Four Hall-effect position sensors can provide absolute off-axis position sensing with large clear aperture for miniature optical systems.

Many optical applications require an off-axis sensor configuration to leave a clear aperture for light transmission through the center of a rotating optical element, which may be a polarizing optic, a micro filter wheel, a wedged prism or other component.

Hall effect position sensors with on-chip analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) lend themselves to very tiny systems.

Using a novel implementation of these integrated linear position sensors, engineers at New Scale Technologies created a unique off-axis rotary position sensor that delivers absolute angular position information over a standard I2C serial digital interface.

This sensor has a wide clear aperture, very small size and low power use. Coupled with New Scale's tiny piezoelectric motors, it enables highly-miniaturized optical systems.

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