Lecture notes

Instructor: Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

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 Lecture 5:
Capacitive based element sensor
1. Capacitive proximity sensor
2. Capacitive acceleration sensor
3. Touch sensor
4. Fingerprint sensor
5. Gyroscope sensor

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 Capacitive element based sensor
General operational principle of the Capacitive element based sensor
Capacitive sensor is of non-contact type sensor and is primarily used to measure
the linear displacements from few millimeters to hundreds of millimeters.
The linear displacement might take in two forms:
a) One of the plates is moved by the displacement so that the plate separation
changes
b) Area of overlap changes due to the displacement.

Plate separation changes Overlap changes

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 Capacitive element based sensor
Principle operation of the Capacitive element based sensor
The plate separation changes
- Let us now look at a displacement sensor that uses the capacity variation with
the distance between the plates of a flat capacitor.
- Keeping one of the plates fixed and associating the other plate to the object
whose displacement is to be measured, we can have a capacity whose distance
between plates varies with displacement. This operating principle is illustrated
in Figure.
where 𝜀𝑟 is the relative
permittivity of the dielectric
between the plates, 𝜀𝑜
permittivity of free space
(absolute permittivity), A area
of overlap between two plates
and d the plate separation

 r o  r o
C= A C= A
d dx
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 Capacitive element based sensor
Principle operation of the Capacitive element based sensor
Area of overlap changes due to the displacement

 r o
C= wx
d

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 Capacitive element based sensor
Load cell sensor (using capacitive element)

M =0

M ( P = Mg )

d−x
Capacitor change

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 Capacitive element based sensor
a) Digital capacitive proximity sensor
Capacitive proximity sensor detect any
material with or without contact, it can
also adjust the sensitivity to detect
liquids or solids even through non-
metallic tanks or vessels.

liquid

wood

metal

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 Capacitive element based sensor
Some of sensor using the capacitive
based sensor such as:
a) Digital capacitive proximity sensor
- Operational principle: The external
capacitance between the target and the
internal sensor plate generate a feedback
capacitance in the oscillator circuit. As
the target approaches the sensors face
the oscillations increase until they reach
a threshold level and activate the output
switching device.

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 Capacitive element based sensor
Application and installation of capacitive proximity sensor
Video

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 Capacitive element based sensor
b) capacitance level sensor
- A level sensor is a device that is designed to
monitor, maintain, and measure liquid (and
sometimes solid) levels. Once the liquid
level is detected, the sensor converts the
perceived data into an electric signal.
- Capacitance is formed between the level
sensing probe and metallic wall of the
vessel which act as two electrodes
- The principle of capacitive level
measurement is based on change of
capacitance. The capacitance depends on
the fluid level. An empty tank has a lower
capacitance while a filled tank has a higher
capacitance.

 r o
C= A
d
where  r (change), is the relative permittivity

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 Capacitive element based sensor
b) capacitance level sensor
Operational principle
• When the level of liquid/water level rises, it occupies the region between the
capacitor plates and permittivity changes to relative permittivity. Thus, the
capacitor value is changed
• Example:

C=
o
d
A (because
r =1
in air
)

 r is changed when the liquid rises

 r o
C= A
d
where  r is the relative permittivity

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 Capacitive element based sensor
b) capacitance level sensor
In capacitance level sensor, a series of capacitor
plates is generated in a sensor.

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 Capacitive element based sensor
b) capacitance level sensor
Operational video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTB1l2bfWmU

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 Capacitive element based sensor
b) Capacitive acceleration sensor:
- Capacitive acceleration sensors use to measure the acceleration of a linear movement

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 Capacitive element based sensor
b) Capacitive acceleration sensor:
- Capacitive acceleration sensors work
intrinsically as displacement sensors in
which the displacement is caused by the
acceleration acting on a body that is free
to move in the direction of the
acceleration to be measured.
- Let m is mass that is free to move
- a is the acceleration
➔ F=ma
The mass, which is secured by springs on both
ends, suffers a displacement (x) which depends
on the deflection constant of the spring k:
➔ 𝑥 = 𝐹Τ𝑘
m
x= a
k

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 Capacitive element based sensor
b) Capacitive acceleration sensor:
The computation: C1
o A o A
C1 = , C2 = ,
d−x d+x C2
A Wheatstone bridge is used to produce a
voltage proportional to the displacement.
C1
VA = V () ( student prove this statement )
C1 + C2

C1 V
V = V A − VB = V−
C1 + C2 2
1  C − C2 
=  1 V
2  C1 + C2 
V
⎯(*)
⎯→ Output of sensor : V = x
2d
2dk  V 
a=  
m  V 
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 Capacitive element based sensor
c) Touch sensor.

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 Capacitive element based sensor
d) Fingerprint sensor.

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 Angular velocity sensor (Gyroscope)
- A gyroscope is a sensor that measures angular velocity (in
radians per second). This is a three-dimensional vector
that contains information about the axis of angular rate as
well as the angle of rotation.
- There are two types of gyroscopes:
a) vibratory, which are based on conservation of linear
momentum
b) rotary, which is based on conservation of angular
momentum. Yaw rotation

Roll rotation Pitch rotation

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 Angular velocity sensor (Gyroscope)
a) vibratory, which are based on conservation of linear momentum.
- A vibrating gyroscope has one (or more) test masses that are vibrated by an actuator
The test mass thus performs a periodic linear movement.
- Between the test masses and the frame, there are springs that serve to balance the
fictitious force that appears when the sensor rotates, as shown below

Illustration of the relative position of the sensor and the vibration axis of the test mass
when the sensor rotates about the y-axis (Pitch angle)

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 Angular velocity sensor (Gyroscope)
a) vibratory, which are based on conservation of linear momentum.
- For the measurement of the component according to z of the angular velocity, the same
test masses are used as in the case of the measurement of the component according to
y (masses to vibrate along the x-axis).

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 Angular velocity sensor (Gyroscope)
b) Rotary, which is based on conservation of angular momentum → popular
method to create a Gyroscope sensor

(Roll)
(yaw)

(pitch)

Output of Gyroscope is angular rate of roll, pitch, yaw (p,q,r)

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 HCMUTE Univ. - FME
https://fme.hcmute.edu.vn/

Lecture notes info

Sensors and Actuators
Fall 2021

Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

thanh.hlnn@hcmute.edu.vn
Sites: https://sites.google.com/view/halenhungocthanh/courses?authuser=0

The End of Lecture 5

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