Position sensors measure how a moving component—called a target—has shifted relative to a fixed reference point. A particularly common choice is the non-contact position sensor, where the moving and stationary parts never touch. This design enhances the sensor’s robustness and mechanical durability, ensuring more reliable performance over time.
Ratiometric inductive position sensors (IPS), built using printed circuit board (PCB) technology, are rapidly gaining prominence. They offer a cost-effective solution that withstands hostile conditions—high temperatures, dust, liquids, and external electromagnetic fields—far better than traditional alternatives like Hall-effect sensors, giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensors, or optical encoders.
This makes inductive sensors particularly well-suited for automotive electrification and Industry 4.0 automation, where durability and reliability are essential. Moreover, compared to optical sensors and resolvers, inductive sensors are significantly less expensive, cutting costs by orders of magnitude. Additionally, because they do not rely on permanent magnets, they help avoid complex supply chain dependencies tied to the Far East, ensuring more stable and secure sourcing in today’s unpredictable global environment.
Building on more than two decades of intensive academic research, we’ve pioneered a new generation of sensors that leverage electromagnetic fields. Unlike conventional market offerings, our solutions stand apart in multiple ways—delivering capabilities and performance that redefine what sensors can do.
We don’t just resell sensors—we design and manufacture them from the ground up, drawing on our renowned technical know-how. Over the years, we’ve secured multiple patents for key innovations, including ultra-fast simulation, automated error-reduction optimization, and the integration of a digital twin directly onto the chip.
Our fully in-house, patented electromagnetic simulation software enables rapid, agile design. This unique approach allows us to deliver tailor-made solutions that precisely match your requirements, ensuring optimal fit and performance.
From prototypes to large-scale manufacturing, our flexible production process can easily scale with your evolving needs, helping you bring products to market faster and more cost-effectively.
We offer dedicated technical support, training, and consultation services worldwide. Our experts work closely with your team, fostering an ongoing partnership to ensure you get the most out of our technology at every stage of your product’s lifecycle.
We provide fully customized support, guiding you from initial prototyping through production and industrialization.
For those who need to manage multiple sensor designs efficiently, we offer IPSMagic, a dedicated software tool that streamlines the design and automatic optimization of position sensors—ensuring rapid, cost-effective development cycles.
Our multidisciplinary team of electronic engineers, mathematicians, and programmers develops, tests, and validates the entire system in-house. This integrated approach guarantees reliable, high-performance solutions tailored to your specific needs.
An inductive encoder consists of two main components: a stationary section and a moving part (the target). Both can be manufactured using PCB technology. The stationary part includes a transmission coil driven by an oscillator operating between 2 MHz and 5 MHz. It also contains two or more receiving coils.
The voltages induced in these receiving coils vary with the target’s position, providing precise positional information.
The target, constructed from PCB material or a solid conductive substrate, disturbs the magnetic field by acting as a shield. This effect requires the target to be conductive, though it does not need to be magnetic.
An ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) typically handles the oscillator function and processes the signals from the receiving coils, ensuring accurate and reliable position measurements.
Position sensors are integral to a wide range of products, from industrial machinery to everyday consumer goods.
Rotary position sensors, for example, support powertrain management in electric vehicles, monitor accelerator and brake pedal positions, and determine windshield wiper angles. In home appliances, they control electric motors and serve as knobs for selecting various operating programs. They’re also crucial in medical devices and industrial automation systems, where precise control and feedback are essential.
Linear position sensors similarly find broad application. They measure fluid levels—such as fuel in an automobile—and provide accurate position feedback along linear axes in robotics and CNC milling machines, enabling fine-tuned control and efficient operation.
Our sensor is delivered without a housing or bearing, making it easier to integrate directly into your product. For many applications—especially those installed inside the customer’s own enclosure—this approach reduces both cost and space requirements.
The image above illustrates the two available configurations:
A traditional sensor featuring bearings (linear ball bearings for linear sensors) and an IP67-rated enclosure.
A stripped-down sensor consisting of two bare PCBs, offering maximum design flexibility.
Sensors that measure rotational motion can be positioned in three different ways:
1. end-of-shaft, that is, the target is positioned at the end of the shaft;
2. through-shaft, i.e., the target and the fixed part are through the shaft;
3. side-shaft, that is, the fixed part is an arc sensor.
An absolute position sensor determines the target’s exact position relative to a fixed reference. In contrast, an incremental position sensor tracks changes from one position to the next, offering higher resolution and accuracy, but it cannot directly provide the target’s absolute position.
To achieve the best of both worlds, these technologies can be combined. An absolute sensor establishes the target’s baseline position, while an incremental sensor refines accuracy and resolution.
Inside the picture:
While PCB technology offers a particularly convenient way to produce targets, any conductive material—such as copper or aluminum—can be used.
Ferromagnetic materials like iron and steel are also suitable, though their performance may be influenced by external static magnetic fields and temperature variations.
In some cases, even the end of the shaft itself can be precisely machined to serve as the target, further streamlining your design and integration process.
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