High-Precision Inductive Sensor Interface for Robotics and Mobility
Melexis introduces a dual-input inductive sensor interface designed to deliver stable 16-bit position measurement for robotics, industrial systems, and mobility applications.
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How Inductive Position Sensing Meets Robotics, Industrial and Mobility Needs
Robotic joints, industrial motor drives and electric mobility systems increasingly require high-precision, low-latency position feedback that can perform reliably in harsh environments. Optical encoders and magnetic sensors often face limitations with contamination, mechanical wear or magnetic dependencies, leading engineers to seek alternatives that are compact, robust and easy to integrate.
Melexis addresses these requirements with the new MLX90514 inductive sensor interface, designed to provide absolute position data with high noise immunity and stable performance across demanding conditions.
Contactless Inductive Architecture for Stable and Repeatable Measurements
The MLX90514 operates on a fully contactless inductive principle, which eliminates magnets and optical elements and therefore reduces system wear, contamination issues and sourcing constraints. Its dual-input architecture processes two coil sets simultaneously, allowing precise on-chip calculation of vernier angles. This enables synchronized sensing of input and output positions within the same system, such as motor shafts, robotic joints or compact drive units.
By consolidating both measurement channels into a single IC, the interface reduces external circuitry, simplifies safety-relevant designs and supports tighter mechanical integration.
Zero-Latency Output and Wide Mechanical Compatibility
Engineers can deploy the MLX90514 in rotary or linear measurement systems with coil diameters ranging from 20 to 300 mm and linear strokes up to 400 mm. The interface delivers up to 16-bit resolution with accuracy better than 0.1°, ensuring precise motion control even under environmental stress. Its zero-latency behavior supports high-speed commutation and real-time feedback loops required in advanced automation and mobility platforms.
Configuration is streamlined through a limited parameter set, focusing on offset and linearization, allowing rapid system commissioning.
Compact Implementation and Reduced System Cost
With all signal processing integrated on-chip, the MLX90514 minimizes board space and the bill of materials. Its PCB-based coil design simplifies assembly, removes the need for permanent magnets and improves long-term reliability. Compared with optical sensing, the inductive approach remains robust against dust, dirt and mechanical degradation, making it suitable for field-deployed robotics and industrial equipment.
Design Support for Faster Development
To accelerate adoption, Melexis provides an online inductive simulation tool that helps engineers design and optimize coil geometries for different applications. The tool is available upon request through Melexis representatives.
www.melexis.com
