ProximitySensors Lec1

Measurement & Sensors
Unit- 2
Position/Distance Sensor
• A proximity sensor is a non-contact type sensor that detects the
movement or presence of an object (“target”) when the target enters the
sensor’s field.
• Produces information in terms of electrical signal.
• Proximity Sensors are widely used in industrial and manufacturing
applications, especially for safety and inventory management applications.
In an automated production line, for example, it is used for object
detection, positioning, inspection and counting. It is also used for part
detection in an industrial conveyor system.
• Proximity sensors can also be found in consumer devices. In smartphones,
proximity sensors are used to detect if a user is holding their phone near
their face. They are also used as capacitive touch switches on consumer
electronics products.
• It is also used for many other different applications such as a diffuse
sensor in a public washrooms or a collision detection sensor for robots,
self-driving car!
Proximity Sensor
There are many types of proximity sensors,
and they each sense targets in distinct
ways. Sound, light, infrared radiation (IR),
or electromagnetic fields may be utilized
by the sensor to detect a target.
• Inductive: This type of sensor is used to

detect nearby metallic objects. The sensor
creates an electromagnetic field around
itself or on a sensing surface.
• Capacitive: This type of sensor is used for
detection of both metallic objects and
nonmetallic objects.
• Photoelectric: This type of sensor is used
to detect the objects. A light source and
receiver are the main components of such
sensors.
• Magnetic: This type of sensor uses an
electrical switch that is operated based on
the presence of permanent magnets in a
sensing area.
Inductive Proximity Sensor
• An inductive proximity sensor can only detect metal targets.
• Sensor utilizes an electromagnetic field. When a metal target enters the

electromagnetic field, the inductive characteristics of the metal changes
the field’s properties, thereby alerting the proximity sensor for the
presence of a metallic target.
• Depending on how inductive the metal is, the target can be detected at
either a greater or shorter distance.
Inductive Proximity Sensor
An inductive proximity sensor mainly consists of a coil, an electronic oscillator, a
detection circuit, an output circuit, and an energy source to provide electrical
stimulation.
Capacitive Proximity Sensor
• Capacitive proximity sensors, not limited to metallic targets

but capable of detecting anything that can carry an electrical
charge.
• Possible targets for capacitive sensors include glass, plastic,
water, wood, metals etc.
• Capacitive sensors are commonly used in liquid-level
detection.
Workings of a capacitive proximity sensor
• A capacitive proximity sensor is similar to an inductive proximity sensor except that an
electrostatic field is produced in a capacitive proximity sensor instead of an electromagnetic
field.
• Thus it is possible to sense metallic and nonmetallic objects in the sensing field.
• The sensor consists of AC circuitry used to charge the capacitor.
• If the active sensing surface of a capacitive sensor is formed by only one of the metal
electrodes of the capacitor, then the incoming target will behave as the other plate, hence
will cause change in the capacitance of the oscillator circuit.
• The sensing circuit picks up this change and triggers output change on reaching a threshold
value.
•
Capacitive Proximity Sensor
• For use in the case of detection of full versus empty containers, the
sensor operating distance may require adjustment depending on
the dielectric constant of the target material. The adjustment of the
sensor capacitor plate can be used to regulate the operating
distance.
• The effective sensing distance for the target materials with a larger
dielectric constant is more than that for the target materials with a
smaller dielectric constant. For example, a capacitive sensor can
have an effective sensing distance of 10 mm for alcohol with a
dielectric constant of 25, while the same capacitive sensor can have
a sensing distance 2 mm for glass with a dielectric constant of 5.
Optical/ Photoelectric proximity sensor
• A photoelectric proximity sensor uses a light transmitter (mostly infrared)
and a photoelectric receiver to detect the distance or presence/absence of
a target object.
• Generally, these sensors are cost-effective as compared to inductive &
capacitive types. These are applicable in automated systems as they can
arrange into small locations.
• There are two main types of photoelectric proximity sensors:

• 1. Reflective
2. Through-beam
• Reflective proximity sensors detect objects when the light emitted from
the sensor is reflected back at the photoelectric receiver.
• Through-beam sensors detect targets when the target breaks the beam of
light between the sensor’s emitter and receiver.
Reflective Photoelectric proximity sensor
• There are many variations of photoelectric sensors:
• Direct reflection (diffused): In this type both the

light transmitter and receiver are in the sensor and it
uses the light deflected directly from the target
object for detection.
• The emitter sends out a beam of light (most often a
pulsed infrared, visible red, or laser) that diffuses in
all directions, filling a detection area. The target
then enters the area and deflects part of the beam
back to the receiver. Detection occurs and output is
turned on or off when sufficient light falls on the
receiver.
• Such sensors are affected by both the color and
surface type of the object. If the object is opaque,
then lighter color objects can have a greater sensing
distance while darker objects will have a reduced
sensing distance. If the object is shiny then the
operating distance is affected by the type of surface
(more than the color of the object).
.
• One of the variation of the diffused mode is a
diffused converged beam mode wherein the
transmitter and the receiver are both focused on a
same exact point in front of the sensor. This point of
focus is called the sensor focal point.
Retroreflective (reflection with reflector)
• In this type of photoelectric
sensor the transmitter and the
receiver are placed together in
the sensor body, but the sensor
requires a separate reflector
• If an object comes in between

the reflector and the receiver in
the sensor, then the light beam
between them gets interrupted.
This allows the sensor to detect
the interrupting object. These
sensors generally have longer
sensing distances due to the
increased efficiency of the
reflector compared with the
reflectivity of most targets. The
target color and finish do not
affect the sensing range in
retroreflective mode as they do
with diffused mode.
RetroReflective with Polarization filter
Thru-beam Proximity Sensor
• This type of sensor has separate housing for the transmitter and the
receiver.
• The photo beam from a transmitter is pointed at the receiver.
• When an object comes between the transmitter and the receiver, it
interrupts the photo beam between them, thereby causing the sensor
output to change.
• This mode is the most accurate and reliable, and it allows the longest
sensing ranges amongst all the modes of photoelectric sensors.
Other Proximity Sensors
• Two other commonly used proximity sensors are the magnetic
proximity sensors and ultrasonic proximity sensors.
• Magnetic proximity sensors are only used to detect
permanent magnets.
• Ultrasonic proximity sensors emit a high pitch sound. The
distance between the sensor and the target is determined by
how long the sound takes to reflect back to the sensor.
Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor
• These sensors are one kind of proximity sensor that is utilized in several
applications of automation as well as manufacturing. The main purpose of
this sensor is to detect objects and measurement of distance. These
sensors are used in processing beverages, food & several packaging
applications.
• The frequency range of these sensors is higher than the audible sound of
humans . The basic principle of this sensor is to transmit an ultrasonic
signal & gets a signal back. By using the time disparity among these
signals, the distance toward the target can be decided.
• Available with both the transmitter & the receiver within the similar
physical housing, also as separate units such as in the photoelectric
sensors . Arranging the transmitter & receiver within the same unit can
reduce the cabling and installation.
• These are also resistant to general contaminants like moisture, ambient

light & dust.
Comparative table: Proximity Sensors
Contd…..Comparison

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Measurement & Sensors

• Inductive: This type of sensor is used to

• An inductive proximity sensor can only detect metal targets.

• Sensor utilizes an electromagnetic field. When a metal target enters the

• Capacitive proximity sensors, not limited to metallic targets

• There are two main types of photoelectric proximity sensors:

• Direct reflection (diffused): In this type both the

• If an object comes in between

• These are also resistant to general contaminants like moisture, ambient

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