Sensofoil® Membrane Potentiometers
With precision accuracy and nearly endless customizability, Hoffmann + Krippner Sensofoil® membrane potentiometers enable your product’s full potential.
By measuring potential difference against a known voltage, potentiometers transmit an analogue signal proportional to the distance or angle being measured. In other words, they measure linear and rotary position with fine-tuned accuracy – a crucial function in a wide array of modern products and applications.
Membrane potentiometers – thanks to ultra-flat design and cost advantages – are particularly useful and adaptable to scenarios where traditional potentiometers would falter. The technical specifications of Hoffmann + Krippner Sensofoil® membrane potentiometers meet or exceed those of conventional potentiometers, creating a new world of potential uses for product designers and engineers.
To compare Sensofoil with traditional potentiometer solutions, please download the whitepaper, “Choosing the Right Potentiometer“.
Standard Specifications:
- Flat design starting at 0.5 mm (Sensofoil PET)
- Linear and radial designs, can also be adjusted to different shapes
- Excellent linearity: 2% linear, 4% rotary
- Operating temperature ranges of -25⁰C to +55⁰C (PET), 0⁰C to +55⁰C (Magnet) and -25⁰C to +80⁰C (Hybrid)
- Sealed up to IP 65
- Operation possible by hand, wiper, or magnet
Fill out our non-binding form for a custom Sensofoil proposal today.
Why use a Hoffmann + Krippner Sensofoil® membrane potentiometer?
Our Sensofoil® membrane potentiometers offer cost advantages.
In general, a membrane potentiometer up to 700 mm in length presents a cost-effective option in place of traditional potentiometers: relatively inexpensive to manufacture, even with custom designs, they can be conveniently integrated in new and existing applications.
Our Sensofoil® membrane potentiometers can fit almost any application.
With Sensofoil®, Hoffmann + Krippner offers a fully customizable position sensor with almost limitless dimensions in length and radius, thanks to the flat and layered composition. In fact, almost any customer requirement can be fulfilled. Our industry-leading Sensofoil® team will guide you through the customization and implementation process.
Our Sensofoil® membrane potentiometers offer long service life.
Flat, durable, and sealed, Sensofoil® membrane potentiometers enjoy a service life between 1 million to 20 million operations. Depending on the model selected, they can even work in dirty, unstable, and/or hot environments. Integration in control units allows for fully sealed surfaces according to IP65. As an analogue sensor, the position signal is readily available even after a power outage. This eliminates the need for an otherwise potentially critical reset feature.
Where to use our Sensofoil® membrane potentiometers: Areas of Application
Sensofoil® membrane potentiometers work well anywhere precise and careful controls, inputs, or measurements are needed. Consider the following examples:
Automotive – Control driver inputs like radio and navigation with extreme fidelity
Medical – Capture motion in robotic equipment for the medical industry & capture precise position of a moving equipment parts.
Robotics – Control and monitor position of robotic arms
Doors – Capture the actual position of electric doors in street cars and trains or monitor the precise position of gate arms without having to perform a calibration trip (reset) in case of power failure
Fork Lift – Monitor precise position of vehicle wheels and steering arm
Aviation – Determine the exact position of business and first-class seats
Automation – Control radial and linear position in space restricted application.
Easy and simple integration into membrane switches
Space – In partnership with MOOG Inc., Hoffmann + Krippner developed a noise-free membrane potentiometer for spaceflight use
Music/Entertainment – Can be used as ribbon controller with finger control.
Integrated into digital drums or pianos.
Such examples are only the start. Based on almost any customer requirements, Hoffmann + Krippner develops and produces in-house and supplies corresponding evaluation electronics and software if requested.
How It Works
Sensofoil® membrane potentiometers consist of several layers, which are separated by a so-called “spacer.” The layers include:
- Collector membrane as wiper tap for hand-, wiper- or magnet actuation
- Spacers between upper and lower membrane
- Basic membrane with potentiometer resistance track
- Adhesive film (according to application requirements)
The membrane layers connect to each other through mechanical or magnetic pressure. The contact can be achieved either by hand or with a mechanical wiper; contactless operation is also possible by using a magnet.
To learn more about Sensofoil please download the Sensofoil product whitepaper.
Our Standard Sensofoil Product Line and Features
To find out more about our standard Sensofoil product lines, please follow the links below:
PET-PET: resistive track printed on PET foil – operating temperatures -25°C to +55°C
PET-Magnet: resistive track printed on PET – contactless – operating temperatures 0°C to +55°C
PET-Hybrid: resistive track printed on PET – extended lifetime – operating temperatures -25°C to +85°C
Further detailed specifications for our standard portfolio are available in the Sensofoil® membrane potentiometer datasheet.
Please contact us to further discuss custom specification required for your application.
Hoffmann + Krippner Sensofoil® membrane potentiometers are available for purchase here.
