Intrinsically Safe Proximity Sensing

Wiegand sensors use variations in an external magnetic field to generate electrical pulses. Hence, they can detect external objects coming close enough to trigger a polarity reversal in the surrounding magnetic field. Proximity sensing can come in different forms, where mechanical energy is converted to pulse energy through a number of realizations including:

• Linear Motion
• Rotary Motion
• Proximity Movement of Ferromagnetic Bodies

Wiegand Sensors serve as intrinsically safe proximity sensors since no external power supply is needed, avoiding the necessity of large switching currents outside the control circuits. Low-power and energy saving magnetic sensing applications can even harness the inherent energy of the generated Wiegand pulses.