
100 RPM |
15000 RPM |
Max. Shaft Torque |
0.5 ±0.2 in-oz (D-option) 0.3 in-oz (N-option) |
0.05 in-oz |
Max. Shaft Loading |
2 lbs. dynamic 20 lbs. static |
1 lb. |
Bearing Life |
> 1000000 revolutions |
L10 = (22/Fr)³ * Where L10 = bearing life in millions of revs, and Fr = radial shaft loading in pounds |
Weight |
0.48 oz. |
0.43 oz. |
Max. Shaft Runout |
0.0015 in. T.I.R. |
0.0015 in. T.I.R. |
Max. Panel Nut Tightening Torque |
20 in-lbs |
20 in-lbs |
Technical Bulletin TB1001 - Shaft and Bore Tolerances |
Download |
* only valid with negligible axial shaft loading.
(1) The maximum speed due to electrical considerations is dependent on the CPR. See the E4T product page.
PHASE RELATIONSHIP

PARAMETER |
MIN. |
TYP. |
MAX. |
UNITS |
Symmetry, S |
105 |
180 |
255 |
electrical degrees |
Quadrature Delay, Q |
30 |
90 |
150 |
electrical degrees |
(1) B leads A for clockwise rotation, A leads B for counterclockwise rotation viewed from the shaft side of the encoder.
SINGLE-ENDED ELECTRICAL
SPECIFICATIONS |
MIN. |
TYP. |
MAX. |
UNITS |
NOTES |
Supply Voltage |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
V |
|
Supply Current |
|
25 |
30 |
mA |
CPR ≤ 500, no load |
|
34 |
42 |
mA |
CPR > 500, no load |
Low-level Output |
|
|
0.4 |
V |
CPR ≤ 500, IOL= 8 mA |
CPR > 500, IOL= 5 mA |
|
0.035 |
|
V |
no load |
High-level Output |
2.4 |
|
|
V |
CPR ≤ 500, IOH= -8 mA |
CPR > 500, IOH= -5 mA |
|
4.0 |
|
V |
no load |
Output Rise Time |
|
100 |
|
ns |
no load |
Output Fall Time |
|
50 |
|
ns |
no load |
DIFFERENTIAL ELECTRICAL
SPECIFICATIONS |
MIN. |
TYP. |
MAX. |
UNITS |
NOTES |
Supply Voltage |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
V |
|
Supply Current |
|
27 |
32 |
mA |
CPR ≤ 500, no load |
|
36 |
44 |
mA |
CPR > 500, no load |
Single-Ended Output Voltage High |
4.75 |
5.0 |
|
V |
Min. @ 25mA load, Typ. @ no load |
Single-Ended Output Voltage Low |
|
0.25 |
0.60 |
V |
Typ. @ no load, Max. @ 4.5mA load |
Differential Output Voltage |
3.0 |
3.8 |
|
V |
RL = 100 ohm |
Differential Output Rise/Fall Time |
|
|
20 |
ns |
PIN-OUT
4-PIN SINGLE-ENDED (1) |
6-PIN DIFFERENTIAL (2) |
Pin |
Description |
Pin |
Description |
1 |
+5VDC power |
1 |
Ground |
2 |
A channel |
2 |
A channel |
3 |
Ground |
3 |
A- channel |
4 |
B channel |
4 |
+5VDC power |
|
|
5 |
B channel |
|
|
6 |
B- channel |
(1) 4-pin single-ended mating connector is CON-MIC4
(2) 6-pin differential mating connector is CON-MIC6
PRODUCT CHANGE NOTIFICATIONS
Title |
Date |
Description |
Download |
E4T and S4T Cover and Base Update - PCN 7192 |
3/3/2022 |
As part of our ongoing continuous improvement efforts, and to avoid any potential disruption to our supply chain, US Digital has decided to standardize our plastic material. Based on this, the E4T and S4T encoder cover and base will change from PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) to PC (polycarbonate). |
Download |
Updated PCB for E4T and S4T - PCN 6466 |
1/29/2018 |
This notice is to inform our customers of a PCB design change that is being implemented for all the E4T and S4T product lines. The new PCBs will improve overall product performance and enhance robustness of these product lines. The new PCBs can be identified by their blue color (instead of black) and have two mounting holes that mate with the base plate instead of one hole and one slot. This change has no impact on form, fit or function for either the E4T or S4T. |
Download |
E4T, S4T and E8T Laser Markings - PCN 6227 |
8/8/2017 |
This notification is to inform our customers of a change to product markings for the E4T, E8T, and S4T series of encoders. The new marking will be utilized across all three product lines. We are making this change to improve readability for our customers and to provide consistency across the product lines. |
Download |
Additional Information
Product Notes
-
Cables and connectors are not included and must be ordered separately.
-
For ordering information please see the Compatible Cables / Connectors section above.
Datasheets
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Press Releases
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