PROXIMITY SENSOR

• Definition

• Types of proximity sensors

• Inductive Proximity Sensor

• Capacitive Proximity Sensors

• Ultrasonic Proximity Sensors

• Optical Proximity Sensor

 DEFINITION

A proximity sensor is a sensor able to detect the presence of nearby objects

without any physical contact. A proximity sensor often emits an
electromagnetic field or a beam of electromagnetic radiation (infrared, for
instance), and looks for changes in the field or return signal. The object being
sensed is often referred to as the proximity sensor's target. Different proximity
sensor targets demand different sensors.
For example, a capacitive or photoelectric sensor might be suitable for a plastic
target; an inductive proximity sensor always requires a metal target.
 Types of Proximity Sensors
There are various types of proximity sensors. Among them four types of sensors have wide range of
applications. They are:
1. Inductive Proximity Sensors
2. Capacitive Proximity Sensors
3. Ultrasonic Proximity Sensors
4. Optical Proximity Sensors

Optical Proximity Sensors are of basically of two types:

Thru beam and Reflective, in which Reflective Proximity Sensors are
divided in three types:
a) Direct Reflection
b) Reflection with reflector
c) Polarized reflection with reflector
 INDUCTIVE PROXIMITY SENSORS

Inductive proximity sensors are 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. The presence of a metallic object in the operating area 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.
 COMPONENTS AND WORKING PRINCIPLE
The main components of Inductive Proximity Sensors are coil, oscillator, detector and the output
circuit. The operating distance of the sensor depends on object’s shape and size and strictly linked to
the nature of the material.
WORKING The coil generates high frequency magnetic field in front of the
face. When the metallic target comes in this magnetic field it
absorbs some of the energy. When a piece of conductive metal
enters the zone defined by the boundaries of the
electromagnetic field, some of the energy of oscillation is
transferred into the metal of the target. This transferred energy
appears as tiny circulating electrical currents called eddy
currents. This is why inductive proximity sensors are sometimes
called eddy current sensors. This creates a small amount of
power loss in the form of heat (just like a little electric heater)
so the amplitude (the level or intensity) of the sensor’s
oscillation decreases. Eventually, the oscillation diminishes to
the point that another internal circuit called a Schmitt Trigger
detects that the level has fallen below a pre-determined
threshold. This threshold is the level where the presence of a
metal target is definitely confirmed. Upon detection of the
target by the Schmitt Trigger, the sensor’s output is switched
on.
 ADVANTAGES / DISADVANTAGES AND COMMON APPLICATIONS

Inductive Proximity Sensors are very accurate compared to other technologies. They have high
switching rate, and they can be used in harsh environmental conditions.

The only disadvantage of Inductive Proximity Sensors is that it can only detect metallic objects. Thus its
industry level applications are limited.

Inductive Proximity Sensors are used in metal detectors, car washes etc.
Because these sensors does not require physical contact these are useful where access presents
challenge and dirt is prevalent. Sensing range is rarely greater than 6 cm but it has no directionality.
 Capacitive Sensor

Capacitance is an electrical property which is created by applying an electrical charge to two conductive
objects with a gap between them. The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is given by:

Where C is the capacitance, k is the permittivity of free space constant, K is the dielectric constant of the
material in the gap, A is the area of the plates, and h is the distance between the plates.
 CAPACITIVE PROXIMITY 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.

The main components of the Capacitive Proximity sensor Are Plate, Oscillator, Threshold Detector and the
Output Circuit.
CAPACITIVE PROXIMITY SENSOR: working / component
Inside the sensor is a circuit that uses the supplied DC power to
generate AC, to measure the current in the internal AC circuit, and to
switch the output circuit when the amount of AC current changes.

Capacitors can hold a charge because, when one plate is charged

positively, negative charges are attracted into the other plate, thus
allowing even more positive charges to be introduced into the first
plate. Unless both plates are present and close to each other, it is very
difficult to cause either plate to take on very much charge.
Only one of the required two capacitor plates is actually built into the
capacitive sensor! The AC can move current into and out of this plate
only if there is another plate nearby that can hold the opposite charge.
The target being sensed acts as the other plate. If this object is near
enough to the face of the capacitive sensor to be affected by the
charge in the sensor's internal capacitor plate, it will respond by
becoming oppositely charged near the sensor, and the sensor will then
be able to move significant current into and out of its internal plate.
The capacitive sensor, consists of a target plate and a second plate known as the sensor head. These
two plates are separated by an air gap of thickness h and form the two terminals of a capacitor.

A capacitive sensor functions like a typical capacitor. The metal plate in

the end of the sensor electrically connects to the oscillator, and the
object to be sensed acts as the second plate. When this sensor receives
power, the oscillator detects the external capacitance between the
target and the internal sensor plate. This arrangement completes the
circuit and provides the necessary feedback path for the output circuit
to evaluate.

Capacitive sensors can detect many different kinds of objects. For

example, solids, liquids, or granular targets are all detectable (including
metals, water, wood, and plastic).
 ADVANTAGES / DISADVANTAGES AND COMMON APPLICATIONS

The main advantage of Capacitive Proximity Sensors is that it can detect metallic as well as non
metallic objects such as wood, liquid, plastics etc. Also detection speed is very high and it has good
stability. It uses low power and it is less costly.

The main disadvantages of these sensors are, they are affected by temperate and humidity. Also
these sensors are less accurate than Inductive Proximity Sensors. These sensors are difficult to
design.

Capacitive touch sensors are used in laptop track pads, digital displays, mobile phones, mobile
displays and many more. More and more design engineers are selecting Capacitive Sensors for their
versatility, reliability, robustness and cost effectiveness over mechanical switches.
 ULTRASONIC PROXIMITY SENSORS

Ultrasonic sensors are based on measuring the properties of sound waves with frequency above the
human audible range. Systems typically use a transducer which generates sound waves in the
ultrasonic range, above 18 kHz, generally in the range of 40 kHz, by turning electrical energy into
sound, then upon receiving the echo turn the sound waves into electrical energy which can be
measured. The Ultrasonic Sensor can measure distances in centimeters and inches. It provides good
readings in sensing large-sized objects with hard surfaces.

Active ultrasound sensors emit sound waves from quartz-

crystal transducers. The waves strike objects within the
field of detection and as long as there are no movement
the waves are not disrupted. However, when movement
occurs the sound wave is disrupted and is reflected back to
the system’s receiver.
 ADVANTAGES / DISADVANTAGES AND COMMON APPLICATIONS

Ultrasonic proximity sensors are not affected by atmospheric dust, snow, rain etc. These sensors
can work in adverse conditions where application of other sensors is not easy. Sensing distance of
these sensors is more compared to inductive or capacitive proximity sensors.

These sensors find difficulties in sensing reflections from small, curved, thin and soft objects.
Ultrasonic Thru beam sensors are used for bottle
counting in drink filling machines. The bottles pass
the sensor too quickly and the gaps between the
bottles are often too small. For this reason,
ultrasonic thru-beam sensors are particularly
suitable for bottle counting.

These sensors also find application in vehicle

detection in automatic barrier systems, where
proximity sensor is used to detect any vehicle
under the barrier, if a vehicle is detected under the
barrier, it automatically opens the barrier.
Vehicle Detection in Barrier Systems

In car parking lots and parking garages, entry is

controlled using barrier systems. The barrier must not
be lowered when there is a vehicle underneath.
Ultrasonic sensors are particularly suitable
for controlling this process. They detect objects
regardless of vehicle type or color and monitor the
entire area below the barrier.
When mounting and aligning the sensors, ensure that
the devices are installed at a sufficient distance from
the ground (if necessary, angled slightly upwards)
 Optical Proximity Sensors
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.
Due to the high intensity infra-red energy beam, these sensors have major advantages over other opto-
electronic systems when employed in dusty environments.

There are two main types of Optical Proximity Sensors :

1) Beam Type
2) Retro Reflective Type
Beam Type Optical Sensor
Beam Type Optical Sensor
In Thro 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 Type
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.

These sensors are divided in three types:

a) Direct Reflection
b) Reflection with reflector
c) Polarized reflection with reflector
 DIRECT REFLECTION
In Direct Reflection method the light beam emitted is reflected of the object, which is sensed
by the sensor. The sensing range depends upon the surface type and colour of the object.
 REFLECTION WITH REFLECTOR

Here the emitter and receiver is housed together at one point, but a separate reflector is
needed in another point of the system, which reflects the light beam emitted, this reflected
light beam is received by receiver. An object is detected when it interrupts the light beam
between the sensor and reflector. These photocells allow longer sensing distances, as the
rays emitted are almost totally reflected towards the receiver.
Often shiny objects reflect the light beam emitted by emitter in reflection with reflector
methods. Thus shiny objects are not properly sensed. This problem is handled by using
polarized reflective sensors.
POLARIZED REFLECTION WITH REFLECTOR
Polarized reflective sensors contain polarizing filters in front of the
emitter and receiver that orient light into a single plane. These filters are
perpendicular or 90° out of phase with each other. The light beam is
polarized as it passes through the filter. When polarized light is reflected
off an object, the reflected light remains polarized. When polarized light
is reflected off a depolarizing reflector, the reflected light is depolarized.
The receiver can only detect reflected light that has been depolarized.
polarization filter only allows light at a certain phase angle back to the
receiver, which allows the sensor to see a shiny object as a target and
not incorrectly as a reflector. This is because light reflected from the
reflectors shifts the phase of the light, whereas light reflected from a
shiny target does not. A polarized retro-reflective photoelectric sensor
must be used with a corner-cube reflector, which is a type of reflector
with the ability to accurately return the light energy, on a parallel axis,
back to the receiver. Polarized retro-reflective sensors are recommended
for any application with reflective targets.
ADVANTAGES / DISADVANTAGES AND COMMON APPLICATIONS

These sensors are effective in Dusty or noisy environments, uses focused beam, higher
sensing distance compared to Inductive and capacitive type sensors and they are immune to
visible light interference.

The main disadvantage of Optical sensors is they are costly.

APPLICATIONS
Optical proximity sensors finds applications in lift door mechanisms, components
positioning sensing in electronic industry, security and safety applications, counting of
bottles/containers in factories etc.