Today Position and displacement transducers

Potentiometers Encoders LVDT Promity

Potentiometers Based on a probe moving along a resistance and connected to the measurand (contact measurement) Measure relative position, hence displacement, with ratiometric output re usually very cheap and robust Very low temperature sensitivity! "an lead to high load e##ect due to mounting con#iguration along one a$is

Potentiometers
x Rx = Rtot l0 Rtot x V= E Rtot l0 o

E0 E i= 0 Rtot

Rtot lo r

V E0 V V = Rx i lo x

Rx x

x V = Eo lo

V x= l Eo o

0th order instrument

(standing the model)

Potentiometers

Eo lo x V V Linear configuration Eo

Angular configuration

Potentiometers
Coil based potentiometers x V Output is stepped

Resolution

lo n

x n loops in coil

Potentiometers
Layer based potentiometers V x

x Resolution infinite !theorical"

Potentiometers
#ull scale input Resolution $ % $000 mm infinite if layer based 0&'( % '( #) if coil based Linearity Resistance #atigue life 0&'( % 0&*( 0&+ % '0 , / $+ mm '0- cycles

ngular Potentiometers

ngular Potentiometers
#ull )cale 0nput '01 % 20 revolutions Resolution infinite if layer based 030+( % '( #) if coil based Linearity #atigue life 03'( % 03+( '0- cycles

.inimum tor4ue '056 7m .aximum speed *0001/s

Bobbin Potentiometers
0f re4uired a flexible 8ire can be used to convert linear displacement into angular displacement3 9his configuration !8or:ing also 8ith encoders" reduces load effect and axial problems as distance& more than axial displacement& is measured

Mounting problems
#ree floating probe Lo8 loading effect Contact depends on gravity Lo8 fre4uency range

Mounting problems
)pring loaded probe ;igh loading effect Contact depends on spring #re4uency range depends on spring& mass and damping of probe itself

Mounting problems
#ixed probe ;igh loading effect Contact is forced uniaxial ;igh fre4uency range

<

LVDT
eex

es'

es$

Linear Voltage Di##erential Transducer

LVDT
eex primary
t

es' eex es$

es'

)econdary '
t

es$

secondary $
t

LVDT
eex e0 e0

eex

<o 9here is a position 8here eo=0 and 8here the position reference <0 is found

LVDT
Rp .' = eex 5 Lp Ls = $ es' 5 Ls $ = es$ 5

e0

ip

.$

.utual inductance

dip ipRp + Lp e ex = 0 dt

di p e o = e s' e s$ = !.' .$ " dt

LVDT
linear >e0>

'-01

LVDT
Lo8pass filter demodulator

.ost LV?9 already carry a demodulator onboard @ain depends on the coils loop ratio 'A

LVDT
V carrier t x displacement

.odulated signal V

V t

?emodulated signal

'-01

LVDT

LVDT measuring principle demo available on http://archimedes.ing.unibs.it/ at the usual location

LVDT
#ull scale input !spring" !free floating" )ensibility !ac 5 ac" !dc D dc" Linearity B $3+ % C3+ mm B '3$+ % $+0 mm

* % $+0 mV/V/mm 0306 % - V/mm 03$+(

%VDT

es'

eex es$
%otary Variable Di##erential Trans#ormer

%VDT

#ull scale input )ensibility !ac 5 ac" !dc 5 dc" Linearity

B *01 % 601 $ % * mV/V1 '$+ mV/1 E B 03*(

E7CO?ER)

Encoders

Monodirectional Encoders
Output A 7 pulses per revolution Output F ' pulses per revolution output A output F
!does not allo8 for direction identification"

 Gidirectional Output A Output G Output F Output A Output G

Cloc:8ise rotation

A is anticipating G

Output F Countercloc:8ise r3 Output A Output G

G is anticipating A

Output F

Encoders
t

output HVI

time

Can be used to assess the average angular velocity

J = t

= :

bsolute Encoders
Encoded dis: having n lines !bit" simultaneously reading the position using a standard code !binary& @ray" A uni4ue code is assigned to each angular sector& therefore direction can be assessed Kith a single dis: the number of angular sectors 7 is given by

7 = $n

Encoders
0mplicit capacitance of the 8ire limits the fre4uency range by smoothing s4uare 8aves !capacitance load/unload phenomenon"
07 OL9

07

OL9

Pro$imity
.etallic surface
Alternate current supply coil !' .;M" .agnetic fields generates eddy currents on the target proportional to distance from the metallic target

Eddy currents

Oscillator coil

Pro$imity
0 measuring principle Eddy currents dissipate energy than:s to the Noule effect this dampens the oscillator amplitude by a ratio proportional to the distance from the target

Pro$imity
00 measuring principle Eddy currents generate a magnetic field this is pic:ed up by a secondary coil using a 8heatstone bridge to measure inductance variation

Pro$imity
.easuring range 03$+ % $ mm ' % 6 mm Orobe diameter )ensitivity Linearity + % '6 mm - % 6 V/mm 030+ % 03$ mm

Pro$imity
$0

'+ Output HVI

Eddy current proximity are highly sensitive to target material and to edge effects A custom calibration is re4uired for nonstandard materials and non plane shapes
+

'0 A0)0 E6'60 A0)0 *06 Al Cu 0 * ' $ 6 Relative distance HmmI

Mechanical transducers comparison

9ransducer Advantages ?isadvantages &igh load e##ect

Potentiometer Low cost %obust LVDT Encoder Eddy current

&igh #re'uency range Demodulator re'uired (ree #loating probe Mounting precautions Low cost &igh sensitivity "ontactless %esolution )mall measuring range &igh material sensitivity