Angle Sensor Technology and Understanding its Application

Simply put, an angle sensor or rotary sensor measures the relationship of an objects position with respect to another position that is established. It calculates the displacement of an object with respect to a specified reference position. This information is expressed by the number of rotations nec

Simply put, an angle sensor or rotary sensor measures the relationship of an objects position with respect to another position that is established. It calculates the displacement of an object with respect to a specified reference position. This information is expressed by the number of rotations necessary to change from one position to another with respect to a specified axis.

To understand it better, the goal of position sensing is to represent physical and mechanical characteristic into a format that can be interpreted and used by a computer or machine. This representation usually comes in electrical signals. There are some instances when a physical characteristics is mechanically converted into a secondary physical characteristic before measurement. Angular position sensor comes in a variety of forms. It can also use different types of technology. Because of this, an angle sensor is one of the most versatile types of sensors used in industrial and mechanical applications

What are the Different Types of Angle Sensor?

In this part of the article, the different types of angle sensors will be discussed in details. Remember that each type of angle sensor has characteristics that make it suitable for certain applications, but may not be applicable to some. Angle sensors can be categorised according to supply voltage, output type, sensing range, operating temperature range, supply current, and packaging type. Luckily, many manufacturers these days stock a wide variety of sensors falling under each category. You will not have any difficulty in finding the exact type of sensor you are looking for.

Similar to linear sensors, angle position sensor also comes in the following types:

• Capacitance sensors

• Eddy current sensors

• Photoelectric sensors

• Ultrasonic sensors
  

• Inductive, Hall Effect, Magnetoresistive, Magnetorestrictive, and variable reluctance sensors
  
  

Aside from the type of sensor, there are also different kinds of output which have distinct advantages and disadvantages:

• Analog. The output is either in the form of DC current or DC voltage. An overwhelmingly large number of sensors use this type of output. One primary advantage is ease of implementation and Analog sensors are also less expensive. There is no need for specialised equipment because these are relatively easy to troubleshoot when technical issues are encountered. On the downside, Analog sensors are generally more susceptibility to electrical interference.
• Time-based Digital. This type of output works by generating digital pulses separated by time. The time between pulses is proportional to the displacement of the object. Immunity from interference in an important advantage of this type of output. It is also cost-effective. One of the vulnerabilities of this output is the difficulty in troubleshooting. Specialised equipment may be required in some instances. Another disadvantage is the need for a specialised interface for it to work.
• Serial Digital. Serial digital sensors provide single stream outputs that are discreet and consists of numbers using digital protocols. Some examples of digital protocols include: Synchronous Serial Interface, DeviceNet, Ethernet, and Profibus. This type of output has built-in diagnostics and offer more information than other types of output. One downside to this output is the higher cost.
• Measurement range. This describes the range of distance the sensor is able to measure.
• Accuracy. This is measured by percent deviation from the real measurement.
  
• Resolution. This pertains to the smallest order of magnitude that a sensor can detect. The higher the resolution, the smaller and more detailed measurements are made by a device.
  
• Frequency range. This is typically described in kHz and pertains to the range of frequencies at which a device is designed to operate.
  
  

Lastly, there are design features that should be considered when differentiating between each type of sensor.

You should also consider the performance specifications of the sensor which are measured by the following parameters:

• Sensors can be contact or non-contact depending on the requirement. Contact sensors are generally more prone to wear and tear. These days, non-contact sensors are more preferred due to its durability.
• There are also different body styles that characterise sensors. These body styles are: cylindrical, rectangular, threaded barrel, slot, ring, and window.
• Sensors can also come raw or as a housed element.
• Operating temperature ranges also play a major differentiating factor in sensors. This range defines how well the device can function reliably in extreme low and high temperature conditions.
  
  

Can Angle Sensors be used in Indoors and Outdoors?

With the parameters discusses, it is safe to conclude that an angle sensor can be used in indoor and outdoor applications. Some specific examples includes; steering wheels, robotics, forklifts, garbage trucks, backhoes, and many other industrial machinery.