Ushering in new era of industrial motor commutation

Renesas Electronics Corporation offers a magnet-free IPS2200 inductive position sensor. Providing total stray field immunity, high accuracy and speed, and efficient motor integration in a thin and lightweight form factor, the device is fitting for employment as an absolute position sensor in an extensive range of industrial, medical, and robot applications. The sensor enables customers to cost-effectively target sensor design for their applications and maximise the performance of the sensor’s accuracy.

“Inductive position sensing is changing the game for industrial motor commutation as demands for high accuracy, high efficiency, and cost efficiency increase, particularly for multi-pole pair motors and off-axis applications,” said Christian Wolf, vice president, Automotive Sensor Business Division at Renesas. “With the IPS2200, we are excited to offer a solution that takes customers from concept to PCB layout, enabling them to design their own resolver replacement and achieve lighter, better performing motors for their industrial, robotic, consumer and medical applications. Moving forward, Renesas will also explore the inductive sensors for use in automotive applications.”

The device is created around the motor, enabling customers to match the amount of sectors to pole pairs of the motor to maximise accuracy, accommodating both off-axis (through shaft and side shaft) and on-axis positioning. The magnet-free device is up to ten times thinner and up to one hundred times lighter with up to 250krpm electrical speeds when compared with conventional resolvers. The sensor’s thin and light form factor and total stray field immunity facilitates easier motor integration and offers the standard materials needed for customers to manufacture their own resolver replacement – decreasing BOM costs. With its four or six-wire operation, the device offers up to ten times faster speeds and very low latency compared with resolver or magnetic-based solutions.