SENSORS and

ACTUATORS
Control Systems
Instrumentation

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

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 1 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Lecture
Inductive Sensor

Main contents
1. General principle
2. Inductive proximity sensor
3. Magnetic flow sensor
4. Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT)

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 2 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 INTRODUCTION
• Inductive sensors are designed based on the operating principle and characteristics of an inductor
(cuộn cảm).
• They are primarily used to measure electric fields and magnetic fields, or other physical quantities
(e.g., displacement and pressure) that can be transformed into an electric or magnetic response.

Do not mistake magnetic field and electric field

Magnetic field in
magnet
Magnetic field in coil

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 3 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 INTRODUCTION
• Inductive sensors are designed based on the operating principle and characteristics of an inductor
(cuộn cảm).
Electrical field

i
Magnetic field

a)

b)
c) d)

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 4 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 INDUCTOR, INDUCTANCE, AND MAGNETIC FIELD
1. Inductors (cuộn điện cảm)
An inductor is a electrical component that resists changes in current.
The voltage-current relationship of an inductor is governed by:

di(t )
V (t ) L
dt
where V is the voltage (in volts, V) across the inductor, L is the
inductance (in henrys, H), I is the current (in amperes, A) flowing
through the inductor, and t is the time (in seconds, s). The typical range
of L is 1 μH – 0.1 H.

where Leq is the resultant (or equivalent) inductance

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 5 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 INDUCTOR, INDUCTANCE, AND MAGNETIC FIELD
1. Inductors (cuộn điện cảm)
Inductors can be classified as wire-wound (air) inductors, radial inductors, chip inductors, and power
inductors as shown in Figure.

Inductors can also be classified as the fixed,

variable, or adjustable type.

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 6 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 INDUCTOR, INDUCTANCE, AND MAGNETIC FIELD
Eddy current
An eddy or Foucault current is an electromagnetic phenomenon

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 7 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 INDUCTOR, INDUCTANCE, AND MAGNETIC FIELD
Eddy current
An eddy or Foucault current is an electromagnetic phenomenon

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 8 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 General Operational Principle
1. Basic concept:

The output is linearly corrected for three materials

[stainless steel (SUS304), iron, and aluminum].

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 9 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 General Operational Principle
1. Basic concept: An inductive displacement sensor that can offer an analog
voltage or analog current output.

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 10 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 General Operational Principle
1. Basic concept:

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 11 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Inductive proximity sensor
Inductive proximity switch: is an inductive displacement sensor which basically
used for detection of metallic objects with digital output
The Figure shows the construction of inductive proximity switch which has four
components: the coil, oscillator, detection circuit and output circuit.

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 12 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Inductive proximity sensor
Operational principle

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 13 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Inductive proximity sensor
Application and installation:
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEOCHrnotrk&t=305s

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 14 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Inductive proximity sensor
Application and installation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR_xkSuWgR4

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 15 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Inductive proximity sensor
Datasheet reading and using: source https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO5IF5tfuGk

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 16 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Inductive proximity sensor
Sensor connection:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYdKN0jaxLs

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 17 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Inductive proximity sensor
Connection PNP and NPN for sensor

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 18 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Inductive proximity sensor
Application to measure velocity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=YeXlmdlXp2s&feature=youtu.be

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 19 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Magnetic Flow meter sensor
Magnetic flow meters is used to get the velocity of a liquid in a pipe.
Magnetic flow meters consist of a nonmagnetic flow tube, liner, electrodes and
electromagnets to generate a magnetic field.

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 20 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Magnetic Flow meter sensor
Operational Principle:
A conductive fluid is passed through the pipe. As the fluid passes, its motion
relative to magnetic field produces an 𝑉𝑒𝑚𝑓 proportional to velocity of fluid. It is
given by Faraday’s law
E Vemf B.D.V
V: velocity of fluid [m/s]
B: magnetic field strength
D: diameter of pipe
Vemf Vemf R
V= Q AV . . R2 .V
B.D B.2 R 2B emf

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 21 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Magnetic Flow meter sensor
Application
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6xJJyNDgeE

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 22 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 INDUCTIVE SENSOR APPLICATIONS
Construction LVDT Sensor
- This transformer has primary and two secondary
windings (coils) with the magnetic connection
between them depending on the position of the
core, which is made of a ferromagnetic material.
The position of the core changes with the
displacement to be measured.

Two secondary coils having equal number of turns

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 23 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 INDUCTIVE SENSOR APPLICATIONS
Working principle of LVDT Sensor
- An AC input sinusoidal voltage is applied to the primary of the LVDT. Core’s position determines the
flux linkage with each coil.
- When the core moves right, more flux links between the primary and the right secondary, thus
flux (S2) becomes stronger, and therefore the induced voltage (E2) is increased.
- At the same time, the connection between the primary and the left secondary gets weaker, and
the induced voltage (E1) in that circuit becomes smaller.

E1 E2
E1 E2
E1, E2 is generated
from magnetic of
Core, magnetic core
from AC input

Core at left side of null position Core’s normal position,

Core at left side of null position
Flux at S2 < Flux at S1 ➔ E2 < E1 Flux at S2 = Flux at S1
Flux at S2 > Flux at S1 ➔ E2 > E1
E0= E1 – E2 = Postive ➔ E2 > E1
→ Eo = E1 – E2 = Negative
Eo = E1-E2 =0

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 24 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 INDUCTIVE SENSOR APPLICATIONS
Working principle of LVDT Sensor
Characteristic

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 25 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 INDUCTIVE SENSOR APPLICATIONS
Working principle of LVDT Sensor
The differential voltage in the secondary coil determines the distance moved, and the direction of
movement. If we convert Eout into a DC signal, we can determine the amount of the core displacement.

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 26 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 INDUCTIVE SENSOR APPLICATIONS
LVDT Sensor
A linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) is a displacement sensor.
It is a device used to convert mechanical motion or vibrations, specifically rectilinear motion, into a
variable electrical current, voltage or electric signals, and the reverse.

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 27 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT)
Operational principle: video

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 28 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT)
Characteristics

Eo = Es1 − Es 2

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 29 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT)
Application: video

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 30 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT)
Application:

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 31 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

 Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT)
Application:

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 32 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

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

Lecture notes info

Sensors and Actuators
Fall Semester, 2021
------------------------------------------------

© Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.

Email: [email protected]
Sites: https://sites.google.com/view/halenhungocthanh/courses?authuser=0

Mechatronics Engineering - Sensors and Actuators 33 © Ha Le Nhu Ngoc Thanh, Ph.D.