Linear position sensor
Position sensing is used to electronically monitor the position or movement of a mechanical component. The position sensor produces an electrical signal that varies as the position of the component in question varies. Electrical position sensors are an important part of innumerable products. Determining a linear position of a moveable member has a variety of applications. For example, in order to know the position of a work tool of a work machine, such as a blade of a motor grader or a bucket of a wheel loader or excavator, the extension of a hydraulic cylinder that controls the position of the blade/bucket is often measured. These hydraulic cylinders are often quite long, ranging up to several meters in length. Many scientific, industrial, military and aerospace applications require precise and accurate knowledge of the angular orientation of a shaft or other rotating object or the linear position of a reciprocating object. Angular and linear position sensors are widely used in automatic control systems as feedback-sensing devices in one or more control loops of the system. Various linear sensor assemblies are known, which utilize the eddy current principle to produce an output signal in accordance with movement of a core element with respect to a coil. Linear position sensing is generally performed using a variety of electrically based sensor devices. Present linear position sensors include linear voltage differential transducers (LDVT), variable inductance, variable capacitance and eddy current killed oscillators. LDVT and variable inductance sensors determine linear position by means of a rod inserted in a coil or coils of wire. In contrast, eddy current and capacitance based position sensors measure frequency. The frequency of the signal depends on the position of the target. A common method for sensing linear position involves using a magnet connected to a displaceable member such as a rod or piston and measuring the magnetic field from the magnet. A contacting position sensor requires physical contact between a signal generator and a sensing element to produce the electrical signal. Contacting position sensors typically consist of a potentiometer to produce electrical signals that vary as a function of the component's position. Contacting position sensors are generally accurate and precise. A non-contacting position sensor (NPS) does not require physical contact between the signal generator and the sensing element. For example, a non-contacting position sensor may utilize magnets to generate magnetic fields that vary as a function of position and devices to detect varying magnetic fields to measure the position of the component to be monitored.
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