Thanks to ground-breaking ASIC technology, the Swiss sensor manufacturer Contrinex has succeeded in increasing the operating distance of its miniature inductive 4mm diameter and M5 devices to a substantial 2.5 mm.
Constantly increasing levels of automation and, as a result, growing demand for sensors that have to be mounted in ever smaller spaces have made miniature sensors increasingly popular. Unfortunately, the relatively short operating distances of conventional mini sensors, and consequently their proximity to moving parts, frequently lead to mechanical damage and hence an above-average failure rate. The Condist technology, developed by Contrinex and enabling up to 4-times operating distances, could previously only be applied to larger devices (starting from diameter 6.5 mm). Now however, Contrinex has succeeded in incorporating the numerous discrete components into an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), which has not only considerably reduced manufacturing costs, but also the space required by the electronics. The new technology has thus enabled Contrinex to combine its two major fields of expertise, i.e. small sizes and long operating distances, in a single device. The result: fully embeddable MiniDist sensors in sizes diameter 4 mm and M5, each with an operating distance of 2.5 mm, which is more than 3 times greater than the standard, allowing the sensors to be mounted further away from moving parts. In addition, these devices also feature the same electrical properties and protection functions as larger types, and can thus replace the latter wherever space is limited.