Proximity Sensors

Proximity sensors may be of the contact or non-contact type. Contact proximity sensors are the least expensive.  Proximity sensors can have one of many technology types.  These include capacitive, eddy current, inductive, photoelectric, ultrasonic, and Hall effect.  Capacitive proximity sensors utilize the face or surface of the sensor as one plate of a capacitor, and the surface of a conductive or dielectric target object as the other. The capacitance varies inversely with the distance between capacitor plates in this arrangement, and a certain value can be set to trigger target detection.   In an eddy current proximity sensor electrical currents are generated in a conductive material by an induced magnetic field. Interruptions in the flow of the electric currents (eddy currents), which are caused by imperfections or changes in a material's conductive properties, will cause changes in the induced magnetic field. These changes, when detected, indicate the presence of change in the test object.  Magnetic inductive devices are identical in configuration to the variable reluctance type and generate the same type of signal.  However, inductive pickoff coils have no internal permanent magnet and rely on external magnetic field fluctuations, such as a rotating permanent magnet, in order to generate signal pulse.  Photoelectric devices are used to detect various materials at long range, using a beam of light. They detect either the presence or absence of light and use this information to read the data from the output transistor.  An ultrasonic proximity sensor emits an ultrasonic pulse, which is reflected by surface and returned to sensor. Speed can be determined by measuring frequency difference (Doppler Effect).  The basic "Hall Effect" sensing element is a semiconductor device which, when electrical current is sent through it, will generate an electrical voltage proportional to the magnitude of a magnetic field flowing perpendicular to the surface of the semiconductor.

Pages: 1 - 3 of 208