componentspassive-components
On some home made electronic circuits, to navigate the menu on LCD screen, a rotating component is used. My first guess was that it was a potentiometer and ADC was used for detection, but it rotates endlessly in any of directions. Does any one know what component is used for that?
Example: Ben Hack Show, https://youtu.be/xJndXebTG9I?t=13m40s
The device is in fact a solenoid, or specifically a solenoid door-latch or magnetic latch.
When the solenoid coil is energized, this causes the movable ferromagnetic metal piece to be pulled towards the solenoid core. This unlatches whatever door or moving part the device is affixed to, allowing said door to open.
A spring return will typically move the metal piece away from the core once power is removed from the coil. This allows the hook-like ending of the metal piece to latch in place the door etc, holding it closed until the coil is re-energized.
The massive planes and the small tap off of the gate suggest a switching power supply design, so I assumed a power MOSFET. The Q on the silkscreen is another telling sign. This marking chart looks much the same, note the line over the year and week.
In addition this pinout looks about right to the usage. The only confusion is the capacitor between gate and source. A little bit of context might help that. Hope this helps.
Best Answer
Most probably a Rotary encoder