Displacement

Measurement

SP1125 -

 With Many Applications in Control

Technology,
Information
Regarding
Displacement and Length has to be
Detected and Transmitted.
This Information can be Obtained by
Means of:
Incremental Measuring System
Absolute Measuring System
SP1125 -

 The Distance between Two Places can be

Determined with the Help of a Map and a
Pair of Dividers by Measuring According to
Scale, a Specific Distance with the Dividers
and Establishing How Many Times this
Increment goes into the Distance between
Place A and Place B.
The Length of the Increment Multiplied by
the Number of Steps Gives the Distance.
This System Only Provides Integral Multiples
of the Basic Unit.

SP1125 -

 If a Scale is Used Instead of Dividers, then

the Distance can be Read Directly and No
Counting is Required.
This is Known as an Absolute Measuring
System because the Measured Variable can
be Read Direct.

SP1125 -

 The Simplest Form of Analogue Position

Sensing is the Absolute Measurement of a
Distance
Travelled
by
Means
of
a
Potentiometer.
The Function of a Linear Potentiometer is
Based on the Voltage Divider Principle,
whereby
the
Distance
Travelled
is
Transmitted to a Potentiometer, from which
the Position Data can be Accessed in the
Form of an Electrical Voltage.

SP1125 -

 The Potentiometer has a Linear Relationship

between Shaft Position and Signal Output.
Resistance Element

Motion

Wiper Contact
Slide Bar

Input Shaft

SP1125 -

Wiper Position

Signal Output

At the Centre

Half Applied Voltage at Output

At Extreme Left

Zero Voltage at Output

At Extreme Right

Full Voltage at Output

The Same Principle Applies to the Angular

Displacement Potentiometer but in Terms of
Varying Angle of Displacement.

SP1125 -

 The Linear Potentiometer is Constructed in

the Form of a Rodless Sliding Potentiometer
with In-Line Coupling which is Housed in an
Aluminium Profile Housing.
The Sliding Potentiometer is Used to Tap a
Voltage which is Proportional to the
Connected Supply Voltage and the Wiper
Position.

SP1125 -

SP1125 -

SP1125 -

SP1125 -

 The Same Principle Applies to the Angular

Displacement Potentiometer but in Terms of
Varying Angle of Displacement.
Input shaft

Resistance
element

SP1125 -

 Another Design of the Linear Potentiometer

is the Displacement Probe
The Special Feature of a Displacement Probe
is the Preloaded Spring, which Pushes the
Feeler into the Initial Position.
As Such, the Design is Suitable for
Measurement without Positive Connection
between the System of Displacement
Measurement and the Object to be
Measured.

SP1125 -

SP1125 -

 A Different Displacement Probe is the Piston

Rod Displacement Sensor.
It is Widely Used in Mechanical Engineering
and Car Manufacturing, as Well as in
Robotics and Automation.
Its Distinguishing Feature is it has Great
Robustness and High Accuracy.

SP1125 -

SP1125 -

 Compared to Potentiometers, LVDTs has

Higher Accuracy and Reliability.
Consists of
1 Primary Coil - Excited by AC Source
2 Secondary Coil - Induced Voltage
Depends on Core Position
1 Movable Core

SP1125 -

Secondary
coil 1

Primary
coil

Secondary
coil 2

Motion
Core
Input
shaft
Insulating
form

Excitation
Source

Difference
voltage
output
(V1 - V2)

SP1125 -

Voltage out

A
0
Voltage out,
opposite phase

Core position

Core displacement

Core at A

Core at 0
(null position)

Core at B

SP1125 -

 The Linear Displacement Capacitor Works

with Capacitance
Capacitance is Directly Related to Plate Area
and Inversely Related to the Plate Spacing.
As the Metal Tube Moves to the Right,
Distance between Plates Decrease and
Therefore Capacitance Increases.

SP1125 -

Fixed metal tube

Dielectric

Motion

Moving metal tube

SP1125 -

 Capacitance will Increase as the Moving

Plate Covers More of the Fixed Plate.

Fixed plate
Moving Plate

SP1125 -

SP1125 -

SP1125 -