Linear Displacement Sensors

“A linear displacement sensor is a device used to monitor and measure linear position”.

They can also be called Linear Position Sensors or Linear Transducers. They are available in
different sizes to measure different stroke lengths.

There are different types of linear displacement sensors which uses different technologies.
Different technologies will be suitable for different applications and environments.

What is a Linear Displacement Sensor?

Linear displacement sensors measure movement or position along a single axis.

The linear displacement sensor is connected to an object, as the object moves, the
technology inside the sensor measures the distance travelled and give an output.

Linear displacement sensors form part of a bigger device, the format of the output can be
different based on the bigger device; potentiometric, Device-Net, Can-Open, to name a few.

LVDT Linear Displacement Sensor:

"The linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) (also called linear variable displacement
transformer, linear variable displacement transducer, or simply differential transformer) is a
type of electrical transformer used for measuring linear displacement (position).
There is a counterpart of this device, which is used for measuring rotary displacement called
as a rotary variable differential transformer (RVDT)." 
 

What is a Linear Variable Differential Transformer?

 An LVDT is an electromechanical sensor used to transform mechanical motion into a
variable electrical signal (current or voltage) and is used for measurement of
displacement.
 They function as actuators for automatic control systems or as mechanical motion
sensors in measurement technologies. 
 LVDT is an acronym for Linear Variable Differential Transformer.
 LVDT linear position sensors can measure displacements ranging from few microns
to centimetres, but are also capable of measuring positions up to ±1 meter. 
 In short, a LVDT sensor provides output quantity in voltage or current, related to the
displacement or movement being measured.
 LVDT Transducers are prone to external electromagnetic interference. 
A linear displacement transducer requires three to four connection wires for power supply
and output signal delivery. 
 Physically, the LVDT Transducer construction is a hollow metallic cylinder in which a
shaft of smaller diameter moves freely back and forth along the cylinder’s long axis.
 The shaft, or pushrod, ends in a magnetically conductive core which must be within
the cylinder, or coil assembly, when the device is operating. 
 In common practice, the pushrod is physically attached to the moveable object
whose position is to be determined (the measurand), while the coil assembly is
attached to a fixed reference point.
 Movement of the measurand moves the core within the coil assembly; this motion is
measured electrically.

 
 Figure: LVDT Linear Displacement Sensor.

A displacement sensor (displacement gauge) is utilized to measure distance between an

object and a reference position.
In addition to distance range, displacement sensors can be used for dimension
measurement to determine one of the three object’s dimensions: height, thickness, and
width.
Selecting the most appropriate sensor according to the application, accuracy, and
application environment is paramount.
Measurements with displacement sensors can be categorized classified into two large types:

1. non-contact measurement using light or magnetic fields or sound waves

2. contact measurement performed in direct contact with the object. 
 

What are the Types of Displacement Sensors?

Amongst several types of displacement transducers, we will highlight four main categories:
Eddy current sensors
“Eddy current sensors uses the principle of eddy current formation to sense displacement.
Eddy currents are formed when a moving or changing magnetic field intersects a conductor
or vice versa.
The relative motion causes a circulating flow of electrons, or currents, within the conductor.
These circulating eddies of current create electromagnets with magnet fields that oppose
the effect of applied magnetic field. The stronger the applied magnetic field, or greater the
electrical conductivity of the conductor, or greater the relative velocity of motion, the
greater the currents developed and greater the opposing field.
Eddy current probes senses this formation of secondary fields to find out the distance
between the probe and target material.”
Eddy current sensors are designed for non-contact measurement of displacement, distance,
position, oscillation and vibrations. They are particularly suitable when high precision is
required in harsh industrial environments (pressure, dirt, temperature).

Capacitive Displacement sensors

“Capacitive displacement sensors "are non-contact devices capable of high-resolution
measurement of the position and/or change of position of any conductive target". They are
also able to measure the thickness or density of non-conductive materials.
Capacitive displacement sensors are used in a wide variety of applications including
semiconductor processing, assembly of precision equipment such as disk drives, precision
thickness measurements, machine tool metrology and assembly line testing.
These types of sensors can be found in machining and manufacturing facilities around the
world.”
Capacitive sensors perform non-contact measurements of displacement, distance and
position of electrically conductive targets with high precision.

Laser Sensors
“A laser displacement sensor is a scientific instrument that is used to make non-contact
vibration measurements of a surface.
The laser beam from the LDV is directed at the surface of interest, and the vibration
amplitude and frequency are extracted from the Doppler shift of the reflected laser beam
frequency due to the motion of the surface.
The output of an LDV is generally a continuous analog voltage that is directly proportional to
the target velocity component along the direction of the laser beam.” 
Laser sensors have set milestones for industrial laser displacement measurement. Whether
for displacement, distance or thickness measurement, laser sensors are considered one of
the best in their class.
These laser sensors are used in measurement and monitoring tasks in factory automation,
electronics production, robotics and vehicle construction.
Inductive Sensors
“An inductive sensor is a device that uses the principle of electromagnetic induction to
detect or measure objects.
An inductor develops a magnetic field when a current flows through it; alternatively, a
current will flow through a circuit containing an inductor when the magnetic field through it
changes. This effect can be used to detect metallic objects that interact with a magnetic
field.
Non-metallic substances such as liquids or some kinds of dirt do not interact with the
magnetic field, so an inductive sensor can operate in wet or dirty conditions.”
Inductive sensors for displacement and position measurement are from conventional LVDT
sensors and inductive sensors.
Inductive displacement sensors are used in automated processes, quality assurance, test
rigs, hydraulics, pneumatic cylinders and automotive engineering.