This section provides an overview for rotary position/angle sensors as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 23 rotary position/angle sensor manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked rotary position/angle sensor companies as of November, 2024: 1.Sensor Solutions, 2.Allegro MicroSystems, Inc., 3.Wells Engineered Products.
Table of Contents
Rotary Position/Angle Sensors are sensors for detecting angular information from the position of an object.
In recent times, there has been a growing need for high-precision position detection due to precision processing, semiconductor manufacturing, automobiles, and robotics. Furthermore, the need to measure precise angles for position detection is also increasing.
Rotary Position/Angle Sensors are generally available in magnetic, optical, inductive, potentiometer, and other types of angle detection methods. It is important to select the most appropriate method according to the application of use.
Recently, gyro sensors, which detect inertial forces such as angular velocity and acceleration in addition to angular position, have been attracting attention in support of automatic driving. The trend is toward the use of gyro-sensors in addition to conventional Rotary Position/Angle Sensors.
Rotary Position/Angle Sensors are used in precision processing, semiconductor manufacturing, automobiles, and robotics.
By detecting the crank angle and cam angle with Rotary Position/Angle Sensors, the optimal timing and duration of fuel injection can be calculated. Other applications include electric power steering and electronically controlled suspension.
Angle sensors are used to detect and control the position of robot arms.
Rotary Position/Angle Sensors are generally classified into four types: magnetic, optical, inductive, and potentiometer.
This method detects angles by measuring the voltage generated when a magnetic field is applied perpendicularly to a Hall element while a current is flowing through it. This phenomenon is called the Hall effect.
This method detects angles by passing light through a disk with a slit-like grating and measuring the number of detected light pulses. This method is called the transmission type. Another method is the reflection type.
In the reflective type, the angle is measured by the light pulses that bounce from the light emitting element to the disc and are received by the light receiving element.
The inductive type consists of a primary coil, a secondary coil, and a cam-shaped core that rotates between the primary and secondary coils.
Potentiometers have terminals, and brushes rotate on a resistive element. By measuring the resistance value between the terminals, the angle of rotation of the brush can be measured.
Magnetic Rotary Position/Angle Sensors use the Hall effect to convert changes in the magnetic field into a voltage value, which is output as an analog output signal. Unlike potentiometers, magnetic Rotary Position/Angle Sensors may have two output systems, and the two output values are generally different, except for the neutral position.
Having two outputs increases the detected value and the reliability of the Rotary Position/Angle Sensor. Potentiometric angle centers require two Rotary Position/Angle Sensors to provide 360° angle detection, because the structure of the angle center always has a blind spot.
However, a magnetic Rotary Position/Angle Sensor can detect 360° with only one angle sensor, thus reducing the number of components required. Since the magnetic Rotary Position/Angle Sensor is non-contact, it has fewer failure factors and a longer service life than contact-type sensors such as potentiometer-type angle sensors.
However, if a failure should occur, care should be taken with the distance to the sensing element. If the distance adjustment is not considered when reinstalling the sensor, premature failure of the Rotary Position/Angle Sensor will occur in case of contact, and the angle will not be detected correctly if the distance from the sensing body is too far.
The voltage value, which is the analog output of Rotary Position/Angle Sensor, is output by the change in electrical resistance. The output method is often voltage, but it can also be current, and the analog output range differs depending on the Rotary Position/Angle Sensor. For voltage, the range is not only 0 to 5V, but also 0 to 10V, so it is important to check the manufacturer's specifications carefully.
Rotary Position/Angle Sensors require a power circuit and ground (GND) for analog output. Therefore, the Rotary Position/Angle Sensor has three terminals: the power terminal, the ground terminal (GND), and the analog output terminal. If the analog output is abnormal, the cause may be an abnormal wiring or connection in addition to the failure of the Rotary Position/Angle Sensor itself.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Comus International, a company founded in 1978 and headquartered in New Jersey, United States, is a manufacturer of electronic and electromechanical products. The company offers a wide range of products that include proximity sensors, tilt and tip-over switches, and solid-state relays. These products are used in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, and industrial automation for applications such as motion sensing, position detection, and safety control systems. The company also offers customer services that include technical support and assistance to meet customers’ requirements.
Allegro MicroSystems, founded in 1990 and headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire, is a fables manufacturer of sensor integrated circuits and application-specific analog power integrated circuits. Its diverse product portfolio includes sensors, regulators, and motor drivers used in several areas, including clean energy, automation, E-mobility, and computer markets. The company supports customers through its design and application centers located in South America, Asia, North America, and Europe. It went public in 2020, and its shares are traded on Nasdaq Global under ALGM. It ships over one billion units annually to support its more than 10,000 customers worldwide.
Wells Engineered Products is a full-line manufacturer of many electromechanical and electronic devices needed in modern vehicles including precision engine management and power control products. The company was established in 1978 and is headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Its main activity is the design, development, and manufacturing of ignition coils, voltage regulators, and sensors. The company also offers custom-engineered solutions for racing applications while operating in more than 20 countries. Wells' products are used by a wide range of customers, including automotive manufacturers, racing teams, and government agencies.
Curtiss-Wright Industrial, one division of Curtiss-Wright, originally founded in 1929 with its headquarters in the USA, is an integrated manufacturer of precision-engineered products and systems. The company, which includes the legacy brands of Arens Controls, Penny & Giles, PG Drives Technology, and Williams Controls, primarily serves the aerospace, defense, and naval markets worldwide. Products include power electronics, motor controllers, joystick controls, and industrial sensors. With manufacturing facilities in the USA, the United Kingdom, China, and India, Curtiss-Wright Industrial also provides support services for critical applications and system overhauls.
Sensor Solutions, established in 1993 in Colorado, is a manufacturer and distributor specializing in magnetic field sensors and accessories. The company’s product portfolio includes gear detection sensors, analog hall effect sensors, reed switches, and ferrous metal proximity sensors. The company utilizes a modular manufacturing approach which allows them to provide custom solutions tailored to specific application requirements. The company offers design, assembly, and testing under one roof, adhering to ISO 9001 certification. Its capabilities include high-speed precision assembly, magnet design, and calibration.
ASM was established in 1979 in Moosinning, Germany where they are known as a manufacturer of sensors. The company designs different types of sensors mainly Displacement sensors, Inclination sensors, and Angle sensors that have applications in fields where displacement, position, length, and distance has to be measured, tested, or monitored. They are used in Injection Molding machines, Power Plant construction, Vehicle testing, Powerlifters, and Portal cranes. In the medical industry, they are used for precise positioning for Tomography, mammography, OP tables, and patient couches.
SHENZHEN SOWAY TECH. CO., LTD was established in 2002 and is located in Guangdong, China is a manufacturer of sensors for various industries. The company offers a diverse product catalog, including the SDM40S explosion-proof magnetostrictive displacement sensor, SP119 Soway aluminum magnetic proximity sensor for doors, and SFM20T dual floater magnetostrictive liquid level sensor. These products have applications, such as providing feedback on the roll gap position in continuous casting using the magnetostrictive displacement sensor, facilitating non-standard inspection fixtures, and supporting intelligent manufacturing processes.
Angst+Pfister Sensors and Power AG, founded in 1987 and headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is a manufacturer of power supplies, and electronic components. It operates as a subsidiary of the Angst+Pfister Group, serving a global clientele. Its product range encompasses inertial sensors, power supplies, and current sensors, including AC/DC power supplies, DC/DC converters, DC/AC inverters, and LED AC/DC power supplies. These components find applications in overload protection, current metering, and battery charge monitoring. Depending on requirements, the company is also capable of delivering modified standard products or customised solutions, and offers differential probes for the development, maintenance, and repair of solar plants.
ALPS ALPINE CO., established in 1948, is a manufacturer and supplier of sensors&communication, modules&systems, and components based in Tokyo, Japan. The company serves the energy, healthcare, automotive, mobile, and consumer electronics domains, where they combine and build on core device technology, including human-machine interfaces, SENSORING™, and connectivity. For example, in the healthcare industry, they supply components for medical equipment, including control switches, sensors, lenses, and joysticks, and the Senclear™ Microfluidic Devices for drug discovery and development. Their power conversion modules, current sensors inverters, and converters are used in the energy industry in storage batteries, solar power systems, and electric vehicle charging systems.
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Murata Manufacturing) was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Nagaokakyo, Japan. Murata Manufacturing designs, manufactures, and sells ceramic-based passive electronic components and solutions globally. The company operates through components, modules, and others segments, serving communications, mobility, industrial, healthcare, and personal electronics customers. They company's product offerings include noise suppression products, quartz devices,RFID devices, phase shifters, and wireless connectivity platforms. Services such as webinars and video library are also available for existing and potential customers alike.
Melexis NV, founded in Brussels, in 1989 is a supplier of micro-electronic semiconductor solutions. The company's product portfolio includes Mixed Signal Integrated Circuits, Automotive Semiconductors, IC Sensors, Power ICs for Automotive Actuators, and Infrared Thermometers and sensors. The company serves markets including Automotive and Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy and Energy Storage and Electronics and IT Infrastructure. The company has a global distribution channel, a technical and customer support center and 18 offices worldwide.
Makersan, established in 1978 and headquartered in Gebze, Turkey, is a manufacturer of mechatronic parts and assemblies. Its offerings include electronic accelerator pedals, hand throttle, ABS sensors, pressure sensors, and temperature sensors for various sectors like engine control, HVAC, and food processing. Its quality management system is underlined by their TS 16949, ISO 14001, ISO 9001, and OHSAS 18001 certifications, solidifying their role on the field of sensing, controlling and actuating applications.
YUTTAH is based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and is a manufacturer of sensors for various industrial applications. The company has ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 certifications as well as IAS & IAF accreditations and provides sensors in different models such as position sensors, angle & inclination sensors, acceleration sensors, pressure & temperature sensors, and, weight sensors along with industrial IoT capabilities, cyber Security services, new-developed systems, and, associated accessories for industrial vehicles, material handling, forest machines, medical, and, power & energy sectors.
Burster Präzisionsmesstechnik GmbH & Co KG is a manufacturer of sensors & precision measurement products established in 1961 and based in Gernsbach, Germany. The company produces a wide range of sensors, calibration equipment, and testing devices. Its products include force and displacement monitoring systems, universal calibrators for in-field QA operations, and potentiometric angle of rotation sensors. The company also offers contract manufacturing, OEM, and product modification services. It chiefly serves clients in the automation, chemical processing, and industrial facility engineering sectors.
Turck was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany. The company is a global manufacturer of automation machinery used in the automotive, energy, chemical, food, and packaging industries among others. The company’s products integrate the concept of Industry 4.0 technologies such as RFID, IO-link, and ethernet to assist factory and material handling equipment in communicating with other equipment and providing data for operators to improve efficiency and safety while decreasing waste. These products include sensors, industrial controls, industrial wireless and vision devices, and interface devices.
Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation, founded in 1980, is a Japanese manufacturer headquartered in Chiyoda City, Tokyo, specializing in sensing devices and integrated circuit (IC) products. The company’s product offerings include magnetic sensors, current and gas sensors, audio devices, and specialty devices. These products have diverse applications, such as in personal electronics, where AKM provides compact and low-consumption features for sound and magnetic sensing. They offer CO2 sensors and transceiver IC for millimeter-wave radar with high spatial recognition for smart homes. Additionally, AKM provides rotation angle sensors in industrial equipment like robots and motors to achieve accuracy and off-axis alignment simultaneously.
Located in Austria and Germany, Ams-Osram is a sensor design and manufacturing company that specializes in compact form factors, low power, high sensitivity, and multi-sensor applications. They were established in 1981 and were formerly known as austriamicrosystems AG. In 2012 it changed its name to ams AG. They have a technology portfolio for sensing, lighting, and visualization, ranging from light emitters and optical components to micro-modules, integrated circuits, and related software. Their work develops technology for use in the consumer, industrial, medical, and automotive sectors.
Tamagawa Seiki was established in Japan on March 3, 1938, and it is a developer and manufacturer of high-precision control equipments. The company manufactures and develops products like rotary encoders, resolvers, servo motors, gyros, step motors, aerospace products, and space products. Some of their major clients include Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toshiba, Hitachi, Toyota, and Honda. Their featured products are the Non-shaking system and Optical level gauging system. This company also manufactures two and three-dimensional (spatial) position/angle sensors.
Variohm, founded in 1977 and headquartered in Milton Keynes, UK, is a manufacturer of sensing and measurement solutions. Their product range comprises linear and rotary position sensors for accurate motion measurement in machinery, alongside inductive and capacitive transducers that convert mechanical motion into electrical signals, and also signal conditioners that amplify and filter signals from sensors and devices. The company holds several certifications including ISO 9001:2015 and ATEX compliance certification.
Novotechnik U.S., Inc., established in 1987 with headquarters in the USA, is a manufacturer of sensors, transducers, potentiometers, and accessories used in motion control. The company's products include industrial-grade rotary, linear, position, panel-mount, low-torque, and hollow-shaft sensors. Accessories include couplings, process monitors, signal conditioners, roller heads, and displays. Novotechnik U.S., Inc. serves the machine engineering, automotive, material handling, aerospace, and robotics industries, among others. The company's products meet VDA 6.1, AVSQ, and EAQF standards.
Tokyo Cosmos Electric Co., Ltd, also known as TOCOS, was established in 1957. TOCOS creates environmentally-friendly electronic components for automotive, agricultural, health care, entertainment, and home appliance industries. These components include capacitors, switches, optoelectronic devices, and potentiometers.
SIRC Co., Ltd. established in February 2015 and located in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer and distributor of SIRC devices. The company's product range includes Power monitors, Power factor monitors, Current monitors, Ultra narrow band filters, and Angle sensors. These products are employed for tasks such as real-time power and angle measurement, and high-frequency current monitoring. Key industries benefiting from these products include the energy sector, robotics, medical equipment manufacturing, and general industrial automation. Additionally, it engages in product development, joint venture initiatives, and delivery of energy-efficient solutions using its SIRC devices.
The Group's Business Automation business is centered on offices and large buildings, and its Advanced Automation business, which provides solutions for factories and plants, serves customers around the globe. Additionally, in Japan, the Group's Life Automation business focuses on markets closely connected with people’s lives, such as lifelines and health.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Sensor Solutions |
9.5%
|
2 | Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. |
9.1%
|
3 | Wells Engineered Products |
7.8%
|
4 | MAKERSAN |
7.3%
|
5 | Curtiss-Wright Corporation |
7.3%
|
6 | Variohm |
5.6%
|
7 | YUTTAH |
5.2%
|
8 | Comus International |
4.7%
|
9 | Melexis NV |
4.3%
|
10 | Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. |
4.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the rotary position/angle sensor page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
Japan | 6 | 28.6% |
United States of America | 5 | 23.8% |
Germany | 3 | 14.3% |
China | 1 | 4.8% |
Switzerland | 1 | 4.8% |
Belgium | 1 | 4.8% |
Turkey | 1 | 4.8% |
United Arab Emirates | 1 | 4.8% |
Austria | 1 | 4.8% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 4.8% |
17 products are listed.
Rocky Co., Ltd.
50+ people viewing
ASR0X2 TMR (*) Smart angle sensor outputs high -speed and accurate angles with digital values. This sensor is composed of a combination of high -pr...
Bee & Plus Co., Ltd.
40+ people viewing
■ Overview ・ The touchless angle sensor is an angle sensor with completely non -contact with the sensor body and position marker (magnet). ・ It c...
Bee & Plus Co., Ltd.
60+ people viewing
■ Overview ・ Angle potential is a potenthaometer that detects the angle. ・ The resistor is arranged along the measurement route, and when the sha...