PROXIMITY SENSORS

CONTENTS
CONTENTS

i. Definition
ii. Types of proximity sensors
iii. Inductive Proximity Sensor
iv. Capacitive Proximity Sensors
v. Ultrasonic Proximity Sensors
vi. Optical Proximity Sensor
vii.Conclusion
 DEFINITION
DEFINITION

• Able to detect the presence of nearby objects without any

physical contact.
• Emits an electromagnetic field or a beam of
electromagnetic radiation.
• Looks for changes in the field or signal.
• The object being sensed is often referred to as the
proximity sensor's target.
• Different proximity sensor targets demand different sensors
 INDUCTIVE
INDUCTIVEPROXIMITY
PROXIMITY
SENSOR
SENSOR
• Used for non-contact detection of metallic objects.
• Their operating principle is based on a coil and oscillator
that creates an electromagnetic field in the close
surroundings of the sensing surface.
• Causes a dampening of the oscillation amplitude.
• The rise or fall of such oscillation is identified by a
threshold circuit that changes the output of the sensor.
• The operating distance of the sensor depends on the
actuator's shape and size and is strictly linked to the nature
of the material.
 CAPACITIVE
CAPACITIVEPROXIMITY
PROXIMITY
SENSOR
SENSOR

• Capacitive Proximity Sensors are used for detection of

metallic objects as well as non-metallic objects (liquid,
plastic, wooden material etc.).
• These sensors use variation of capacitance between the
sensors and the object.
• Variation in distance down to 1 micro inch can be
measured accurately.
• All targets having dielectric constant more than air can be
detected.
 OPTICAL
OPTICALPROXIMITY
PROXIMITY
SENSOR
SENSOR

• An optical proximity sensor offers non-contact sensing of almost

any object up to a range of 10 meters.
• It includes a light source, (usually an LED in either infrared or
visible light spectrum) and a detector (photodiode).
• The light source generates light of a frequency that the light sensor
is best able to detect, and that is not likely to be generated by other
nearby sources.
• Infra-red light is used in most optical sensors. To make the light
sensing system more foolproof, most optical proximity sensor light
sources pulse the infra-red light on and off at a fixed frequency.
 THRU BEAM OPTICAL SENSOR

In Thru Beam Optical Sensors the emitter and the receiver are housed
separately. Optical signal, which is pulsated by the pulse generator is sent by
emitter and is received by the receiver. Whenever there is an object
between emitter and the receiver light beam cannot pass through, thus
disrupting the optical signal, which is detected by the sensor and it gives
proper output. These sensors allow the longest range of detection.
 REFLECTIVE METHOD

Unlike Thru Beam Sensors, in Reflective type sensors emitter and receiver
are housed together. In this case reflection occurs either from the target or
a reflector, which reflects the beam emitted by emitter, and this reflected
signal is received by receiver.
 CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION

● The global market for these proximity sensors is expected to grow at a

steady rate. Major industries using proximity sensors are machine tools,
woodworking machines, packaging machines and other types of
machinery.
● Further applications of proximity sensors are automatic door units such
as garage doors or doors inside buildings, elevator doors or doors inside
railway coaches.
● The building and automotive sector are further industries using high
volumes of proximity sensors.