AMA Innovation Award for Energy Autonomous Absolute Encoder

The AMA Association for Sensor Technology (AMA) presented this year's AMA Innovation Award to the winner of the contest at the Sensor+Test trade fair in Nuremberg on 22 May. The 10,000-euro award went to the "Highly integrated Hall sensor ASIC for energy-autonomous absolute encoders."
The joint development by Dr. Steffen Klupsch, Ralf Burkard, and Dr. Heiner Flocke (IC-Haus GmbH, Bodenheim) as well as Dr. Thomas Theil (Mehnert & Theil Erfindergemeinschaft, Feldafing) convinced the jury with the energy-autonomous application of a highly-integrated Hall sensor ASIC. From the rotary motion, the sensor is able to derive the energy required for the multiturn sensor signal as well as for counting and storing of the measuring signal.
Absolute encoders are already being used in many technical applications, such as machine and plant engineering, automotives, and automation technology. Until now they needed a power supply or a high-maintenance buffer battery. In many automotive engineering applications this is not permissible for safety reasons, and thus more vulnerable mechanical solutions had to be implemented. The award-winning solution sets new standards.
Submissions for the AMA Innovation Award 2013 will be accepted as of September 2012 from individuals or development teams from enterprises or institutes. The brochure with all submissions for the AMA Innovation Award contest, further information, and conditions of participation can be obtained at www.ama-sensorik.de.