Getting Started with Inductive Position Sensors
Whether you are ready to lay out your own PCB-based inductive position sensor or want to purchase a pre-built evaluation sensor for rapid system prototyping, we can assist you with your project. Our Position Sensor Library is an excellent starting point.
We also offer linear and rotary evaluation board (EVB) kits to quickly prototype your system application, an Integrated Programming and Calibration Environment (IPCE), programmers and software that simplify inductive position sensor evaluation, testing
and programing. If you don’t see what you need here, contact our technical support team for advanced sensor information and other assistance with your project.
Three Simple Steps for Building Your Own PCB-Based Sensor
- Step 1: Choose and download a sensor layout from the Position Sensor Library
- Step 2: Order the matching LX3302AQPW-EASY sensor IC
- Step 3: Build and run your system
Inductive Position Sensor Kits to Jump-Start Your Development
If you are not yet ready to build your own PCB sensor, our linear and rotary position sensor evaluation kits and boards make it easy to get started with the technology.
These kits come with your choice of an EVB, an IPCE programmer for accurate sensor measurement and programming and all the cables needed to interface the sensors and programmer to a computer. These programmers simplify designing, building and evaluating
your own sensor applications.
Device-Specific Evaluation Boards
Each inductive position sensor IC has several different evaluation boards to choose from. We offer EVBs for linear position sensors, angular/rotary position sensors and even redundancy. Use the provided cable to automatically interface these boards with our IPCE programmer and software.
IPCE Programmer and Software to Simplify Your Development
Providing a simple interface between an EVB and a laptop or PC, the IPCE programmer and software enable you to capture data, measure and automatically calibrate your position sensor.
Key Features
- Programs device EEPROM for custom sensor applications
- Simplified sensor output and internal debug measurements for robust sensor evaluation
- Automatic EEPROM calibration for optimum accuracy
- Stand-alone TCP/IP addressable software for interfacing with production test software
IPCE Setting Window Simplifies Custom Sensor Design
This window, which is the most powerful and yet simple-to-use feature of the software, provides an easy way to change the IC’s operation to meet your system requirements. You can adjust all EEPROM parameters, including I/O interface options, sampling
rate and analog front end, or make small adjustments to the calibration points.
IPCE Measurement Window Provides Instant Data Capturing and Debugging
Instantly capture data by clicking on the "capture data" button or do it automatically through the TCP/IP protocol. Then use the “Save Datalog” button to easily save the captured data in an Excel file. A unique sensor debug feature also allows
you to capture the raw PCB sensor output, which is perfect when you want to understand how your unique mounting may be impacting the design. This mode gives you access to the internal Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) values, including fault diagnosis
information to help you rapidly bring your sensor to production.
IPCE Analysis and Auto-Calibration Window Calibrates the Sensor with a Single Click
After measuring the sensor, use the analysis window to easily implement sensor linearization with the auto-calibration function. The software provides the optimal accuracy that can be achieved using the IC’s built-in calibration memory, or you can
use an external Microchip MCU to achieve even better accuracy.
Code Examples to Easily Interface Your Sensor to an MCU
We provide analog, Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) and SENT interface code examples to help you interface your sensor IC to an MCU. We also provide code algorithms to increase the already-impressive accuracy built into the sensor IC.
Position Sensor User Library for Creating Your Own Designs
Our Inductive Position Sensor User Library eliminates the need for you to do any equations, calculations or IC programming. Just add these PCB sensor layouts to your own board and order the right sensor IC to build your own application. Then connect to
either the PWM, analog or SENT interface to the system controller and start reading position data. The sensor library offers linear and rotational sensor examples. You can use them as is or follow one of the instructions guides for modifying the examples
to meet your specific requirements.
| Order Part Number
| Sensor Type
| Measure Range
| Sensor Dimensions
| Max Airgap
| Sensor Image
|
|---|
| LX3302AQPW-EASY | Rotary
| 360 Degrees
| Diameter 30 mm
| 7 mm
| |
| LX3302AQPW-EASY | Rotary
| 180 Degrees
| Diameter 15 mm
| 2.5 mm
| |
| LX3302AQPW-EASY | Linear
| 50 mm
| Width 14 mm
| 5 mm
| |
| LX3302AQPW-EASY | Linear
| 100 mm
| Width 14 mm
| 3 mm
| |
| Development Tool | Description |
|---|
| Pro Kits |
| LXK3301AR001 | – LX3301A 120 Degree Measurement Range 18mm Diameter EVAL Board with Programmer |
| LXK3301AL003 | – LX3301A 100mm Measurement Range 14mm Wide Linear EVAL Board with Programmer |
| LXK3302AR001 | – LX3302A 120 Degree Measurement Range 18mm Diameter Rotary EVAL Board with Programmer |
| LXK3302AL002 | – LX3302A 100mm Measurement Range 14mm Wide Linear EVAL Board with Programmer |
| LXK3302ARD001 | – LX3302A Dual Redundancy 90 Degree Measurement Range 25mm Diameter Rotary EVAL Board with Programmer |
| Evaluation Boards |
| LXE3301AR001 | – LX3301A 120 Degree Measurement Range 18mm Diameter Rotary EVAL Board |
| LXE3301AL003 | – LX3301A 100mm Measurement Range 14mm Wide Linear EVAL Board |
| LXE3302AR001 | – LX3302A 120 Degree Measurement Range 18mm Diameter Rotary EVAL Board |
| LXE3302AL002 | – LX3302A 100mm Measurement Range Linear 14mm Wide EVAL Board |
| LXE3302ARD001 | – LX3302A Dual Redundancy 90 Degree Measurement Range 25mm Diameter Rotary EVAL Board |
| IPCE Programmer and Software |
| LXM9518 | – IPCE Programmer (programmer and Cable) |
| IPCE 2.x | – Sensor Evaluation and Calibration Environment (ICPE) software |