Affordable noncontact differential measuring system

Offering differential for common mode rejection at an economical price, the DIT-5200L provides advanced precision measurement technology with exceptional resolution, repeatability, and nulling accuracy. Applications for the DIT-5200L include laser communications, optical stabilisation, and magnetic bearings.

The DIT-5200L features enhancements to Kaman’s previous DIT-5200 product, resulting in lower noise (better resolution) and CE Marking. Capable of sub-nanometre resolution, the DIT-5200L provides thermal stability of ±.03% and high sensitivity – up to 10 volts per mil (V/mil), or 39 millivolt/per micron (mV/μm). 

With a small package size of only 7.7 cubic inches, the DIT-5200L is extremely linear, to 0.1% of the full range, and is available in both single and dual channel configurations. The DIT-5200L signal conditioning electronics is packaged in a die cast aluminium box with MCX style sensor connections. Input/output (I/O) is on a nine pin mini-D connector. The input power connections are reverse voltage protected. The DIT-5200L Measuring System is built from commercial off the shelf (COTS) components, allowing it to be produced at a lower cost and at a higher volume than the alternatives.

The DIT-5200L uses high precision eddy current balanced bridge technology for detecting the aligned/centred position of a conductive target relative to a pair of non-contacting sensors. For differential measurement applications, two precisely matched sensors per channel are positioned on opposite sides or ends of a target. 

In this sensor-to-target relationship, as the target moves away from one sensor, it moves toward the other sensor an equal amount. Output is differential and bipolar. Electrically matched sensors on opposing legs of the same bridge provide exceptional thermal stability.