# Position sensor

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Position_sensor
> Source revision: 1346301485
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

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A '''position sensor''' is a [sensor](/source/sensor) that detects an object's position. A position sensor may indicate the absolute position of the object (its location) or its relative position (displacement) in terms of linear travel, rotational angle or three-dimensional space. Common types of position sensors include the following:

* [Capacitive displacement sensor](/source/Capacitive_displacement_sensor)
* [Eddy-current sensor](/source/Eddy-current_sensor)
* [Hall effect sensor](/source/Hall_effect_sensor)
* [Inductive sensor](/source/Inductive_sensor)
* [Laser Doppler vibrometer](/source/Laser_Doppler_vibrometer) (optical)
* [Linear variable differential transformer](/source/Linear_variable_differential_transformer) (LVDT)
* [Photodiode array](/source/Photodiode_array)
* [Piezo-electric transducer](/source/Piezo-electric_transducer) ([piezo-electric](/source/piezo-electric))
* [Position encoders](/source/Encoder_(position)):
** [Absolute encoder](/source/Absolute_encoder)
** [Incremental encoder](/source/Incremental_encoder)
** [Linear encoder](/source/Linear_encoder)
** [Rotary encoder](/source/Rotary_encoder)
* [Potentiometer](/source/Potentiometer)
* [Proximity sensor](/source/Proximity_sensor) (optical)
* [String potentiometer](/source/String_potentiometer) (also known as a ''string potentiometer'', ''string encoder'' or ''cable position transducer'')
* [Ultrasonic sensor](/source/Ultrasonic_sensor)

==See also==
*[List of length, distance, or range measuring devices](/source/List_of_length%2C_distance%2C_or_range_measuring_devices)
*[Positioning system](/source/Positioning_system)

== Literature==
* David S. Nyce: ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=0SwbWS64c7UC Linear Position Sensors: Theory and Application]'', New Jersey, John Wiley & Sons Inc. (2004)

Category:Measuring instruments
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{{technology-stub|date=April 2017}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Position sensor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Position_sensor) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Position_sensor?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.