3.9 - Sensors-Controlling Applications
3.9 - Sensors-Controlling Applications
APPLICATIONS
LO: To understand the use of sensors in controlling
applications.
Keywords: Anti lock
CCL: Science
STARTER- IDENTIFY THE SENSORS
USED
STARTER-SOL
if the data from the sensor < value stored in memory, then » ... a signal is
sent from the microprocessor to the street lamp ...
» ... and the lamp is switched on
» the lamp stays switched on for 30 minutes before the sensor readings are
sampled again (this prevents the lamp flickering off and on during brief
heavy cloud cover, for example)
» if the data from the sensor >= value stored in memory …» … a signal is
sent from the microprocessor to the street lamp ...
» … and the lamp is switched off
» the lamp stays switched off for 30 minutes before sensor readings are
sampled again (this prevents the lamp flickering off and on during heavy
cloud cover for example).
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS (ON
CARS)
Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) on cars use magnetic field sensors to
stop the wheels locking up on the car if the brakes have been applied too
sharply:
when one of the car wheels rotates too slowly (i.e. it is locking up), a
magnetic field sensor sends data to a microprocessor
the microprocessor checks the rotation speed of the other three wheels
if they are different (i.e. rotating faster), the microprocessor sends a signal
to the braking system …
… and the braking pressure to the affected wheel is reduced …
… the wheel’s rotational speed is then increased to match the other wheels
the checking of the rotational speed using these magnetic field sensors is
done several times a second …
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS (ON
CARS)
… and the braking pressure to all the wheels can be
constantly changing to prevent any of the wheels locking
up under heavy braking .
… this is felt as a ‘judder’ on the brake pedal as the
braking system is constantly switched off and on to
equalise the rotational speed of all four wheels
if one of the wheels is rotating too quickly, braking
pressure is increased to that wheel until it matches the
other three.
a gas supply is used to heat water using
a heater.
A valve on the gas supply is controlled
by a microprocessor and is opened if the
heating levels need to be increased.
A water pump is used to pump hot water
around the central heating system
CENTRAL whenever the temperature drops below a
HEATING pre-set value:
SYSTEMS
CENTRAL HEATING
SYSTEM
the required temperature is keyed in and this is stored in the microprocessor
memory (this is called the pre-set value)
the temperature sensor is constantly sending data readings to the microprocessor
the sensor data is first sent to an ADC to convert the analogue data into digital
data
the digital data is sent to the microprocessor
the microprocessor compares this data with the pre-set value
if the temperature reading >= pre-set value then no action is taken
if the temperature reading < pre-set value, then a signal is sent …
… to an actuator (via a DAC) to open the gas valve to the heater
… to an actuator (via a DAC) to turn on the water pump
CHEMICAL PROCESS CONTROL
A certain chemical process only works if the temperature is above 70°C and
the pH (acidity) level is less than 3.5.
Sensors are used as part of the control system.
A heater is used to heat the reactor and valves are used to add acid when
necessary to maintain the acidity.
Process:
temperature and pH sensors read data from the chemical process
this data is converted to digital using an ADC and is then sent to the computer
the computer compares the incoming data with pre-set values stored in
memory
… if the temperature < 70°C, a signal is sent to switch on the heater
CHEMICAL PROCESS CONTROL
http://www.bitsofbytes.co/input-devices---automatic.html
https://student.craigndave.org/videos/cambridge-igcse-topic-3-2-
sensors-part-2