PIHER Introduces Surface Mount Rotary Position Sensor Featuring Flexible Configuration Capabilities in Miniature Package

The PS15 Series is available with seven different rotor designs and 15 shaft styles with choice of nine colors in standard or UL94 compatible plastic. This offering allows PIHER to configure a custom sensing solution for virtually any control or position feedback requirement. The result is a customized sensor that maximizes board density, reduces weight and eases assembly while achieving the engineer’s critical sensor design goals for the application.

An optional detent feature provides further customization. Detents not only add a crisp click sensation for each unique position without affecting the sensor specification or output, but also offer significant savings in both cost and space; and are particularly advantageous in industrial and domestic power tool applications to prevent accidental rotation. Piher can design up to 27 different detent configurations anywhere within the electrical rotation.

The PS15 allows engineers more design freedom because of the significant configurability provided with our wide array of shafts, rotors and detents,” says Dave Meehan, Applications Engineer with PIHER North America. “It is often difficult for engineers to locate all the features they want in a 15mm package size, but we can meet their exact requirements by tooling either a rotor, shaft and detent configuration.”

In developing the PS15, PIHER’s engineers paid particular attention to the surface mount land patterns (footprints or pads) that define the locations where components are soldered to the PC board. The PS15’s land patterns have been optimized to maximize solder joint strength, clean ability, testability, and repair - all critical features in the overall produceablity of the board assembly.

The PS15 Rotary Position Sensor offers application for both feedback and control where frequent adjustment or feedback is required. The shaftless design allows for employment of different engagement mechanisms, such as a customized shaft, a motor control, a human interface (such as knob) adjustment, or a mechanical arm position locator. The sensor can also control variable outputs including frequency, change in motor speed or volume. Typical applications include test and measurement equipment, consumer electronics, appliances, small engines, robotics, motion controllers, automation equipment, electronic instrumentation and medical equipment control panels.

Housed in a dust-proof enclosure, the PS15 comes standard with a 240 degree electrical angle, 10k life cycle, and linear, log and anti-log electrical tapers. Other performance characteristics include a rotational angle of 265º ±5 º, an operating temperature of -40º + 85 ºC, and tolerances of ±30%. In addition to the wide selection of rotors and detents other selection options include SPDT switch, 100k life cycle, custom tapers, measured linearity, and different electrical angles. The device is both RoHS and REACH compliant.

Pricing for the PS15 Rotary Position Sensor starts at $0.460 each in typical 10k per annum quantities and can be packaged in tape and reel configurations. Production lead times are typically 8-10 weeks. Full engineering details are available at: http://www.piher-nacesa.com/pdf/PS15_shortform.pdf.