Optical position sensor awarded Innovation Award 2017

The demand exists especially in countries with a high amount of automation. Until now, improvements in mechanics, electronics, and optics have only been reached gradually. Established transmissive processes with a code disc between the LED light source and detector oppose the necessary trend to minitiarisation and cost reduction. Reflexive systems with simple optics are a break-through, especially for regulated, small drives.

The microsystems unite a specific CMOS chip and a blue LED light source, integrated as a flip chip, with a 4x4mm² housing for the reflexive detection of linear and rotative movements. The first use of blue light in a lens-free housing offers a high resolution for especially flat, incremental and absolute encoders in regulated electronic motors. EncoderBlue, with the combination of 'blue, reflexive, and lens-free,' offers innovation and significant impact for the encoder and drives market in the areas of automation, as smart sensors, and Industry 4.0. EncoderBlue is recognised as a brand of iC-Haus and its technical achievement has resulted in filed patents. Ageing and temperature effects are compensated for within the component. Encoder systems for electronic motors of build height of bare milimeters can now be reached, while also using cost-effective plastics and metals.

Reflexive EncoderBlue position sensors have analog and digital outputs, selectable interpolation factors, and a high optical resolution. They deliver low-jitter encoder quadrature signals and analog sine and cosine signals with an index. The index operation and the resolution are selected easily according to their respective pins. High signal output frequencies of up to 1.6MHz allow motor rotational frequencies of 20,000RPM. By using a small sensor area and a blue LED chip, the current consumption of the reflexive encoder module is reduced. The smart-sensor components autonomously regulate the LED and compensate changes due to ageing and temperature effects. The use of a lens-free package simplifies the placement of SMD components and widens the operating temperature range for reflexive encoder chips. Because of these characteristics, the components reach enhanced industrial applications, e.g. stepper motors, electric actuators, and miniaturised motion control systems.

iC-Haus delivers eval-boards with compatible, reflective code discs for simplified experimental testing.