EBC Reading a Rotary Encoder via eQEP

Embedded Linux Class by Mark A. Yoder

A common way to read a rotational input is with a quadrature encoder such as these rotary encoders from SparkFun and Adafruit. BeagleBone Black has an Enhanced Quadrature Encoder Pulse (eQEP) Module (See section 15.4 of the TRM) that makes reading encoders easy.

This is updated to use the Linux counter subsystem which was introduced with the 5.2 version of the kernel.

See https://adafruit-beaglebone-io-python.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Encoder.html for a code example based on Adafruit_BBIO.

Wiring the Encoder

The encoders we are using have a common lead and two inputs, A and B. Wire the common to ground. We'll start using the Bone's eQEP2 since it doesn't conflict with the HDMI. Derek Molloy's P8/P9 Header chart shows eQEP2B_in is on pin P8_11 and eQEP2A_in is on P8_12.

// Black OR Pocket
// eQEP0:	P9.27 and P9.42 OR P1_33 and P2_34
// eQEP1:	P9.33 and P9.35
// eQEP2:	P8.11 and P8.12 OR P2_24 and P2_33

// AI
// eQEP1:	P8.33 and P8.35
// eQEP2:	P8.11 and P8.12 or P9.19 and P9.41
// eQEP3:	P8.24 and P8.25 or P9.27 and P9.42

Let's use eQEP2. First set the pin muxes:

bone$ config-pin P8_11 qep 
bone$ config-pin P8_12 qep

Then change to the counter directory: (Note, that count2 is because we are using eEQP2.)

bone$ cd /sys/bus/counter/devices/counter2/count0
bone$ ls
ceiling  enable    function_available  signal0_action            signal1_action
count    function  name                signal0_action_available  signal1_action_available

Set the max range and turn on:

bone$ sudo chmod o+w * (Only do once.  It may not be needed at all.)
bone$ echo 1000000 > ceiling
bone$ echo 1 > enable

Then read count. Try reading then turning the encoder.

bone$ cat count
2
bone$ cat count
999998

On the Blue

bone$ cd /opt/source/rcpy
bone$ sudo python3 setup.py install

You should then be able to run the python example.

Configuring the Encoder (skip)

If you are running a current version of Debian on your Bone (3-Mar-2015 or newer), the file for configuring the eQEP are already on your Bone.

bone$ # ls /lib/firmware/ | grep -i qep
PyBBIO-eqep0-00A0.dtbo
PyBBIO-eqep1-00A0.dtbo
PyBBIO-eqep2-00A0.dtbo
PyBBIO-eqep2b-00A0.dtbo

The different dtbo files configure for different pins. Get Derek Molloy's P8 and P9 header tables to see what pins are available.

wget https://github.com/derekmolloy/boneDeviceTree/raw/master/docs/BeagleboneBlackP8HeaderTable.pdf
wget https://github.com/derekmolloy/boneDeviceTree/raw/master/docs/BeagleboneBlackP9HeaderTable.pdf

Open the pdf files and search for eqp. eQEP2 looks like a good one, but it appears in two place. Try the first one

bone$ export SLOTS=/sys/devices/bone_capemgr.*/slots
bone$ echo PyBBIO-eqep2 > $SLOTS
-bash: echo: write error: File exists

There's a problem. Use dmesg to see what went wrong.

bone$ dmesg | tail
   # [321550.694044] bone-capemgr bone_capemgr.9: slot #26: Failed verification
   # [325272.156839] bone-capemgr bone_capemgr.9: part_number 'PyBBIO-eqep2', version 'N/A'
   # [325272.157175] bone-capemgr bone_capemgr.9: slot #27: generic override
   # [325272.157484] bone-capemgr bone_capemgr.9: bone: Using override eeprom data at slot 27
   # [325272.157539] bone-capemgr bone_capemgr.9: slot #27: 'Override Board Name,00A0,Override Manuf,PyBBIO-eqep2'
   # [325272.162296] bone-capemgr bone_capemgr.9: slot #27: Requesting part number/version based 'PyBBIO-eqep2-00A0.dtbo
   # [325272.162358] bone-capemgr bone_capemgr.9: slot #27: Requesting firmware 'PyBBIO-eqep2-00A0.dtbo' for board-name 'Override Board Name', version '00A0'
   # [325272.185291] bone-capemgr bone_capemgr.9: slot #27: dtbo 'PyBBIO-eqep2-00A0.dtbo' loaded; converting to live tree
   # [325272.185847] bone-capemgr bone_capemgr.9: slot #27: PyBBIO-eqep2 conflict P8.41 (#5:BB-BONELT-HDMI)
   # [325272.196171] bone-capemgr bone_capemgr.9: slot #27: Failed verification

There's a conflict with the HDMI pins. Try the other one

bone$ echo PyBBIO-eqep2b > $SLOTS

That works! Wire encoder to P8_11 and P8_12 and then:

bone cd /sys/devices/ocp.3/48304000.epwmss/48304180.eqep/
bone$ ls
driver  enabled  modalias  mode  period  position  power  subsystem  uevent
bone$ cat position
0

Turn the encoder and cat again.

bone$ cat position
12

Try turning the other way.

Reading the Encoder

In exercises/sensors/eQEP you'll find file called rotaryEncoder.js.

#!/usr/bin/env node
// This uses the eQEP hardware to read a rotary encoder
// export SLOTS=/sys/devices/bone_capemgr.*/slots
// echo PyBBIO-eqep2b >  > $SLOTS
// Wire encoder to P8_11 and P8_12 when using eQEP2.

var b = require('bonescript'),
    fs = require('fs');
var eQEP0 = "/sys/devices/ocp.3/48300000.epwmss/48300180.eqep/",
    eQEP1 = "/sys/devices/ocp.3/48302000.epwmss/48302180.eqep/",
    eQEP2 = "/sys/devices/ocp.3/48304000.epwmss/48304180.eqep/",
    eQEP = eQEP2;
var oldData,            // pervious data read
    period = 100;       // in ms
// Set the eEQP period, convert to ns.
 fs.writeFile(eQEP+'period', period*1000000, function(err) {
        if (err) throw err;
        console.log('Period updated to ' + period*1000000);
 })
 // Enable
 fs.writeFile(eQEP+'enabled', 1, function(err) {
     if (err) throw err;
        console.log('Enabled');
 })
setInterval(readEncoder, period);    // Check state every 250 ms
function readEncoder(x) {
    fs.readFile(eQEP + 'position', {encoding: 'utf8'}, printValue);
 }
 function printValue(err, data) {
     if (err) throw err;
     if (oldData !== data) {
         console.log('position: '+data+' speed: '+(oldData-data));
         oldData = data;
         }
 }

Run it with:

bone$ ./rotaryEncoder.js

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Embedded Linux Class by Mark A. Yoder