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Sonar Sensor

Product Features
Detects objects from 0 inches to 254 inches (6.45 meters) with 1 inch resolution. Automatic calibration when powered up Operates between 2.5V to 5.5V Can be used for presence detection (i.e. in front of a computer), for robotics navigation, ... Requires soldering The Sonar Sensor is Ratiometric

Designed to be used with:

1018 PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 1202/1203 PhidgetTextLCD with InterfaceKit 8/8/8

1128_0_Product_Manual created: 03/31/08

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Getting Started
Installing the Hardware
The Kit contains:
A Sonar Sensor A Sensor Cable

You will also need:

A PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 or a PhidgetTextLCD A USB Cable A soldering iron and solder A piece of wire (optional)

Solder one end of the sensor cable to the Sonar Sensor. The black wire is soldered to GND, the red wire to +5 and the white wire to AN. Optionally a fourth wire can be soldered to RX in order to turn the sensor on and off from your computer.

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1. Connect the Sonar Sensor to an Analog Input on the PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 board using the sensor cable. 2. If you are using the 4th wire connect it to a digital output port. 3. Connect the PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 to your computer using a USB cable.

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Testing the Sonar Sensor Using Windows 2000/XP/Vista

It is assumed that you have already downloaded the libraries and are familiar with the operation of the PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8. If you have not, please refer to the 1018 PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 Product Manual.

icon to activate the Double Click on the Phidget Control Panel and make sure that InterfaceKit 8/8/8 is properly attached to your PC.

If you are using a 3-wire connection

1. Double Click on Phidget InterfaceKit 8/8/8 in the Phidget Control Panel to bring up InterfaceKit-full and check that the box labelled Attached contains the word True.
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2. Make sure that the Ratiometric box is Ticked. 3. Move the Sonar Sensor around and point at different objects. The distance is given in the Analog In box. In this example 126 translates into 164cm. 4. You can adjust the input sensitivity by moving the slider pointer.

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If you are using a 4-wire connection

1. Double Click on Phidget InterfaceKit 8/8/8 in the Phidget Control Panel to bring up InterfaceKit-full and check that the box labelled Attached contains the word True.
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2. Make sure that the Ratiometric box is Ticked. 3. Activate the Sonar Sensor, by clicking in the Digital Out box. A tick mark will appear and the Sonar Sensor is on. To turn the sensor off, click on the Digital box again. The tick mark disappears and the sensor is off. 4. Move the Sonar Sensor around and point at different objects. The distance is given in the Analog In box. 5. You can adjust the input sensitivity by moving the slider pointer.

1128_0_Product_Manual created: 03/31/08

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Testing the Sonar Sensor Using Mac OS X

It is assumed that you have already downloaded the libraries and are familiar with the operation of the PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8. If you have not, please refer to the 1018 PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 Product Manual.

Click on System Preferences >> Phidgets (under Other) to activate the Preference Pane. Make sure that the PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 is properly attached.

If you are using a 3-wire connection

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1. Double Click on PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 in the Phidget Preference Pane to bring up Phidget Interface Kit Example and check that the PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 is attached. 2. Make sure that the Ratiometric box is Ticked. 3. Move the Sonar Sensor around and point at different objects. The distance is given in the Sensors box. In this example 125 translates into 164cm. 4. You can adjust the input sensitivity by moving the slider pointer.

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If you are using a 4-wire connection

1. Double Click on PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 in the Phidget Preference Pane to bring up Phidget Interface Kit Example and check that the PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 is attached. 2. Make sure that the Ratiometric box is Ticked. 3. Activate the Sonar Sensor by clicking in the Outputs box. A tick mark will appear and the Sonar Sensor is on. To turn the sensor off, click on the Output box again. The tick mark disappears and the sensor is off. 4. Move the Sonar Sensor around and point at different objects. The distance is given in the Sensors box. 5. You can adjust the input sensitivity by moving the slider.

Technical Information
The Sonar Sensor is manufactured by Maxbotix.com. We have added a sensor cable and instructions on soldering the cable to the sensor. The Sonar Sensor is Ratiometric. Make sure that the ratiometric property is set to TRUE when programming the sensor. Each time after the LV-MaxSonar-EZ1 is powered up, it will calibrate during its first read cycle. The sensor uses this stored information to range a close object. It is important that objects not be close to the sensor during this calibration cycle. The best sensitivity is obtained when it is clear for fourteen inches, but good results are common when clear for at least seven inches. If an object is too close during the calibration cycle, the sensor may then ignore objects at that distance. The LV-MaxSonar-EZ1 does not use the calibration data to temperature compensate for range, but instead to compensate for the sensor ringdown pattern. If the temperature, humidity, or applied voltage changes during operation, the sensor may require recalibration to reacquire the ringdown pattern. Unless recalibrated, if the temperature increases, the sensor is more likely to have false close readings. If the temperature decreases, the sensor is more

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likely to have reduced upclose sensitivity. To recalibrate the LV-MaxSonar-EZ1, cycle power. For more complete specifications on the MaxSonar-EZ1, please visit www.maxbotix.com

Formulas
The Formula to translate SensorValue into Distance is: Distance (cm) = SensorValue *1.296

Device Specifications
Current Consumption Ping Rate Sonar Range Range Resolution 3mA 20Hz 6 inches to 254 inches (6.45m) 1 inch

Product History
Date February 2008 Product Revision n/a Comment Product Release

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