Sentrinsic's technology is an entirely new way to provide high performance position feedback, and it is a much simpler solution than incumbent position sensing methods. The base technology is called Capacitively-Coupled Resistance Sensing (CCRS), and it is a patent-pending sensor platform developed in cooperation with the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Sentrinsic sensors are:

• Robust - non-contacting sensor element is not exposed to harsh external environments
• High performance - excellent repeatability, resolution, and linearity
• Very economical - encoder/magnetostrictive performance at potentiometer prices

Operating Principle
The CCRS operating principle is similar to that of a potentiometer (resistance variation with position), but without the contacting elements. Essentially, we start by depositing a resistive film along a linear axis. We then apply an AC excitation across the film to deploy a linear distribution of amplitude. A non-contacting pickup head is capacitively-coupled to the resistive film, and voltage amplitude on the pickup reflects its position.

It is important to note that CCRS does NOT measure capacitance – the technology uses capacitance as a method of picking up a signal. Therefore, we are not subject to the same issues as capacitive sensors (temperature fluctuations, non-linearity, off-axis movement, susceptibility to changes in medium, etc.)

The actual embodiment of the sensor depends on the form of the application. See "Form Factors" for more information.