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Eddy Current Type Displacement Sensor - Displacement Sensors

Introsudction

Laser Displacement
Sensor

Measurement sensor

Eddy Current Type
Displacement Sensor

Eddy Current Type Displacement Sensor

Principle of detection

The eddy current type displacement sensors produce a high-frequency magnetic field by applying a high-frequency current to the coil inside the sensor head. If there is a measurement object (metal) within this magnetic field, then excess current is produced around the magnetic flux that passes through the object surface due to the electromagnetic induction effect. This changes the impedance of the coil within the sensor head.
The eddy current type displacement sensors measure the distance based on the change of the oscillation caused by this phenomenon.

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Output correction according to materials

The sensors are adjusted so that a standard sensing object is 0 V when in a direct contact and 5 V when at the maximum sensing range (full scale). Then, the output is corrected so that the sensing range becomes proportional to the analog output according to the materials being sensed.

GP-X series

The output is linearly corrected for three materials [stainless steel (SUS304), iron, and aluminum].
Selection of the materials is performed by switching settings within the controller. In addition, the sensor is equipped with a three-point calibration function.
Adjusting the three points, the contact point (zero point), the half scale (half of the maximum sensing range), and the full scale (the maximum sensing range) optimizes the linearity of the distance to the object and the output.

Optimal correction of the output feature

GP-A series

The output is linearly corrected with iron as the standard sensing object. Therefore, other materials (stainless steel, aluminum, copper, etc.) will have different output characteristics. Refer to the sensing characteristics in the catalog. In addition, fine adjustment is possible through the shift adjustment and span adjustment.

Typical

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Operation principles of the GP-X series and GP-A series

As the distance between the measurement object (metal) and the sensor head becomes smaller, then greater excess current is produced and the loss of energy at the sensor head increases. As a result, when the distance is made closer, the oscillation becomes smaller. When the distance is greater, the oscillation becomes greater. The sensors rectify the variations in the oscillation and that causes a change of the DC voltage.
The rectified signal is almost proportional to the distance. However, linearity is corrected through linearization and an output that is proportional to the distance can be obtained.

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Mutual interference

When placing the same model sensors close to each other, the resolution may become poor due to the influence of the same frequency magnetic field of the other sensors.
This is called mutual interference. There are methods to prevent mutual interference as shown below.