{{Short description|none}} A '''position sensor''' is a 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 * Eddy-current sensor * Hall effect sensor * Inductive sensor * Laser Doppler vibrometer (optical) * Linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) * Photodiode array * Piezo-electric transducer (piezo-electric) * Position encoders: ** Absolute encoder ** Incremental encoder ** Linear encoder ** Rotary encoder * Potentiometer * Proximity sensor (optical) * String potentiometer (also known as a ''string potentiometer'', ''string encoder'' or ''cable position transducer'') * Ultrasonic sensor
==See also== *List of length, distance, or range measuring devices *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 * {{technology-stub|date=April 2017}}