MTE 2205

Sensors and Instrumentations

Dip Kumar Saha

Lecturer
Dept. of Mechatronics Engineering
Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
dip07me@mte.ruet.ac.bd 1
17-Series
 Reference Books
Reference Books

Mechatronics by W. Bolton

Mechatronics by R. K Rajput

Sensor and Transducer by D. Patranabis

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 Course Contents

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 Sensor & Transducer
Sensor:
Sensors sense the condition, state or value of the process
variable and produce an output which reflects this condition,
state or value.
The primary sensing element or sensor is the first and foremost
requirement for measurement and automatic control.
Bourdon tube pressure gauge is an example of sensor. It senses
the pressure and give the resulting effect or output in the form
of displacement.

Transducer:
It can also be defined as a device that converts a signal from
one form of energy to another form. Specially a transducer
converts a non electrical quantity into an electrical quantity.
LVDT is an example of transducer that sense displacement as a
function of change in inductance. 4
Dip Kumar Saha (RUET) MTE 2205
 Sensor & Transducer
With proper signal conditioning system a sensor is transformed
into a transducer.

An inverse transducer is defined as a device which converts a

electrical quantity into a non electrical quantity. It is also a
precision actuator which has an electrical input and low power
non electrical output.

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 Sensor & Transducer
Classification of sensor:

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 Sensor & Transducer
Classification of sensor:

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 Sensor & Transducer
Classification of sensor:

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 Sensor & Transducer
Application based
classification:

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 Sensor & Transducer
Property based classification:

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 Sensor & Transducer
Physical transduction principle:
Quantities to Type of Transducer Quantities to Type of Transducer
be measured be measured
Displacemen Resistive, Inductive, Acceleration Inductive, Capacitive,
t Capacitive, Piezoelectric Piezoelectric, Magneto-
Magneto electric, electric, Radioactive.
Radioactive, Electron tube
Thickness Inductive, Capacitive, Pressure Resistive, Inductive,
Piezoelectric, Magneto Capacitive, Piezoelectric
electric, Radioactive. Magneto electric,
Radioactive, Electron
tube,
Thermoelectric.
Velocity Resistive, Inductive, Flow Resistive, Inductive
Capacitive, Piezoelectric, Capacitive, Piezoelectric,
Magneto electric, Magneto electric,
Radioactive Electron tube. Radioactive.

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 Sensor & Transducer
Physical transduction principle :
Quantities to Type of Transducer Quantities to Type of Transducer
be measured be measured
Level Resistive, Inductive Mass Inductive, Piezoelectric,
Capacitive, Piezoelectric, Magneto- electric,
Photo electric, Radioactive. Radioactive.
Temperature Resistive, Photo electric, Force Resistive, Inductive,
Thermoelectric, Radioactive. Piezoelectric, Radioactive.

Humidity Resistive, Capacitive. Viscosity Resistive, Capacitive,

Piezoelectric, Magneto
resistive.

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 Sensor & Transducer
Energy types and corresponding measurand:

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 Sensor & Transducer
Transducer actuating mechanism:

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 Sensor & Transducer
Sensor Selection Criterion:
Principle of operation

Environmental condition

Range

Control interface

Resolution

Material composition of measurand

 Performance characteristic curves

Nature of input and output

Cost
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Availability
 Displacement and Position Sensor
Potentiometer Sensor:
The potentiometer can be of linear or angular type. It works on
the principle of conversion of mechanical displacement into an
electrical signal. The sensor has a resistive element and a sliding
contact (wiper). The slider moves along this conductive body,
acting as a movable electric contact. During the sensing
operation, a voltage Vs is applied across the resistive element. A
voltage divider circuit is formed when slider comes into contact
with the wire.

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 Displacement and Position Sensor
Potentiometer Sensors(cont.):
The output voltage (VA) is measured as shown in above figure.
The output voltage is proportional to the displacement of the
slider over the wire. Then the output parameter displacement is
calibrated against the output voltage VA.

Applications of potentiometer:
These sensors are primarily used in the control systems with a
feedback loop to ensure that the moving member or component
reaches its commanded position. In manufacturing, these are
used in control of injection molding machines, woodworking
machinery, printing, spraying, robotics, etc. These are also used
in computer-controlled monitoring of sports equipment.
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 Displacement and Position Sensor
Problem:
A linear resistance potentiometer is 50 mm long and is uniformly
wound with wire having a resistance of 10000Ω.Under normal
conditions, the slider is at the centre of the potentiometer. Find
the linear displacement when the resistance of the
potentiometer as measured by a Wheatstone bridge for two case
is (i)3850Ω (ii)75604Ω.

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 Displacement and Position Sensor
Capacitive Element based Sensor:
Capacitive sensor is of non-contact type sensor. It comprises of three plates,
with the upper pair forming one capacitor and the lower pair another. The
linear displacement might take in two forms:
One of the plates is moved by the displacement so that the plate separation
changes
Area of overlap changes due to the displacement

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 Displacement and Position Sensor
Capacitive Element based Sensor (cont.):
The capacitance C of a parallel plate capacitor is given by,

When C1 and C2 are connected to a Wheaton's bridge, then the resulting out-
of-balance voltage would be in proportional to displacement x.
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 Displacement and Position Sensor

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 Displacement and Position Sensor
Applications of capacitive element sensors:

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 Displacement and Position Sensor

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 Displacement and Position Sensor
Linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) :
Linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) is a primary
transducer used for measurement of linear displacement. It has
three coils symmetrically spaced along an insulated tube. The central
coil is primary coil and the other two are secondary coils. Secondary
coils are connected in series in such a way that their outputs oppose
each other. A magnetic core attached to the element of which
displacement is to be monitored is placed inside the insulated tube.

Construction of a LVDT and it’s output

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 Displacement and Position Sensor
Linear variable differential transformer (cont.) :
Due to an alternating voltage input to the primary coil, alternating
electro-magnetic forces are generated in secondary coils. When the
magnetic core is centrally placed then the resultant voltage is zero. If
the core is displaced from the central position then emf is generated
in one coil increases in proportion with the displacement. With the help
of signal processing devices such as low pass filters and demodulators,
precise displacement can be measured by using LVDT sensors.

Working of LVDT
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 Displacement and Position Sensor

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 Displacement and Position Sensor

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 Displacement and Position Sensor
Pressure Measurement by LVDT:

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 Displacement and Position Sensor

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 Force Sensor
Piezoelectric Transducer: Piezoelectric transducers depend upon the
characteristics of certain materials that are capable of generating
electric voltage when they deform. Piezoelectric materials, when
subjected to mechanical force or stress along specific planes, generate
electric charge.
The magnitude and polarity of induced charge on the crystal surface
is proportional to the magnitude and direction of applied force.
The best-known natural material is quartz crystal (SiO2).
The magnitude and polarity of the induced surface charges are
proportional to the magnitude and direction of the applied force.
Q = dF
Here d is the piezoelectric coefficient of the material

Fig: A Piezoelectric Transducer

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 Force Sensor
The output voltage of crystal is given by,
E=gtp

Where t is crystal thickness, p is impressed pressure, and g is voltage

sensitivity and can be expressed as g=d/ε .

Advantages of Piezoelectric Transducer:

High frequency response
Small size
High output
Rugged construction
Negligible Phase shift
Disadvantages of Piezoelectric Transducer:
Output affected by changes in temperature
Cannot measure static condition

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 Force Sensor
Application of Piezoelectric Transducer:
Used to measure pressure of touch pad of mobile phones.
To measure inside pressure of IC engine
Used to generate ultrasonic vibrations for cleaning
Power generation
Camera film panel control

Problem:
A quartz piezoelectric crystal having a thickness of 2mm and a
voltage sensitivity of 0.055 V.m/N is subjected to a pressure of 200 psi.
Calculate the output voltage.

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 Force Sensor

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 Force Sensor

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 Force Sensor

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 Sensor and Transducer

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