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Position Sensing Tutorial
Position-Sensing System Configuration Guide
The key to understanding optical position sensing systems is to understand the sensors which form the heart of such systems.
These fall into two basic categories: segmented and continuous.
Segmented sensors
consist of two or more distinct photosensitive elements separated by a small gap.
These highly-sensitive devices are best used as nulling and centering devices.
Their useful range is limited by the illumination spot size.
This category includes Quadrant and BiCell type sensors.
Continuous sensors
consist of a single photodiode, without any gaps.
These devices are best for measuring a light spot's movement over a wide range (greater than the spot size).
This category includes duo-lateral, tetra-lateral, and superlinear types.
Further explanation is offered in the UDTi position sensing tutorial (see link above).
Position Sensor/Instrument Compatibility Table
SENSOR SENSOR TYPE 301DIV 501 431 531
1232 | Tetra-lateral |   |   | X | X |
1233 | Tetra-lateral |   |   | X | X |
1237 | Tetra-lateral |   |   | X | X |
1238 | Tetra-lateral | X | X |   |   |
1239 | Tetra-lateral | X | X |   |   |
1240 | Quadrant |   |   | X | X |
1241 | Tetra-lateral |   |   | X | X |
1242 | Quadrant |   |   | X | X |
1243 | BiCell | X | X |   |   |
1245 | Quadrant |   |   |   | X |
1248 | Duo-lateral |   |   |   | X |
1250 | Duo-lateral |   |   |   | X |
1252 | Superlinear | X | X |   |   |
1262 | Quadrant |   |   |   | X |
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