Sensors & Transducers

Proximity sensor: Inductive, Capacitive & Photoelectric

Unit-2 by

Prof Rahat U Khan

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
 Contents
 What is Proximity Sensor?
 What is a inductive proximity sensor?
 ?

 Applications
Proximity sensor

Proximity sensors detect the presence of objects without physical contact. Since 1983 Fargo
Controls’ proximity sensors have been of the highest quality, durability & repeatability to
meet today's tough industrial requirements. We provide a wide range of proximity sensors to
meet all types of applications.
Typical applications include the detection, position, inspection and counting on automated
machines and manufacturing systems. They are also used in the following machinery:
packaging, production, printing, plastic molding, metal working, food processing, etc
Proximity sensor

Inductive & Capacitive Proximity sensor

Their operating principle is based on a high frequency oscillator that creates a field
in the close surroundings of the sensing surface. The presence of a metallic object
(inductive) or any material (capacitive) in the operating area causes a change of the
oscillation amplitude. The rise or fall of such oscillation is identified by a threshold
circuit that changes the output state 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.
A screw placed on the back of the capacitive sensor allows regulation of the
operating distance. This sensitivity regulation is useful in applications, such as
detection of full containers and non-detection of empty containers.
Proximity sensor

Inductive Proximity Sensor

A inductive proximity sensor can detect

metal targets approaching the sensor,
without physical contact with the target.
Inductive Proximity Sensors are roughly
classified into the following three types
according to the operating principle: the
high-frequency oscillation type using
electromagnetic induction, the magnetic
type using a magnet, and the capacitance
type using the change in capacitance.
Proximity sensor
Inductive Proximity Sensor
Principle and major types of Inductive Proximity Sensor
General sensor
A high-frequency magnetic field is generated
by coil L in the oscillation circuit. When a target
approaches the magnetic field, an induction
current (eddy current) flows in the target due
to electromagnetic induction. As the target
approaches the sensor, the induction current
flow increases, which causes the load on the
oscillation circuit to increase. Then, oscillation
attenuates or stops. The sensor detects this
change in the oscillation status with the
amplitude detecting circuit, and outputs a
detection signal.
Proximity sensor
Inductive Proximity Sensor
Proximity sensor
Inductive Proximity Sensor
Non-ferrous-metal type
The nonferrous-metal type is included in the high-
frequency oscillation type. The nonferrous-metal
type incorporates an oscillation circuit in which
energy loss caused by the induction current
flowing in the target affects the change of the
oscillation frequency. When a nonferrous-metal
target such as aluminium or copper approaches
the sensor, the oscillation frequency increases. On
the other hand, when a ferrous-metal target such
as iron approaches the sensor, the oscillation
frequency decreases. When the oscillation
frequency becomes higher than the reference
frequency, the sensor outputs a detection signal.
Proximity sensor
Inductive Proximity Sensor
Magnetic objects and non-magnetic objects Remember that
magnetic objects are easily attracted by a magnet, whereas
non-magnetic objects are not.
Proximity sensor
Inductive Proximity Sensor
Applications inductive Proximity sensors
To further explain the difference between inductive and capacitive sensors, here is
more information about inductive sensors. As mentioned earlier, an inductive
sensor, also known as a proximity switch, is a simple, reliable and inexpensive
solution to determine a position or end position. Therefore there are countless
application examples for this, such as:
1. An elevator that arrives on a storey floor;
2. A conveyor belt that passes at a specific location;
3. Car wash installation, to determine the end and starting point;
4. Overhead cranes, to determine the start or end point;
5. As an encoder to detect metal strips, in order to determine position;
Proximity sensor
Capacitive proximity sensor

Capacitive proximity sensor Definition:

Capacitive proximity sensors are non-contact devices that can detect the
presence or absence of virtually any object regardless of material. They utilize
the electrical property of capacitance and the change of capacitance based on
a change in the electrical field around the active face of the sensor
Proximity sensor
Capacitive proximity sensor
Proximity sensor
Capacitive proximity sensor
Capacitive sensors can detect both metal and non-conductive materials. Think of water,
glass, oil, grain, paper, wood, liquids, etc. The operation of capacitive sensors is almost the
same as that of inductive sensors.
The sensor 'detects' through an active capacitive field (also called dielectric). When this
field changes, the sensor changes its output state. In many cases, the air is the constant,
when an object comes close to the sensor, the capacitive field changes. If the density of
this object is > air, the sensor switches.

Detecting liquids or goods can be used for the presence of, for example, grain in a feed silo,
level measurements and full or empty reports
Proximity sensor
Capacitive proximity sensor
Principle of operation

A capacitive sensor acts like a simple capacitor. A

metal plate in the sensing face of the sensor is
electrically connected to an internal oscillator circuit
and the target to be sensed acts as the second plate of
the capacitor. Unlike an inductive sensor that produces
an electromagnetic field a capacitive sensor produces
an electrostatic field.
The external capacitance between the target and the
internal sensor plate forms a part of the 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.
Proximity sensor
Capacitive proximity sensor
Principle of operation

Capacitive sensors have the ability to adjust

the sensitivity or the threshold level of the
oscillator. The sensitivity adjustment can be
made by adjusting a potentiometer, using an
integral teach pushbutton or remotely by
using a teach wire. If the sensor does not
have an adjustment method then the sensor
must physically be moved for sensing the
target correctly. Increasing the sensitivity
causes a greater operating distance to the
target. Large increases in sensitivity can
cause the sensor to be influenced by
temperature, humidity, and dirt.
Proximity sensor
Capacitive proximity sensor
Working
There are two categories of targets that capacitive sensors can detect the first being
conductive and the second is non-conductive.
Conductive targets include metal, water, blood, acids, bases, and salt water. These targets
have a greater capacitance and a targets dielectric strength is immaterial. Unlike an
inductive proximity sensor, reduction factors for various metals are not a factor in the
sensors sensing distance.
The non-conductive target category acts like an insulator to the sensors electrode. A targets
dielectric constant also sometimes referred to as dielectric constant is the measure of the
insulation properties used to determine the reduction factor of the sensing distance. Solids
and liquids have a dielectric constant that is greater than vacuum (1.00000) or air
(1.00059). Materials with a high dielectric constant will have a longer sensing
distance. Therefore materials with high water content, for example wood, grain, dirt and
paper will affect the sensing distance.
Proximity sensor
Capacitive proximity sensor

When dealing with non-conductive targets there are three factors that determine the
sensing distance.
1. The size of the active surface of the sensor – the larger the sensing face the longer the
sensing distance
2. The capacitive material properties of the target object, also referred to as the dielectric
constant – the higher the constant the longer the sensing distance
3. The surface area of the target object to be sensed – the larger the surface area the
longer the sensing distance
4. Other factors that have minimal effect on the sensing distance
5. Temperature
6. Speed of the target object
Proximity sensor
How to determine a capacitive sensor’s sensitivity
Capacitive sensors have a potentiometer or some method to set the sensor sensitivity for
the particular application. In the case of a potentiometer, the number of turns does not
provide an accurate indicator of the sensors setting for a couple of important reasons. First,
most potentiometers do not have hard stops instead they have clutches so that the pot is
not damaged when adjusted to the full minimum or maximum setting. Secondly, pots do
not have consistent linearity.
To determine the sensitivity of a capacitive sensor the sensing distance is measured from a
grounded metal plate with a micrometer. The plate is grounded to the negative of the
power supply and the target is moved axially to the sensors face. Move the target out of
the sensing range and then move it towards the sensor face. Stop advancing the target as
soon as the output is activated. This distance is the sensing distance of the sensor. Moving
the target away and noting when the output turns off will provide the hysteresis of the
sensor.
Proximity sensor
Capacitive proximity sensor Applications:

Capacitive sensing technology is often used in other sensing

technologies such as:
1. flow
2. pressure
3. liquid level
4. spacing
5. thickness
6. ice detection
7. shaft angle or linear position
8. dimmer switches
9. key switches
10. x-y tablet
11. accelerometers
Proximity sensor
Photoelectric proximity sensor

One of the most common types of proximity sensor is the photoelectric sensor.
These sensors detect objects directly in front of them by the detecting
the sensor's own transmitted light reflected back from an object's surface. When an
object breaks this beam of light, it's detected as a presence. A common arrangement
is that both the emitter and receiver are housed in the same unit, but not all
photoelectric sensors are constructed this way.
Proximity sensor
Photoelectric proximity sensor configurations Types

There are three basic for photoelectric proximity sensors; reflective, through-beam,
and proximity.

1. Reflective sensors – In this type of sensor, a beam of light

is sent out from an emitter and is bounced off of a reflector
back to a detector. When the light beam is able to reflect
back, this registers as no object being present. The beam
failing to reflect back means there is an obstruction, which
registers as the presence of an object. These sensors are
less accurate than other types, but they’re also easier to An example of a
install and wire and typically cost less than through-beam reflective sensor with
sensors. both the emitter and
receiver in a single
housing.
Proximity sensor
Photoelectric proximity sensor configurations Types

2. Through-beam sensors – In this type of setup, an

emitter sends out a beam of light usually directly in the
line-of-sight of the emitter to a receiver. When an object
breaks this beam of light, it’s detected as a presence. This
type of setup requires two components; an emitter and a
separate detector, which makes it a bit more complex to The diagram shows a typical through-
install and wire. However, the advantage is that it’s the beam photoelectric sensor setup with
separate emitter and receiver
most accurate of the sensing methods with the longest components. A break in the light beam
sensing range. indicates the presence of an object.
Proximity sensor
Photoelectric proximity sensor

Proximity (diffuse) sensor – Diffuse photoelectric sensors are similar in some

respects to reflective sensors. This is because like reflective sensors they emit
a light beam in the direction of the object to be detected. However, instead of a
reflector used to bounce the light back to a detector, the object to be sensed
functions as the reflector, bouncing some of the light back to be detected and
register an object’s presence.
Proximity sensor
Photoelectric proximity sensor
Like through-beam photoelectric sensors, retroreflective photoelectric sensors are often
selected according to the desired range. Because the light has to travel the path from the
sensor to the reflector twice one also talks of the two-way photoelectric sensor. The light
from the transmitter is, explained simply, emitted in a cone shape. This means that the
cross-section of the light cone increases with rising range. This is also why a larger reflector
is needed at longer ranges than at shorter distances. The range is therefore quoted in the
data sheet in relation to the type of reflector.
Proximity sensor
Photoelectric proximity sensor
Retro-reflective photoelectric sensors

The transmitter and receiver are accommodated in a single housing

in retroreflective photoelectric sensors. The light emitted by the
transmitter hits a reflector and is reflected. The receiver evaluates
the reflected light. The advantage lies in the small size of the
reflector. It is also easy to install because it is a passive element and
thus requires no connections
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