Republic of Yemen
Arab Academics University Measurement and Instrumentation
Mechatronics Engineering department
LAB5:
Proximity sensors
(inductive displacement measurement)
Eng. Najwa Al-Rumaithah
2023
Sensors
Sensors
It is a device that detects changes in its environment and sends the information
into the electronics.
A sensor can also convert signals from one energy domain to electrical domain.
Different Types of Sensors:
Sensor selection factors
Environmental factors:
▪ Temperature range
▪ Humidity effects
▪ Corrosion
▪ Size
▪ Overrange protection
▪ Susceptibility to EM interferences
▪ Ruggedness
▪ Power consumption
▪ Self-test capability
Sensor selection factors
Economic factors:
▪ Cost
▪ Availability
▪ Lifetime
Sensor characteristics:
▪ Sensitivity
▪ Range
▪ Stability
▪ Repeatability
▪ Linearity
▪ Error
▪ Response time
▪ Frequency response
Proximity sensors
Proximity sensors
It indicates the presence and absence of an object without making any
physical contact.
Proximity sensors are discrete sensors that sense when an object has come
near to the sensor face.
Types of Proximity sensors:
▪ Inductive proximity sensor
▪ Capacitive proximity sensor
▪ Magnetic Field proximity Sensors
▪ Ultrasonic proximity sensor
▪ Optical proximity sensor
Inductive proximity sensor
Design of inductive sensors
Inductive sensors usually consist of one or more coils
with variable inductance.
The figure to the right shows an example of a
cylindrical coil and the formula for determining its
inductance L, where l is the length of the coil, A is
the surface area of the coil, N is the number of
windings m0 is the field constant and mr is the
relative permeability of the medium inside the coil.
The principle of the sensor involves the influence
that the quantity to be measured (distance or
displacement) has over the inductance of the coil(s).
The change in inductance can be detected using a
suitable measuring bridge.
Functioning of a differential inductor
How does displacement measurement work
Two identical coils L1 und L2 are located within a cylindrical housing.
The core of the coil is a armature that moves along the axis and detects the
displacement.
When the armature moves, the permeability of its material causes the
inductance of one coil to increase while the inductance of the other
decreases by the same amount.
Functioning of a differential inductor
The following graphic shows the measuring circuit used.
The circuit is supplied with an AC voltage U~.
The resistors R1 and R2 form a full bridge along with the two inductors.
The measured voltage UM is then directly proportional to the displacement of
the armature.
Inductive proximity sensor
Inductive proximity sensors detect the distance between the
sensor and an approaching object and can be used for distance
measurement or for metal detectors.
The principle of this type of sensor involves the degree of
damping by the detected object of a magnetic field produced
by an oscillator.
The object must therefore be made of conducting material.
The operating range is usually no more than a few millimeters.
Inductive proximity sensor
How does it work
The animation alongside illustrates the principle of an
inductive proximity sensor.
The magnetic field produced by the oscillator spreads into the
surrounding space due to the open shell core.
If an object made of conducting material comes within the
field, eddy currents are induced within it that result in
damping of the field due to the law of induction and
therefore to a reduction in the amplitude of the voltage.
The voltage amplitude is therefore a measure of the distance
between the object and the sensor.
Applications
Can be used as an encoder that monitors rotation
Can measure thing like speed and acceleration
Experiments
Inductive displacement measurement III (Determining the sensor
characteristic)
Experiment card (card SO4203-5U)
Differential
➢ The UNI-TRAIN Inductive amplifier unit
displacement sensor card
contains an inductive movable iron core
displacement sensor in the potentiometer R1
form of a differential
inductor and the appropriate
circuit.
➢ Displacement is detected by
the motion of an iron core
inside the inductor coils. two inductances
➢ The motion causes the two L1 and L2
inductances L1 and L2 to measuring bridge
change, which can be
detected by means of an AC potentiometer R2
powered measuring bridge.
Experiment card (card SO4203-5U)
The following graphic shows the circuit for an inductive displacement sensor.
Experiment card (card SO4203-5U)
The sensor consists of a differential inductor with movable iron core.
A voltage uD is generated via a measuring bridge (1) powered by relatively high
frequency AC voltage.
The amplitude and phase of the voltage (either 0 or 180°) depends on the position
of the iron core. The null point of the bridge can be calibrated by means of
potentiometer R2.
The bridge voltage is converted by a differential amplifier (2) into ground-
referenced voltage.
The AC voltage measured is converted into DC by means of a sample-and-hold
circuit (4).
The pulse is supplied to the sampling circuit via a pulse generator (3) that shapes
a short square pulse from the supply voltage. The phase j of the pulse can be
adjusted by a potentiometer to between 0 and 90° with respect to the input
voltage. For the best results, the phase should be set to about 90°. The output of
the sample-and-hold circuit is then a DC voltage uout proportional to the motion of
the iron core.
Next lab
Proximity sensors (capacitive displacement measurement)
Any Questions?