Bourns potentiometer is a typical contact absolute angle sensor. It has a sliding contact point on the resistance film (including carbon resistance film, conductive plastic film, metal resistance film, conductive ceramic film, etc.). By external action, the contact point position is changed so as to change the ratio of upper resistance to lower resistance of the resistance film, and the output voltage varies with the external position.

The bourns potentiometer is composed of electronic components and verniers. The verniers can slide on the surface of the components, which can be divided into linear sliding type and rotary type. The former is used to detect linear displacement, while the latter is used to detect angle, tilt angle and so on. Obviously, pressure, weight and flow can be changed into mechanical displacement first, and then into electrical signal by bourns potentiometer.