The main inductive position sensor providers are:

• Melexis
• Renesas
• Microchip
• TI
• Onsemi
• AMS

These companies typically offer two types of inductive position sensors:

1. High-speed ICs (usually for rotary applications with SIN/COS output)
2. Low-speed ICs (for linear or reduced range-of-motion applications with ANALOG/SENT/SPC/SPI/PWM outputs).

In this comparison, we will focus on high-speed IPS. The comparison parameters include:

• PCB design requirements for correct operation
• Programming
• Temperature range
• Accuracy
• Source voltage
• Maximum speed
• Operating frequency
• Block diagram

Products

• Melexis:
  • High-speed IC: MLX90510 (SIN/COS output)
  • Low-speed IC: MLX90513 (ANALOG/SENT/SPC/PWM outputs)
• Onsemi:
  • Low-speed IC: NCV77320 (ANALOG/SENT/SPI outputs)
• Renesas:
  • High-speed IC: IPS2550 (SIN/COS output)
  • Low-speed ICs: ZMID4200/5201/5202/5203 (SENT/PWM/ANALOG outputs)
• TI:
  • High-speed IC: LDC5072 (SIN/COS output)
• Microchip:
  • High-speed IC: LX34050 (SIN/COS output)
  • Low-speed ICS : LX3301A/LX3302A (SENT/PWM/ANALOG outputs)
• AMS:
  • High-speed IC: AS5715R (SIN/COS output)

PCB Design

• Three-phase concept:
  • Used by Melexis and Onsemi.
  • Pros: Better accuracy due to harmonics suppression with the third coil.
  • Cons: More complex design requiring expert knowledge.
• Two-phase concept:
  • Used by Renesas, TI, AMS, and Microchip.
  • Pros: Simpler design (one coil for SIN, the other for COS).
  • Cons: Less accurate.

Temperature Range

• -40° to 160°C: AMS, Melexis, Renesas, TI
• -40° to 150°C: Microchip, Onsemi

Source Voltage

• 5V and 3.3V: Renesas, TI, Onsemi
• 5V: Melexis, AMS, Microchip

Maximum Speed

• Melexis: 240,000 electrical rpm
• Onsemi: 10,800 electrical rpm
• Renesas: 600,000 electrical rpm
• TI: 480,000 electrical rpm
• Microchip: Data not available
• AMS: 480,000 electrical rpm

Operating Frequency

• 2-5 MHz: Melexis, Onsemi, Renesas
• 2.4-5 MHz: TI
• AMS and Microchip: Data not available

Accuracy

• Melexis: <0.36°
• Renesas: <0.36°
• AMS: <0.36°
• TI: <1°
• Onsemi: Data not given
• Microchip: Data not given

Block diagram

Melexis : 

Renesas :

TI : 

Onsemi : Doesn’t have a SIN/COS output

AMS : 

Microchip : Datasheet not available

All chips include input filters, demodulation, AGC gain, and op-amplifier blocks. Melexis stands out by converting analog signals to digital with an ADC, enabling digital programming.

Propagation Delay

• Melexis: 0 ± 12 ns (compensated)
• Renesas: 4 μs
• TI: 4.6 μs
• AMS: Data not available
• Microchip: Data not available

Programming

• I2C programming: Onsemi, AMS, Renesas (requires a special board connected to the IC, with companies providing LabVIEW code for programming)
• PTC-04: Melexis (requires a special tool for programming, which simplifies the process)

If you are willing to build an Inductive position sensor based application (motor,automation,encoder, linear movement…), we will be glad to help you reach your goals. 

Contact us in order to organize a free meeting to discuss your solution : info@ips-insights.ch