Renesas Electronics Corporation has introduced an inductive position sensor (IPS) technology for highly accurate motor position sensor ICs. Particularly, they suit robotics, industrial, and medical applications.

Utilizing non-contact coil sensors, the new position sensing technology can replace magnetic and optical encoders. Presently, motor control systems, which require high-speed, absolute, and reliable position sensing, use expensive magnetic and optical encoders.

Consistent Performance

The proprietary IPS technology from Renesas uses sensing elements consisting of copper coils etched on a printed circuit board (PCB) to detect the position of a metallic target. Unlike heavy magnet-based sensors, the IPS products can operate at 600 Krpm (electrical) and detect the position right at startup. Meanwhile, the propagation delay is less than 2μs, making them ideal for motors with high rotational speeds. Moreover, the sensor technology supports auto-calibration and linearization features. Thus, ensuring consistent performance throughout a motor’s operational life.

Based on the Vernier principle, the dual-coil sensor technology supports a resolution of up to 19 bits and an accuracy of up to 14 bits. This makes them superior to comparable products available in the market.

Operates in Harsh Environments

Meanwhile, the robust sensor technology will operate reliably in harsh environments. Particularly, such as those of high temperatures, dust, moisture, vibration, and electromagnetic interference (EMI). The induction sensors are immune to stray fields, require no maintenance, and are less susceptible to error than magnetic sensors.

These advantages make induction position sensors a more attractive option than conventional optical encoders or magnetic-based encoders, which tend to be heavier and more expensive.

“Our induction position sensor technology represents a significant leap forward in motor position sensors,” said Jan Leuckfeld, Senior Director, HPC Analog (Sensor) Division at Renesas.

On the other hand, Ulrich Marl, Key Account Manager at Lenord+Bauer, said, “Position sensors for factory floors must endure extreme conditions such as humidity, high temperatures and vibration.” Lenord+Bauer is a Renesas customer and a leading manufacturer of encoders for industrial systems.

In addition, Marl said, “Through our collaboration with Renesas, we’ve integrated IPS-based technology into our encoder portfolio. (This is) to ensure reliability and safety, while reducing downtime in critical applications.”

The induction position sensor technology will support commonly used UART, ABI, and I²C communications interfaces. Thus, ensuring a seamless integration into industrial networks and facilitating real-time monitoring and data analysis.

Additionally, the new sensor technology will be backed by a complete toolchain that includes dedicated software for user customization and precision optimization.