A breakthrough in motor position sensing offers robotics and industrial sectors accuracy beyond traditional encoders.
Renesas Electronics Corporation has introduced its inductive position sensor (IPS) technology for motor position sensor ICs in robotics, industrial, and medical sectors. This position sensing, which uses coil sensors, offers an alternative to magnetic and optical encoders in motor control systems.
The IPS uses copper coil elements on a printed circuit board (PCB) to identify the location of a target. Unlike magnet sensors, IPS units function at 600 Krpm (electrical) and determine startup position. They have a propagation delay of 2μs and include auto-calibration and linearization capabilities.
Using the Vernier principle, this dual-coil sensor provides a resolution of 19 bits and an accuracy of 14 bits. These sensors operate in temperatures, dust, moisture, vibrations, and electromagnetic interference (EMI). They are shielded from stray fields, require no maintenance, and have a different error margin than magnetic sensors. Inductive position sensors are an option over optical or magnet-based encoders.
The inductive position sensor technology is compatible with widely adopted UART, ABI, and I²C communication interfaces, enabling easy integration into industrial systems and promoting instantaneous tracking and data evaluation. Furthermore, this sensor technology will come equipped with a comprehensive set of tools, including specialized software for user tailoring and accuracy refinement.
Some of the key features of the IPS technology include:
- Rotational speed: 600 rpm (electrical)
- Resolution: up to 19 bits
- Accuracy: Up to 14 bits
- Digital interfaces: UART, ABI, I²C
- Extended ambient temperature range: -40 °C to +160 °C
- Two voltage supply ranges: 3.3V ±10% or 5.0V ±10%
- Over-voltage, reverse-polarity and short circuit protection: ±18V on both supply and output pins
- Adaptable to any full-scale angle range through coil design
“Our induction position sensor technology represents a significant leap forward in motor position sensors,” said Jan Leuckfeld, Senior Director of the HPC Analog (Sensor) Division at Renesas. “They will enable us to provide differentiated motor position sensor ICs for industrial applications that are robust, highly accurate and cost-effective.”
