The new Axial sensors are unique in measuring the precise continuous position of a freely rotating wireless target, from the side and with a big gap, and without interference from nearby magnets. Gaps of over 10mm are possible between sensor and target. This means both the sensor and the target can be housed inside their own plastic housings. A target’s position can be sensed from outside the box containing the sensor.
Axial sensors offer product designers new opportunities to eliminate mechanical complexity and cost. Applications include valve control, hydraulic and pneumatic actuator position feedback, liquid level and syringe plunger position sensing.
They can tolerate substantial misalignment. In the float level sensing application this means the float can move side to side with big clearances, so there is no risk of it becoming stuck in the float tube. Tolerance to angular misalignment means the liquid can slosh around with an angled surface level, which is important for applications in moving vehicles.
In applications such as measuring the linear position of valves and pistons, tolerance to misalignment means the sensor and target do not require precise mounting. There is no need to add a special linear bearing to constrain the motion of the target.
To calculate position the sensor works with CambridgeIC’s CAM312 central tracking unit. This chip measures and processes sensor signals, and provides high quality position data to a host device over an SPI interface.
CambridgeIC’s resonant inductive position sensing technology is well proven across a wide range of high-volume applications worldwide. Using PCBs to build position sensors makes them robust and tolerant of temperature changes, dirt, moisture, vibration and shock. The inherent accuracy of modern PCB fabrication delivers high sensor accuracy.
Customers can build sensors themselves, for cost effective and convenient production. It also allows designers to add their own circuitry to the same PCB, eliminating connectors and other parts and further simplifying production.
CambridgeIC’s team has been developing resonant inductive position sensing solutions since 1995. CambridgeIC launched the world’s first commercially available resonant inductive processor IC in 2010.
For test and evaluation an axial sensor development kit is available.