capacitive

All MicroSense position sensors feature: * Completely noncontact capacitive position measurement - the most
accurate electrical sensing technology avialable *
Detection of any conductive, grounded target surface
finish or material have no effect on accuracy * Optimized
for short measurement ranges 10 micrometers up to 4
millimeters, depending upon sensor size * High accuracy,
fast response

Hall effect
A Hall effect sensor is a transducer that varies its output voltage in
response to changes in magnetic field. Hall sensors are used for
proximity switching, positioning, speed detection, and current
sensing applications.

In-cylinder
An In-Cylinder transducer is configured for mounting inside a cylinder,
with a hole drilled down the center of the piston rod, and the cylinder
end cap is machined to accommodate the transducer. This technique
provides excellent environmental protection and position feedback.

inductive
An inductive sensor is a non-contact device that measures the
change in impedance (effective resistance) of a coil. The operation
is similar to that of an inductive proximity switch. Alternating
current flows through a coil to generate a magnetic field around
the coil. An object made of ferrous metal (or non-ferrous metal at
higher frequencies) disrupts the field when the object enters it. The
disruption of the field causes the inductance of the coil to change.

lasers
Laser triangulation and time-of-flight sensors that measure
displacement. For distances of a few inches with high accuracy
requirements, "triangulation" sensors measure the location of the
spot within the field of view of the detecting element. Time of
flight sensors derive range from the time it takes light to travel
from the sensor to the target and return. For very long range
distance measurements (up to many miles) "time-of-flight" laser
rangefinders using pulsed laser beams are used.

Low cost LCIT

The LCIT series is based on a patented linear position sensor design
that features all of the benefits of current LVDT inductive technology,
but at a significantly lower cost.

LVDT
The linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) is a type of
electrical transformer used for measuring linear displacement.
Because the sliding core does not touch the inside of the tube, it
can move without friction, making the LVDT a highly reliable
device. The absence of any sliding or rotating contacts allows the
LVDT to be completely sealed against the environment. LVDTs are
commonly used for position feedback in servomechanisms, and for
automated measurement in machine tools and many other
industrial and scientific applications.

Magnetic encoder
An encoder is a sensing device that translates either linear or rotary
motion into a predictable electrical output.

magnetoresistive
Measured by the change of the resistivity of a current carrying
ferromagnetic material due to a magnetic field.

potentiometer
A potentiometer is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding contact
that forms an adjustable voltage divider. The potentiometer can be
used as a voltage divider to obtain a manually adjustable output
voltage at the slider (wiper) from a fixed input voltage applied
across the two ends of the pot.

Slide gate position

Sensors used to measure slide gate or valve position.

String(draw wire) potentiometers

A potentiometer is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding
contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. The
potentiometer can be used as a voltage divider to obtain a
manually adjustable output voltage at the slider (wiper) from a
fixed input voltage applied across the two ends of the pot. A
draw wire is attached to rotary gear that "drives" a rotary
potentiometer, thus enabling long displacements at a lower
cost.

Ultrasonic modules and system

Electroacoustic transducers operate as transmitters or receivers.

When operating as transmitters, they transform electrical
energy into acoustic energy that propagates through a medium,
which is usually air or water. When operating as receivers, they
transform the acoustical energy into electrical energy.
Electroacoustic sensors are in use in many applications,
including liquid and bulk level detection, counting, position
location, profiling, collision avoidance, web break detection and
tensioning, ultrasonic intrusion alarms, and an automatic
scoring system for ten-pin bowling.

http://www.disensors.com/products.aspx?id=21

Types of Linear Position Sensors

There are a variety of different linear position sensor technologies for industrial buyers to
distinguish between during selection.
Capacitance sensors are noncontact sensors which function by

measuring the voltage difference applied between the sensor and its target.
They can be used on conductive and nonconductive target materials, but can
be sensitive to environmental parameters that change the dielectric constant
of the medium between the sensor and the target (usually air).
Eddy current sensors are noncontact sensors which contain two coils,

one active coil that is influenced by the presence of a conducting target, and a
second coil that completes a bridge circuit and provides temperature
compensation. As the target comes closer to the probe, the eddy currents
become stronger, which changes the impedance of the active coil and causes
a bridge unbalance related to the target position.
Photoelectric sensors, including fiber optic, optical triangulation, and

optical time of flight, function by using the projection and detection of light.
Reflective properties of the target and environment are important
considerations in the choice and use of photoelectric sensors.
Ultrasonic sensors function by using the projection and detection of
sound. The distance between the sensor and the target is calculated from an
acoustic signal's return time and the propagation velocity of the measurement
medium.

Inductive, Hall Effect, magnetoresistive, magnetostrictive,

and variable reluctance sensors measure the disruption of magnetic fields.
Linear potentiometers produce a resistance output proportional to
an object's displacement or position. The resistance element is excited by
either DC or AC voltage, and the output voltage is ideally a linear function of
the input displacement.

Output Types
Linear position sensors are available in a variety of different output signal types to suit
.different application requirements and control architectures

Analog sensors provide an output in the form of either a DC voltage or

DC current. These sensors make up the overwhelming majority of sensors

used in industrial automation.
Time-based digital sensors generate digital pulses, separated by

time. The time between pulses is proportional to linear position. They are
primarily implemented in magnetostrictive linear position sensors. Output
types include start/stop, pulse-width modulated (PWM), and recalculated PWM.
Serial digital sensors provide discrete, single stream outputs using
numbers via digital protocols including Synchronous Serial Interface (SSI),
DeviceNet, Ethernet, and Profibus.

http://www.globalspec.com/learnmore/sensors_transducers_detectors/displ
acement_sensing/linear_displacement_sensors_all_types

http://www.euclidres.com/motionSensors/motionSensors.html
http://machinedesign.com/sensors/finding-right-sensor-linear-displacement