Membrane potentiometers have c hanged the way engineers think about sensing. With some measuring only 0.5mm [.05cm]thick, ultra-flat membrane potentiometers feature comparable product characteristics to conventional potentiometers, but are liberal with design freedom at significantly lower costs.
Today's membrane potentiometers can be used in the same applications as conventional potentiometers, but can also fit into space-constrained areas. In this case, function can follow form an uncommon feature of mechanical potentiometers.
Because most producers of membrane potentiometers offer customized products with only small tooling efforts, costs are very competitive, even for small prototype quantities. Three additional advantages are found in the basic construction of the membrane potentiometer: its ability to be fully sealed; the possibility of a hollow shaft design; and numerous wiper options, including operation by hand.
Most membrane potentiometers, like the Sensofoil products, c an be sealed at up to an IP65 (NEMA4x) rating and beyond. Conventional potentiometers require a difficult assembly of the wiper, particularly in a hollow shaft assembly. The hollow shaft design of membrane potentiometers, as with Sensofoil , is more reliable and cost efficient. Because of the simple nature of the membrane potentiometer, such technical adjustments are not required. The wiper for the membrane potentiometer c an be as simple as a small plastic knob sliding across the surface; it requires no external electric al contact. Most membrane potentiometers c an also be operated by sliding a finger over its surface, and Sensofoil is even available in a contactless magnetic version.