Renesas Electronics Corporation has unveiled a new range of magnet-free inductive position sensor (IPS) chips aimed at industrial and robotic applications, in a move to challenge traditional magnetic and optical encoders that dominate the precision sensing market.
The Japanese semiconductor group’s new RAA2P3226, RAA2P3200, and RAA2P4200 integrated circuits are designed to deliver high precision and durability at lower cost. The sensors, which operate using non-contact coil technology, are capable of functioning reliably in harsh conditions including high temperatures, dust, and electromagnetic interference.
Renesas said the devices can achieve accuracy better than 0.1% of the full-scale electrical range, with the flagship RAA2P3226 offering up to 19-bit resolution and 0.01° absolute accuracy — a level suited to advanced robotics. The RAA2P3200 is designed for high-speed motor control applications, while the RAA2P4200 targets low-speed systems such as medical devices and power tools.
Leopold Beer, Vice President of the Sensors Division at Renesas, said the company’s accompanying web-based design platform would lower technical barriers for engineers working with inductive sensing. “Our new web-based coil design tool is a game changer,” Beer said. “It allows developers to fully customise the sensing element and automatically fine-tune it for maximum accuracy and robustness.”
In addition to the industrial chips, Renesas plans to release automotive-grade versions — the RAA2P452x and RAA2P4500 — later this year. The dual-channel RAA2P452x will support ASIL D safety compliance when paired with the company’s microcontrollers, targeting applications in vehicle body control and chassis systems.
The semiconductor maker, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, has been expanding its industrial and automotive product lines as demand for robust, low-maintenance sensing solutions grows alongside the adoption of automation and electric mobility technologies.
