Mc King Stephen F.

Nagutom
ME-5202
1. What is sensor?

Sensors are an integral part of modern living. If you are reading this article on a
computer, you are most likely using a mouse, which contains an optical sensor. If you
are on a smartphone, you are using touch sensors every time you touch the screen. But
what exactly is a sensor?
 
A sensor is a device that measures physical input from its environment and
converts it into data that can be interpreted by either a human or a machine. Most
sensors are electronic (the data is converted into electronic data), but some are more
simple, such as a glass thermometer, which presents visual data. People use sensors
to measure temperature, gauge distance, detect smoke, regulate pressure and a myriad
of other uses. 

2. What is proximity sensor?

Proximity sensors are used across a broad range of industrial and manufacturing
applications. They’re used to sense the presence of objects or materials and then either
initiate some action or simply flag their presence or absence. Key to their operation is
that they don’t require physical contact with the target or object being sensed. This is
why they’re often called non-contact sensors.

There are a number of common sensing techniques employed in proximity sensors.

These techniques serve to categorize sensor types in addition to other ways such as
the material to be detected or the environmental conditions best suited for that sensor
type.

The most common types of proximity sensors are briefly described below:

Capacitive – as the name indicates, these sensors operate by noting a change in the
capacitance, capacitance being a function of both electrical charge and voltage between
two surfaces with either an air gap or some other material between them, which is the
dielectric constant. When an object to be detected enters the field of the sensor, it
effects the dielectric and thus changes the capacitance, which is sensed as a change.

Inductive – these types of sensors are based on changing inductance, which is a

measure of the ability of inducing a voltage in a conductor as a result of a changing
current in a different conductor. Inductive sensors work with metallic objects because
these have inductive properties, so can’t be used to detect plastic, for instance.

Also, the type of material sensed will influence the sensing distance. For example,
ferromagnetic materials like steel generally have the longest sensing distances,
whereas other metals such as aluminum or copper have much shorter sensing
distances.

Photoelectric – these sensors operate on the basis of light, dependent on a change in

the amount of light available to a detector in the sensor. There are two basic types of
photoelectric sensor; reflective, and through-beam. Reflective sensors work by emitting
a beam of light that strikes the object and is reflected back to the detector, usually in the
same physical housing as the emitter beam. Through-beam sensors, on the other hand,
have two separate units, an emitter or source of light and a separate receiver or
detector. When an object breaks the light beam, the detector registers this break.

Ultrasonic – these sensors use sound waves to detect objects. They emit a high
frequency sound wave (higher than human ears can detect) and when it strikes an
object it’s reflected back to the sensor where the distance of the object can be
calculated based on the time required for it to return. They’re used in applications to
measure distance of objects, such as in automotive park-assist functions, and in bottling
and filling applications to detect fluid levels.

3. What is the difference between proximity sensors and process automation sensors?

Proximity Sensor

Proximity Sensor" includes all sensors that perform non-contact detection in

comparison to sensors, such as limit switches, that detect objects by physically
contacting them. Proximity Sensors convert information on the movement or presence
of an object into an electrical signal. There are three types of detection systems that do
this conversion: systems that use the eddy currents that are generated in metallic
sensing objects by electromagnetic induction, systems that detect changes in electrical
capacity when approaching the sensing object, and systems that use magnets and reed
switches.

Sensors used in Automation:

In the industrial automation, sensors play a vital part to make the products intellectual
and exceptionally automatic. These permit one to detect, analyze, measure and process
a variety of transformations like alteration in position, length, height, exterior and
dislocation that occurs in the Industrial manufacture sites.

These sensors also play a pivotal role in predicting and preventing numerous potential
proceedings, thus, catering to the requirements of many sensing applications.

The following are the various types of sensors used in automation:

     Temperature Sensors
     Pressure sensors
     MEMS Sensors
     Torque Sensors
 

4. Draw and describe each type of proximity sensor

Detection Principle of Inductive Proximity Sensors

Inductive Proximity Sensors detect magnetic loss due to eddy currents that are
generated on a conductive surface by an external magnetic field. An AC magnetic field
is generated on the detection coil, and changes in the impedance due to eddy currents
generated on a metallic object are detected.

Other methods include Aluminum-detecting Sensors, which detect the phase

component of the frequency, and All-metal Sensors, which use a working coil to detect
only the changed component of the impedance. There are also Pulse-response
Sensors, which generate an eddy current in pulses and detect the time change in the
eddy current with the voltage induced in the coil.

(Qualitative Explanation)
The sensing object and Sensor form what appears to be a transformer-like relationship.

The transformer-like coupling condition is replaced by impedance changes due to eddy-

current losses.
The impedance changes can be viewed as changes in the resistance that is inserted in
series with the sensing object.
(This does not actually occur, but thinking of it this way makes it easier to understand
qualitatively.)

Detection Principle of Capacitive Proximity Sensors

Capacitive Proximity Sensors detect changes in the capacitance between the

sensing object and the Sensor. The amount of capacitance varies depending on the
size and distance of the sensing object. An ordinary Capacitive Proximity Sensor is
similar to a capacitor with two parallel plates, where the capacity of the two plates is
detected. One of the plates is the object being measured (with an imaginary ground),
and the other is the Sensor's sensing surface. The changes in the capacity generated
between these two poles are detected.

The objects that can be detected depend on their dielectric constant, but they include
resin and water in addition to metals.

Detection Principle of Magnetic Proximity Sensors

The reed end of the switch is operated by a magnet. When the reed switch is turned
ON, the Sensor is turned ON.