DISPLACEMENT MEASUREMENT

Measuring displacement is an essential element in the function of

a machine. Sensors measure the movement and displacement of
devices. They are commonly employed in detecting changes in
length, pressure, or force. A position sensor measures the
change in position of an object or mechanism in relation to its
original location. Many measuring methods can be used for the
measurement of other physical quantities, the electrical signals
derived from such transducers always depend on a displacement
parameter.
Displacement transducers are devices intended
to convert the motion of an object or machine
into electromagnetic, magnetoelectric, or
electrostatic signals. These signals are read
and interpreted into data.
In order to obtain an electrical output, a mixture of two or more
methods is also used. For example, optical methods using photo-
detectors present the output as an electrical quantity like voltage,
current and so on. Thus, the combined mechanical and optical
method is desired.
Measurements can be made in the direct and indirect way. In
direct method, the displacement is measured directly. But indirect
methods are mostly used as the associated variables like force,
acceleration, torque, velocity and so on can be obtained.
 SUPPLY

DISPLACEMENT SIGNAL
MACHINE CONVERTER DISPLAY
PROCESSING
A Displacement Sensor is a device that measures the
distance between the sensor and an object by detecting
the amount of displacement through a variety of
elements and converting it into a distance. Depending on
what element is used, there are several types of sensors,
such as optical displacement sensors, linear proximity
sensors, and ultrasonic displacement sensors.
 SUBTOPIC 1
Displacement Transducer
 Subtopic 1

INTENDED LEARNING
OUTCOMES
At end of this discussion the student shall be able to:

➢ Classify the different displacement transducers

➢ Recognized the function and application of displacement transducers
➢ Explain the working principle of displacement transducers
The transducer used for the measurement of displacement
can be classified in many ways. One of the most common
classification is given below.
• Mechanical
• Pneumatic
• Electrical
• Optical
A linear potentiometer transducer consists of a potentiometer, which is short
circuited by a slider. The other end of the slider is connected to a slider arm.
The force summing device on the slider arm causes linear displacement of
the slider causing the short circuit of a certain portion of the resistance in the
potentiometer.

Source: http://www.instrumentationtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Linear-
Potentiometer-Transducer.jpg
 A potentiometer measures linear movement and functions in
a range of processing and manufacturing equipment. Linear
or Rotary potentiometer is a variable resistance displacement
tran sducer which uses the variable resistance transduction
prin ciple in which the displacement or rotation is converted
into a potential difference due to the movement of sliding
contact over a resistive element
The simplest move converter is resistive
divider potentiometer where a sliding contact
or wiper moves along the resistive element
The engine is mechanically connected to the
sensing roller (pin), which follows the
movements of the measurement object.
When the voltage is applied to the resistor
element, the voltage from the engine is
tentsiometra, indicates the importance of
movement. Source: https://sensorse.com/page89en.html
This type of transducer is used for finding the linear displacement
in terms of voltage or other digital parameters. Another
transducer for finding the linear displacement is the Linear Motion
Variable Inductance Transducer. There are mainly two types of
proximity inductance transducers:

1. Mutual Inductance Type Proximity Transducer

2. Variable Reluctance Type Proximity Transducers
 This transducer consists of a primary and secondary coil.
This flux is linked to
the secondary coil and
thus a voltage ‘V’ is
induced

An ac source is given
to the primary

Source: http://www.instrumentationtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Proximity-
Inductive-Transduccers.jpg
An ac source is given to the primary. This ac source excites the primary and a flux is
produced. This flux is linked to the secondary coil and thus a voltage ‘V’ is induced. If the
mutual inductance between the primary and secondary windings is represented by ‘M’
(Hertz) and the frequency of ac excitation is represented by ‘w’, then the voltage ‘V’
developed in secondary coil can be written as V = MwIp.
Ip – The current due to excitation in primary (Amperes).
As shown in the figure, a ferromagnetic displacement plate is placed very near to the
windings. The current in the primary coil produces a magnetic flux that links with the
secondary coil through the displacement plate. Thus, the movement of the ferromagnetic
plate to the right causes a greater value of flux linkage between the two terminals. This in
turn causes an increase in the resulting output voltage across the secondary terminal with a
value of (T1-T2). This output is given to the input of the CRO or a recorder and the amount
of displacement can be known in terms of voltage. A
This device can be set up in two ways.

Source: http://www.instrumentationtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Variable-Reluctance-Type-Proximity-Transducers.jpg
The device consists of a coil that is wound on a core made up of
ferromagnetic material. The displacement is given to the core through a
target that makes an upward and downward movement according to the
displacement produced. It does not touch the core of the coil and a smaller
air gap is made between them.
When the target moves closer to the coil due to the displacement, the air
gap becomes less causing the reluctance of the magnetic field to reduce and
thus the coil inductance to increase. The value of inductance keeps on
varying according to the variation in target movement. A CRO or a recorder
takes these values and displays it to the user.
This transducer is used for displacement measurement. It is done
by calculating the change in inductance in a single coil according
to the variation in inductance

http://www.instrumentationtoday.com/wp
-content/uploads/2011/07/Linear-Motion-
Variable-Inductance-Transducer.jpg
The device consists of an arm that moves linearly according
to the displacement produced. It also consists of a single coil
wound on a former with ‘N’ number of turns. The end of the
arm is connected to a soft iron core which moves linearly
along the axis of the former. Thus, reluctance ‘R’ will be
produced due to the flux path. The coil inductance of the
device can be written by the equation, L= N2 /R.
This transducer is used to convert the value of displacement or
change in pressure in terms of frequency.

Source: http://www.instrumentationtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Capacitive-Transducer.jpg
 A capacitive transducer has a static plate and a deflected
flexible diaphragm with a dielectric in between. When a force
is exerted to the outer side of the diaphragm the distance
between the diaphragm and the static plate changes. This
produces a capacitance which is measured using an
alternating current bridge or a tank circuit. A tank circuit is more
preferred because it produces a change in frequency according to the
change in capacitance. This value of frequency will be corresponding to the
displacement or force given to the input.
Like other inductive transducers, this transducer is also used for
converting a linear motion into an electrical signal.

Source: http://www.instrumentationtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/LVDT-Construction.jpg
As shown in the figure above, an ac voltage with a frequency between (50-
400) Hz is supplied to the primary winding. Thus, two voltages VS1 and VS2
are obtained at the two secondary windings S1 and S2 respectively. The
output voltage will be the difference between the two voltages (VS1-VS2) as
they are combined in series. Let us consider three different positions of the
soft iron core inside the former.

Null Position – This is also called the central position as the soft iron core
will remain in the exact center of the former. Thus the linking magnetic flux
produced in the two secondary windings will be equal. The voltage induced
because of them will also be equal. Thus the resulting voltage VS1-VS2 = 0.
Right of Null Position – In this position, the linking flux at the winding S2 has a
value more than the linking flux at the winding S1. Thus, the resulting voltage VS1-
VS2 will be in phase with VS2.
Left of Null Position – In this position, the linking flux at the winding S2 has a
value less than the linking flux at the winding S1. Thus, the resulting voltage VS1-
VS2 will be in phase with VS1.
From the working it is clear that the difference in voltage, VS1-VS2 will depend on
the right or left shift of the core from the null position. Also, the resulting voltage is in
phase with the primary winding voltage for the change of the arm in one direction
and is 180 degrees out of phase for the change of the arm position in the other
direction.
The magnitude and displacement can be easily calculated or plotted by calculating
the magnitude and phase of the resulting voltage.
The main principle of a piezoelectric transducer is that a force,
when applied on the quartz crystal, produces electric charges on
the crystal surface.

Source: http://www.instrumentationtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Piezoelectric-Transducer.jpg
Piezoelectric Transducer can measure pressure in the same
way a force or an acceleration can be measured. For low
pressure measurement, possible vibration of the amount
should be compensated for. The pressure measuring quartz
disc stack faces the pressure through a diaphragm and on
the other side of this stack, the compensating mass followed
by a compensating quartz.
• Larry Jones and Foster Chin (2010), Electronic Instruments and Measurements.

• Tony R. Kuphaldt (2019) , Lessons In Industrial Instrumentation

• https://www.positek.com/linear-position-sensor/displacement-transducer

• John. (2011, July 25). Displacement Transducer. Retrieved from Instrumentation Today:
http://www.instrumentationtoday.com/tag/displacement-transducers/

• Anon, "Technical Explanation for Displacement Sensors and," [Online]. Available:

http://www.ia.omron.com/support/guide/56/introduction.html [Accessed 1 June 2020].
 SUBTOPIC 2
Displacement Sensors
 Subtopic 2

INTENDED LEARNING
OUTCOMES
At end of this discussion the student shall be able to:

➢ Identify the different displacement sensors

➢ Recognized the function and application of displacement sensors
Again in previous discussion a displacement sensor
measures the distance between the sensor and an object
by detecting the amount of displacement through a
variety of elements and converting it into a distance.
Displacement transducer on the other hand is a device
which maybe part of this sensor.
Triangulation Measurement Method These sensors use a
triangulation measurement system. Some sensors
employ a PSD, and others employ a CMOS (CCD) as the
light receiving element
CCD stands for Charge Coupled Device, and CMOS stands for
Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor.

PSD: Position Sensitive Device

Light from the light source is condensed by the lens and directed onto the object. Light
reflected from the object is condensed onto a one-dimensional position sensing device
(PSD)* by the receiving lens. If the position of the object (the distance to the
measuring device) changes, the image formation positions on the PSD will differ and
the balance of the two PSD outputs will change. If the two outputs are A and B,
calculate A/(A + B) and use appropriate values for the span coefficient “k” and the
offset “C”
Compared with a sensor that employs the PSD
method, a sensor that employs a CMOS (CCD)
as the light receiving element provides a more
accurate measurement of displacement without
being affected by surface color and texture of
objects. The sensor detects the amounts of
light on individual pixels in the CMOS (CCD)
and converts them into a distance when a spot
beam that reflects off of the surface of the
object is projected onto the light receiving
element
When an AC flows through a coil, magnetic flux occurs in the coil. When
the magnetic flux passes through a metal object, it creates eddy currents
that generate a magnetic field that tends to oppose changes in the current.
As a result, the inductance of the coil changes. The function between the
distance from the coil to the object is defined in terms of the variation of
the inductance, and the displacement distance can be calculated.
As the distance between the metal object and
the Sensor Head decreases, eddy currents
increase, and the oscillation amplitude of the
oscillation circuit decreases. Conversely, as
the distance between the metal object and the
Sensor Head increases, eddy currents
decrease and the oscillation amplitude of the
oscillation circuit increases. The oscillation
amplitude of the oscillation circuit changes as
the position of the metal object changes, so
measurements are taken by detecting these
changes in oscillation amplitude.
A transmitter sends ultrasonic waves
toward an object, and a receiver
receives the reflected waves back
from it. This type of sensor
determines the distance by
calculating the relationship between
the time required for the ultrasonic
waves to be sent and received, and
the speed of sound.
This type of Sensor measures displacement through direct
contact of a measured object with the Sensor. It provides
superior measurement precision compared with Contactless
Sensors.

Differential Transformer Method

Magnetic Sensing Method
When the Sensor Head touches the object, a magnetic scale
with north and south poles alternately positioned at a fine pitch
inside the Sensor moves. The change in magnetic flux that
occurs at this time is detected with a magnetic resistance
sensor to determine the displacement.
When the Sensor Head touches the object, it
depresses the moving core and the center of the
core moves away from the center of the coil
creating a gap. When both ends of the
connected two coils are excited with AC current,
the impedance of both coils' changes depending
on the gap between the center of the coil and the
center of the core. This gap (displacement) is
output linearly as the differential voltage of the
coils, and therefore the displacement of the
object can be determined by detecting this
differential voltage.
• Larry Jones and Foster Chin (2010), Electronic Instruments and Measurements.

• Tony R. Kuphaldt (2019) , Lessons In Industrial Instrumentation

• https://www.positek.com/linear-position-sensor/displacement-transducer

• John. (2011, July 25). Displacement Transducer. Retrieved from Instrumentation Today:
http://www.instrumentationtoday.com/tag/displacement-transducers/

• Anon, "Technical Explanation for Displacement Sensors and," [Online]. Available:

http://www.ia.omron.com/support/guide/56/introduction.html [Accessed 1 June 2020].