Choosing the Right Position Sensor: A Guide to the Various Types

Position sensors have a market worth expected to reach $7.3 billion by 2025. They’re essential tools used in a variety of industries and businesses.

A position sensor, also known as a position transducer, measures the position of an object. This provides essential data that technologies such as automobiles need.

There are several varieties of position sensors, each with its own distinguishing characteristics. Read our guide to learn the types of position sensors and their different uses.

Automotive Position Sensors

Position sensors do more than measure position. They can also:

• Provide motion control
• Determine the presence or absence of a target object
• Detect the direction of an object
• Measure speed, motion, and distance

These applications are useful in the automotive industry, and you may find several types of position sensors in your car. The two most common types are throttle and camshaft sensors.

A camshaft position sensor monitors the position and speed of a vehicle’s camshaft and feeds this information to the ECM or engine control module. This determines when it releases and ignites the fuel.

A throttle position sensor provides your ECM with similar information about the speed and position of your throttle.

The camshaft and throttle position sensor are both crucial to the health and fuel economy of your automobile. They let your engine know when to release fuel, and you’ll notice signs such as slow starts or stalled engines if they fail.

Linear Position Sensors

Most position sensors can be classified based on how they measure position as either rotational or linear. 

A rotational position sensor uses angular movement or rotation to determine distance. Linear position sensors use a straight line from the sensor to the object.

Linear position sensors make up the majority of the market. Their demand is increasing because they’re useful in a wide range of industries.

Linear is a category of its own in the position sensor industry. Check here for high-quality linear position sensors.

Other Types of Position Sensors

Technology continues to evolve and more uses for measuring position continue to be found, leading to new forms of position sensors. There are several other types to be aware of in addition to the more common automobile and linear options.

A potentiometric position sensor uses a resistive track and an attached wiper. As it moves, it creates resistance used to measure position. This type is easy to use.

A capacitive position sensor is made up of two plates. It measures either the difference in the dielectric constant as material moves between the plates or changes in the area overlapping between the two plates.

A magnetostrictive position sensor uses magnets and electronic modules. It’s one of the most complex types to use.

Variety makes position sensors a valuable tool. There’s an appropriate option for every project or industry.

Choosing the Best Position Sensor

A position sensor provides essential details on where an object is, whether it’s present, how fast it’s moving, and more. This data makes them indispensable in a variety of industries.

Types of position sensors include camshaft and throttle sensors for automobiles, rotational sensors for angular movement, linear sensors to measure in a straight line, and more.

Choose the best type for your needs from a high-quality provider and you’ll get data you can use for years to come. 

The more information you have, the easier it will be to choose the best position sensor for your needs. Check out the rest of our content and keep checking back for more helpful information.