Abstract :
Noncontacting inductive sensors are applicable on a large scale for position detection or travel measurement in industrial applications. Reasons for such broad acceptance in many sectors of industry are noncontact and wear-free sensing of the target (any metal object), reliability and robustness, resistance to fouling, water tightness and compact size. The present work is intended to be a systematic, complete, and consistent presentation of the technological innovations, recent implementations and current trends regarding the analog distance and travel sensing offered by noncontacting inductive sensors for industrial applications. It starts with the fundamentals of inductive sensing and presents the physical basics gained by modern analytic and simulation methods, as well as high-level integrated circuits for inductive sensors. The following sections deal with present-day inductive analog proximity sensors and with the distinctive technological innovation offered by the new inductive linear displacement sensors and with miniaturization results achieved through consistent integration.
Keywords :
analogue integrated circuits; displacement measurement; electric sensing devices; production equipment; distance sensing; distinctive technological innovation; high-level integrated circuits; inductive linear displacement sensors; industrial automation; noncontacting inductive analog proximity sensors; noncontacting inductive sensors; travel sensing; wear-free sensing; Analytical models; Automation; Circuit simulation; Electrical resistance measurement; Large-scale systems; Metals industry; Position measurement; Robustness; Sensor systems and applications; Technological innovation; Analog; application specific integrated circuits (ASICs); coil; displacement; distance; inductive; linear; proximity; sensor; travel;
