Absolute Position Sensor

Position sensors are used in a wide range of automation and measurement applications.

Absolute position sensor.

A key step in selecting a suitable position sensor is understanding the requirements of sensor size resolution repeatability accuracy mounting constraints and environmental ruggedness. A position sensor is a sensor that facilitates measurement of mechanical position. Many engineers claim that they have been using absolute position sensors when all the while what they have been using are incremental sensors. Absolute position sensors are very different from incremental sensors.

Absolute encoders read out a multi bit digital word corresponding to absolute position. When you say incremental position sensor it implies a change in position. A position sensor may indicate absolute position location or relative position displacement in terms of linear travel rotational angle or three dimensional space. This unique sensing principle applied to a position sensor results into an impressive robustness of the position signal over the mechanical airgap off axis tolerances.

Encoders are available with both optical encoder and magnetic encoder sensing engines. This unique sensing principle applied to a position sensor ic results into an impressive robustness of the position signal over the mechanical airgap off axis tolerances. The rotation of this horizontal component is sensed over a wide range up to 360º and processed by the on chip dsp to ultimately report the absolute angular position of the. Optical encoders provide the highest resolution and accuracy but they are vulnerable to contamination.