SLYT867 June   2025 LDC5072-Q1 , MSPM0G1106 , MSPM0G1107 , MSPM0G1506 , MSPM0G1507 , MSPM0G1518 , MSPM0G1519 , MSPM0G3106 , MSPM0G3106-Q1 , MSPM0G3107 , MSPM0G3107-Q1 , MSPM0G3506 , MSPM0G3506-Q1 , MSPM0G3507 , MSPM0G3507-Q1 , MSPM0G3518 , MSPM0G3518-Q1 , MSPM0G3519 , MSPM0G3519-Q1 , TMAG5170 , TMAG6180-Q1

 

  1.   1
  2. 1 Introduction
  3. 2 Using a position sensor with brushless motor control
  4. 3 Incremental and absolute encoders
  5. 4 FOC motor-control techniques and requirements for encoders
  6. 5 Position sensor technologies
  7. 6 Magnetic position sensors
  8. 7 Linear position example with a 3D Hall-effect linear sensor
  9. 8 Rotary angle example with an AMR sensor
  10. 9 Inductive position sensing
  11. 10Conclusion
  12. 11Additional resources

5 Position sensor technologies

The predominant types of position sensors are optical, magnetic, inductive or capacitive. Optical sensors typically offer the highest resolution (although magnetic and inductive sensors are more reliable), and may offer a lower total system cost. In industrial or automotive systems, large current flows in nearby wiring necessitate a sensor technology such as inductive that is immune to magnetic stray fields. Capacitive sensors typically have lower resolution than inductive and magnetic sensors and are not as common.

For cost-sensitive systems in harsh environments (for example, high temperatures caused by motor integration), TI offers magnetic and inductive position sensors.