A ratiometric sensor or circuit produces an output signal that is a proportional fraction of its supply voltage, rather than an absolute voltage level. If the supply voltage fluctuates by 10 percent, the output voltage scales by the exact same percentage. Engineers pair ratiometric sensors with analog-to-digital converters sharing the same reference voltage, allowing supply variations to cancel out and ensuring highly accurate digital readings.
Make sure to use the 5-volt supply as the ADC reference since the throttle position sensor is ratiometric.
Related terms
Analog-to-digital converter
A mixed-signal circuit component that translates continuous physical voltages into discrete digital numbers.
Potentiometer
A three-terminal variable resistor used to manually adjust voltage or resistance in a circuit.
ADC
An analog-to-digital converter transforms continuous physical signals into discrete digital numbers.