The Inductive Non-Contact Position Sensor is a highly accurate sensor for motion control applications. The sensor was designed to monitor the precise movements of an optical inspection system that measured defects in Space Shuttle windows. The technology has been prototyped and successfully field-tested with the Shuttle window inspection system. Its small size, low cost, wide range, and accuracy give it a distinct advantage over other types of sensors used for similar applications.

Position sensors are used in a range of applications, and there are a number of types tailored to the needs of the applications. Current non-contact inductive sensors are inexpensive but are not precise. Other sensor types, including eddy current sensors, capacitive sensors, and optical/laser position sensors, have high precision, but are larger, more expensive, and require complex algorithms to operate. Compared to other position sensors, this technology is precise, small, inexpensive, and provides absolute position. It can measure accuracy of position down to 400 nanometers over a total range of 200 microns. The sensor uses inexpensive, off-the-shelf components and has a total volume of less than cubic inch. A highly linear output makes computation easy by using a low-cost microcontroller. The high signal-to-noise ratio allows the sensor to operate in noisy environments. Although originally designed as a one-dimensional sensor, additional work performed in the laboratory improved the design to make it two-dimensional as well as providing the ability to function as a tip/tilt sensor. The additional work also extended the linear operating region substantially, from about +/- 30 degrees to about +/- 70 degrees. The sensor design can be enlarged to accommodate a larger range of motion; however, enlarging the design may result in a loss of resolution.Benefits High accuracy - Accuracy to 400 nm and resolution of 3 nm/square root hertz Small size - Total volume of less than cubic inch Low cost - Uses low-cost, off-the-shelf components Simple to implement and use - Highly linear measurements may be computed using an inexpensive microcontroller Wide operational range - Total operating range of 200 microns High signal-to-noise ratio - Can be operated in noisy environments Applications Precision Motion Control -Optical Switches -Hard Drive Control -Semiconductor Lithography -Semiconductor Metrology -Robotic Movement -Medical Diagnostics MEMS Accelerometer Torsion Rod Measure

Sprowtt Launch Pad Inc. was founded in 2019 as a subsidiary of Sprowtt Inc. Sprowtt, the parent company established in 2012, is a financial technology (FinTech) company that specializes in creating capital formation and revenue generating software platforms for the burgeoning capital raising industry created by the JOBS Act for medium sized issuer companies. Sprowtt Launch Pad Inc. plans to lead a robust federal lab-to-market campaign designed to stimulate technology transfer of U.S> government patanetdd inventions with strong market potential. This will be done through broad participation by leading colleges and universities and individual entrepreneurs, and focus on supporting commercialization of a wide-ranege of high-tech prodcust and services with technlgocal roots in the deferral government. The inititive will be enabled by the development and operation of Sprowtt’s Technlogy Transfer Gateway. The management team of Sprowtt Launch Pad has five decades of entrepreneurial experience, and has numerous years of experience successfully launching and managing more than a dozen early-stage ventures. The Sprowtt Launch Pad team has collectively raised several rounds of early stage capital and knows what it takes to launch a successful early stage company. The Sprowtt Launch Pad team has the experience to facilitate bringing together the right technology with the right entrepreneurs and partner them with the U.S. government technology transfer professionals to license the inteletual property. Sprowtt Lauch Pad is comitted to building successful early stage companies based on team relationships. Confidence and experience are important in bringing attractive and growing companies to our platform. All Americans now have the same opportunity to participate in Sprowtt Launch Pad through team building, with the right technologies available through governmentsponsored technology transfer programs.