Rotary position sensor brings high speed and accuracy to industrial applications

onsemi has launched an innovative dual-inductive rotary position sensor, which convinces with its speed and accuracy. The NCS32100 employs a newly patented approach to inductive position sensing, making it an excellent option for industrial and robotic applications where fast-moving robotics and machinery are deployed.

While the elements of inductive encoders make them very appealing for industrial applications, they have historically been limited to use cases without high accuracy and operating with low rotational speed. With the device, the company leveraged its 20+ years of expertise in developing inductive sensors to combine the reliable benefits of inductive encoders with the accuracy and speed typically associated with mid to high-end optical encoders. Employing a 38mm sensor, the device provides +/-50 arcsec accuracy at 6,000RPM. The device can support speeds up to 100,000RPM with reduced accuracy.

“The NCS32100 features firmware that directly outputs absolute position and velocity preloaded in its integrated microcontroller (MCU), providing an easy “plug and play” solution,” said Michel De Mey, vice president of the Industrial Solutions Division, onsemi. “The level of integration the NCS32100 offers can significantly reduce design time and the number of external components needed, allowing for faster time to market and more compact and efficient design.”

Inductive sensors have many key features that make them desirable for industrial applications, including low sensitivity to nearly all forms of contamination or interference, robustness against mechanical vibration, and no first-order temperature dependence. The device also provides an integrated calibration routine to account for mechanical misalignment in the sensor. High levels of configurability allow use with a wide range of PCB sensor designs, providing OEMs with the ability to configure and differentiate their solutions. The integrated MCU incorporates NVM and a configurable interface for communication with the host processor.

Reference designs and evaluation boards are offered to further speed up the design process for industrial applications.