With the increase in demand for electronically controlled handles, social needs have ushered in greater challenges, both to meet the requirements of use and to reduce costs. These requirements include, but are not limited to, sensitivity, precision, low power, operating feel, dimensional customization, etc. In industrial environments, precise control of heavy equipment plays a vital role in preventing workplace injuries or lost productivity.
There are many types of industrial electronic joysticks on the market today to meet the needs of OEMs and operators in industrial, commercial and consumer environments. In industrial applications, industrial joysticks for machines and equipment play a vital role. Therefore, it is important to have an understanding of the two main types of industrial joysticks: holl effect joysticks and potentiometer joysticks.
A potentiometer is a variable resistor that is slid with a brush to change the resistance. Potentiometers are often used as analog voltage dividers to provide a voltage output signal and electrical components are fabricated using several materials such as carbon, cermet, etc. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, however, due to the sliding friction of the brush, the loss of potentiometer use is unavoidable. Because of their low life span, carbon potentiometers are not commonly used in industrial joystick applications and are best used in less intensive environments such as equipment function panels.
The holl effect joystick uses a non-contact device to detect magnetic fields. Controlling the voltage output based on a change in the magnetic field, the Hall effect sensor acts like a potentiometer and eliminates the element of life loss, since there is no need for a sliding contact brush. The magnet is coupled to the end of the rocker and is placed close to the Hall-effect chip, but never touches it. While holl effect joysticks can prolong life, there are other factors to consider, such as temperature changes or available supply voltage.
Therefore, when selecting the type of electronic control handle, the use environment is an important reference.