be read by an observer or by an instrument.

INDUSTRIAL Sensors provides the aid for a more precise,

accurate, long-range and 24 hours monitoring
ELECTRONICS and detection of different types of measurands
for a wide range of applications

Experiment #6
Importance of sensor:
PLC DEVICES 2 ● Long-range monitoring and detection
● Evidently more precise than human

(PLC WITH ●
senses.
Can work 24 hours a day.
● Detected measurements can be
SENSORS) ●
reproduced.
Cost efficient.
● Measurements can be easily
documented.

Common Types of Proximity Sensors

I. INTRODUCTION
Inductive and Capacitive Sensors

Inductive Proximity Sensor

An inductive sensor is an electronic proximity
sensor, which detects metallic objects without
touching them. It uses the Electromagnetic field
in order to sense objects

A sensor is a device that measures a physical Inductive proximity sensors operate under the
quantity and converts it into a signal which can electrical principle of inductance. Inductance is
the phenomenon where a fluctuating current,
which by definition has a magnetic component,
induces an electromotive force (emf) in a target
object. To amplify a device’s inductance effect,
a sensor manufacturer twists wire into a tight
coil and runs a current through it. An inductive
proximity sensor has four components; The coil,
oscillator, detection circuit and output circuit.
The oscillator generates a fluctuating magnetic
field the shape of a doughnut around the Capacitive Proximity Sensor
winding of the coil that locates in the device’s
sensing face. Capacitive proximity sensors are similar to
inductive proximity sensors. The main
difference between the two types is that
capacitive proximity sensors produce an
electrostatic field instead of an electromagnetic
field. Capacitive proximity switches will sense
metal as well as nonmetallic materials such as
paper, glass, liquids, and cloth. The sensing
surface of a capacitive sensor is formed by two
concentrically shaped metal electrodes of an
unwound capacitor. When an object nears the
sensing surface it enters the electrostatic field of
the electrodes and changes the capacitance in an
oscillator circuit. As a result, the oscillator
When a metal object moves into the inductive begins oscillating. The trigger circuit reads the
proximity sensor’s field of oscillator’s amplitude and when it reaches a
detection, Eddy circuits build up in the metallic specific level the output state of the sensor
object, which reduces the Inductive changes. As the target moves away from the
sensor the oscillator’s amplitude decreases,
sensor’s own oscillation field. The sensor’s switching the sensor output back to its original
detection circuit monitors the state.
oscillator’s strength and triggers an output from II. OBJECTIVES
the output circuitry when the
a. To be familiar with the different types of
oscillator becomes reduced to a sufficient level. proximity sensor especially inductive
and capacitive sensor.
Eddy Circuit - circuit created by the flow of
b. To utilize inductive and capacitive
eddy currents through the metal
sensor in PLC Trainer.
object when under exposure on a magnetic field.
III. MATERIALS
This eddy current create an
PC with PicoSoft
induced magnetic field that opposes the change
in the original magnetic field. PLC – Allen Bradley Trainer Kit
Capacitive and inductive sensor.
 Set I1 and I2=push button, I3=toggle swtich, and
I4=sensor.
Set Q1 = Green Bulb, Q2 = Conveyor, and Q3 =
Red Bulb.
Set C1 = 5, T1=5s.

1. Download the ladder diagram from PC

to PLC. If you programthe PLC-Trainer
using its HDMI skip this step.
Sensor Color Coding 2. Apply wiring.
● Red or Brown = (+) supply • Important reminder: connect the
● Blue = = (-) supply common of input module to egative
● Black = normally open terminal of the 24V supply.
● White or Gray = normally close
3. Ask your professor to check your work.

III. MATERIALS
V. EXERCISES
● PC with PicoSoft
● PLC – Allen Bradley Trainer Kit 1. Using the Allen-Bradley Trainer , create
a system that will simulate the following
sequence:
IV. PROCEDURES a. Use 3 switches for the following
functions: Start, stop/reset, and trigger
1. Construct the ladder diagram using b. Set another input for either capacitive or
PC/HDMI (Human Machine Interface). inductive sensor.
c. Note: install the sensor at the end of the
conveyor.
 d. Pressing trigger switch will let the while, us learners start to see how ladder logic
conveyor and green bulb run/turn On actually makes it more convenient for the
immediately. conveyor to work - it is what makes the sensors
e. . Put some object (must be approved or functional and in turn will run the conveyor.
provided by the instructor) at the start of Seeing this, we have realized that ladder logic
the conveyor and let it reach and be isn't limited to straightforward programming
detected by the sensor. such as light looping - it can also be
f. During the energized-status of the implemented onto sensors and can even be used
sensor, the conveyor should stop and the to program a conveyor.
red bulb must light-up. Removing the
object away from the sensor's sensing
range will let the conveyor to move VIII. REFERENCES
again.
g. Repeat the step of placing object at the https://feu.instructure.com/courses/93047/
start of the conveyor until the 3rd pages/m5-main-plc-devices?
detection of the sensor. After the 3rd module_item_id=4786443
detection, conveyor stops for 3 seconds
and run in reverse direction.

VI. INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULTS

Allen-Bradley trainer kit was first utilized by our
group from the previous activity to imitate the
traffic light loop wherein three bulbs light up in
order and only after a specific time, and then
restart the loop again after the last bulb lights up
for a specific amount of time. In this activity a
seemingly new component for us students were
introduced which are sensors and its types. Due
to unfamiliarity we had issues integrating the
PicoSoft program to work with the sensors
leading to confusion on how to run the conveyor
but after spending more time learning about the
practical applications of the sensors, we
understood its uses, how to conveniently utilize
them with the aid of a PLC Trainer, and most
especially how they work in complementary
with each other to make the conveyor work.
VII. CONCLUSION
Sensors being a new component to work with as
learners, it is natural to encounter several issues
especially when trying to implement ladder logic
on it. It takes a learning curve to be able to
successfully program the conveyor and make the
sensors work. However after learning for a