What is the term for a sensor output that provides current to the load when active?

• A. Current sourcing
• B. Current sinking
• C. Voltage output
• D. Open-collector

Answer: (A)

In motor control sensing, you drive a load by either sourcing or sinking current. When the output actively delivers current from the positive supply into the load, that arrangement is called current sourcing. The load then returns current to the common reference, typically ground. This is the opposite of current sinking, where the output pulls current from the load down to ground. A voltage output would provide a fixed voltage rather than controlled current, and open-collector refers to a transistor type that mainly sinks current and requires an external pull-up to create a high level. So the term for a sensor output that provides current to the load when active is current sourcing.