Piher non-contacting 360° rotary position sensor: programmable, high temperature

Piher North America's new non-contacting PSC-360 programmable Hall effect magnetic sensor has a switch function not found in other 360º absolute position sensors; program it at any angle for more design flexibility.

March 2, 2010

Piher introduces new 360 Degree Sensor featuring programmable switch.

The new Piher North America non-contacting PSC-360 programmable Hall effect magnetic sensor has a switch function not found in other 360position verification for improved safety, especially important for mission-critical applications in harsh environments.

The PSC-360 Sensor also offers high temperature capabilities with operational performance between -40

The Piher technology has an advantage over traditional magnetic fluxuation and complex circuitry because it is only sensitive to the flux density coplanar with the IC surface, which eliminates those problems and optimizes accuracy for absolute position feedback from 0 to 360 degrees, the company says. The simple, low-cost package maintains a true non-contacting air gap between the rotating magnet and the fixed sensing system.

Designed with the permanent magnet as the only moving component , the PSC-360 sensor provides a mechanical life of up to 50 million cycles. It’s durable; the fully sealed magnet and the sensor’s electronics (sensing system) are encapsulated in molded plastic, providing an IP67 rated sensor, impervious to humidity. These features are ideally suited to harsh environmental exposure where shock, vibration, high humidity and dust are unavoidable.

Piher’s technology is true absolute (maintaining the sensor’s true position even after a power interruption) and offers full redundancy with a dual core version within the same housing. The result is a highly configurable sensor that offers an excellent solution for the severe conditions found in industrial, food processing, agriculture and off-highway applications, the company says. Specific uses could include hand throttle control and throttle position feedback, accelerator and brake pedals, wheel angle for off highway vehicles and tractors, farm implement position feedback, forklift lift and tilt control, suspension height, marine, cranes and airport ground support vehicles.

Other PSC-360 performance characteristics include linearity ofstics, mechanical characteristics, and connector configurations to meet customer specifications. For example, Piher can provide the same full scale output over as short an electrical angle as narrow as 15 degrees.

Piher North America a company of Meggitt PLC, is located in Libertyville, IL. See www.piher.net/sensors and www.meggitt.com for more information.

For other industrial sensors of all types, see the Control Engineering Sensors Product Channel .

– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, editor in chief, Control Engineering , www.controleng.com.