Advancement in gearless Multiturn Sensors

Small, lightweight, gearless, and now also featuring digital interfaces: Advancement in gearless Multiturn Sensors

As the exclusive UK distributor for Novotechnik, the German sensor and sensor systems specialist, Variohm EuroSensor presents the following application note on GMR Effect sensor technology.

Multiturn sensors which utilize the GMR Effect (Giant Magnetoresistance) yield absolute positional values, do not require any type of reference signals, and need neither power supply nor buffer battery for rotational sensing. They are typically used in so-called True Power On-Systems for a wide variety of industrial applications. And now, the range of applications is likely to expand: 

Novotechnik (see box) has advanced the GMR sensor technology and is now offering the Multiturn sensors of its RSM 2800 series equipped with digital interfaces.  The measuring range is 14 or 16 revolutions; measurements are output as SPI or SSI signals. A version with CANopen interface will be available soon.  These robust sensors, with their small footprint and tiny diameter of only 28mm, are designed for total resolutions in the range of 16 to 18 bits (14 bits for angular sensing, and 1 to 4 bits for revolution counts). And with linearity deviations of +/-0.036% over the entire measuring range, their accuracy is impressive as well.

The robust sensors of this series are designed to comply with protection requirements of up to IP67 and are therefore protected against dust and temporary submersion. They can easily be integrated into the desired applications. The shaft design permits easy take-up with angular-indexing by a customer-supplied counterpart. Typical applications include mobile machinery, actuators, or hydraulic lifts, as well as robotics.  Generally, they are utilized as alternatives to multiturn potentiometers and encoders.

About Novotechnik

Headquartered in Ostfildern, Germany, Novotechnik has been a leader in the development of measurement technologies for over 65 years.  Today, more than 200 employees are constantly striving for excellence in Germany alone.  Its products – powerful position transducers and rotary sensors - are essential for production, control, and measurement as well as automotive applications, worldwide.  The comprehensive assortment of product technologies includes position transducers and rotary sensors based on different functional principles, specialized solutions for the automotive industry as well as signal conditioners and measuring devices.  The range covers virtually any conceivable application, while specialized demands are met with customized solutions.