EXPERIMENT NO.

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AIM-Study and calibration of Capacitive Transducer for angular displacement measurement.

THEORY

Introduction- Capacitance is well known to be a function of effective area of the conductors, separation
between them, thedielectric strength of the material in separation. Any one of these three can be the
varying factor causing a change in the capacitance.

The capacitor transducer that is supplied along with this equipment is based on the principle of variation
of effective area of conductors, other parameters i.e. separation distance & dielectric strength being
kept constant. A two ganged condenser normally use in radio receivers, is used as system where variable
capacitance can be generated. The meshing area between two starter & rotor plates for the condenser
goes on changing as the shaft of the capacitors is rotated. This arrangement is used to demonstrate the
measurement of angular displacement.

CIRCUIT OPERATION

The basis of angular displacement measurement with the help of capacitive transducer is frequency
modulation system. The two sets of identical condensers of ganged condenser from apart of Wien
bridge oscillator for which frequency

f = 1/(2 * π * RC)

So as C is varied typically between (550 pF to 50 pF)we get a frequency relation in the range of 1:10 on a
separate P.C.B. generator and its allied circuitry is mounted. There is buffer stage associated with this
oscillator. The wave form of output is not critical and as information is stored in terms of frequency and
not the amplitude. The wave form is adjusted to be almost as a square wave. The variable frequency
output is passed through two stages of amplification using OPAMP 741 and then fed to a Schmitt trigger
circuit using IC 555 timer. The output of Schmitt trigger is used to trigger the input of IC 555 mono-
stable. The mono-stable output is of constant pulse width, constant pulse height so that the meter
reading is strictly proportional to the input frequency. This is passed through an amplifier. The output
circuit is connected to a special bucking circuit so that for zero angular displacement, the meter reading
can be adjusted to zero. The necessary bucking voltage is obtained from a separate power supply. The
pulse height is constant because of the use of a regulated power supply.

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OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

a. Connect the capacitive pick up cable to the input socket for the capacitive transducer.

b. Keep the input angular displacement to zero position.

c. Connect the output terminals to input terminals of DPM observing polarity.

d. Check for the zero indication the DPM otherwise by operating potentiometer marked "MIN"
obtain zero indication for zeroangular position of the shaft.

e. Now turn the shaft of the capacitive pick up full clockwise position in a gentle manner
corresponding to 180 degrees. Adjust the DPM indication to 180 degree by operating knob
marked "MAX". If required again, check for zero indication.

f. Note down the reading corresponding to input angular displacement and indicated angular
displacement on the DPM. Enter the results in the table as shown in below.

S. No Input angular displacement DPM Indication

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

g. Plot the input and output readings on X and Y axis of a graph.

Students Can Note The Following:-

a. There is a lot of linearity of the indicated versus true reading. The reason is non-linearity of input
angular displacement and the capacitance of gang condenser.
b. This method of angular displacement is free from mechanical friction (neglecting friction in the
ball bearing of the shaft). This is distinct advantage over potentiometric method.

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RESULTS
Output angular displacements were recorded on DPM for known input angular displacement to
capacitive transducer and a graph is plotted the output is non linearfor the displacement
range__________ and maximum non linearity error is________.

PRECAUTIONS

1. If you touch the metallic plate on which capacitor is mounted the oscillations will stop and the
meter indication will be negative.

2. Keep the capacitor free from dust particle etc.

3. If any way the stator and rotor plates are shorted together the oscillations will not start under
this condition. Check for a short between stator and rotor plates using a Simpson multimeter.
Remove the shorting effect &the circuit will be ready for use.