Ultrasonic sensor
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Ultrasonic sensor
Ultrasonic sensors (also known as transceivers when they both send and receive, but more generally called
transducers) work on a principle similar to radar or sonar which evaluate attributes of a target by interpreting the
echoes from radio or sound waves respectively. Ultrasonic sensors generate high frequency sound waves and
evaluate the echo which is received back by the sensor. Sensors calculate the time interval between sending the
signal and receiving the echo to determine the distance to an object.
This technology can be used for measuring wind speed and direction (anemometer), tank or channel level, and speed
through air or water. For measuring speed or direction a device uses multiple detectors and calculates the speed from
the relative distances to particulates in the air or water. To measure tank or channel level, the sensor measures the
distance to the surface of the fluid. Further applications include: humidifiers, sonar, medical ultrasonography, burglar
alarms and non-destructive testing.
Systems typically use a transducer which generates sound waves in the ultrasonic range, above 18,000 hertz, by
turning electrical energy into sound, then upon receiving the echo turn the sound waves into electrical energy which
can be measured and displayed.
The technology is limited by the shapes of surfaces and the density or consistency of the material. Foam, in
particular, can distort surface level readings.
[1]
Transducers
Sound field of a non focusing 4MHz ultrasonic
transducer with a near field length of N=67mm
in water. The plot shows the sound pressure at a
logarithmic db-scale.
Sound pressure field of the same ultrasonic
transducer (4MHz, N=67mm) with the
transducer surface having a spherical curvature
with the curvature radius R=30mm
An ultrasonic transducer is a device that converts energy into
ultrasound, or sound waves above the normal range of human hearing.
While technically a dog whistle is an ultrasonic transducer that
converts mechanical energy in the form of air pressure into ultrasonic
sound waves, the term is more apt to be used to refer to piezoelectric
transducers that convert electrical energy into sound. Piezoelectric
crystals have the property of changing size when a voltage is applied,
thus applying an alternating current (AC) across them causes them to
oscillate at very high frequencies, thus producing very high frequency
sound waves.
The location at which a transducer focuses the sound can be
determined by the active transducer area and shape, the ultrasound
frequency, and the sound velocity of the propagation medium.
The example shows the sound fields of an unfocused and a focusing
ultrasonic transducer in water.
Since piezoelectric crystals generate a voltage when force is applied to them, the same crystal can be used as an
ultrasonic detector. Some systems use separate transmitter and receiver components while others combine both in a
single piezoelectric transceiver.
Non-piezoelectric principles are also used in construction of ultrasound transmitters. Magnetostrictive materials
slightly change size when exposed to a magnetic field; such materials can be used to make transducers. A capacitor
microphone uses a thin plate which moves in response to ultrasound waves; changes in the electric field around the
plate convert sound signals to electric currents, which can be amplified.
Ultrasonic sensor
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Use in medicine
Medical ultrasonic transducers (probes) come in a variety of different shapes and sizes for use in making pictures of
different parts of the body. The transducer may be passed over the surface of the body or inserted into a body
opening such as the rectum or vagina. Clinicians who perform ultrasound-guided procedures often use a probe
positioning system to hold the ultrasonic transducer.
Air detection sensors are used in various roles. Non-invasive air detection capabilities in the most critical
applications where the safety of a patient is mandatory. Many of the variables, which can affect performance of
amplitude or continuous wave based sensing systems, are eliminated or greatly reduced, thus yielding accurate and
repeatable detection. The principle behind the technology is that the transmit signal consists of short bursts of
ultrasonic energy. After each burst, the electronics looks for a return signal within a small window of time
corresponding to the time it takes for the energy to pass through the vessel. Only signals received during this period
will qualify for additional signal processing.
Use in industry
Ultrasonic sensors are used to detect movement of targets and to measure the distance to targets in many automated
factories and process plants. Sensors with an on or off digital output are available for detecting the movement of
objects, and sensors with an analog output which varies proportionally to the sensor to target separation distance are
commercially available. They can be used to sense the edge of material as part of a web guiding system
Ultrasonic sensors are gaining popularity in a number of uses including ultrasonic people detection and assisting in
autonomous UAV navigation.
Because ultrasonic sensors use sound rather than light for detection, they work in applications where photoelectric
sensors may not. Ultrasonics are a great solution for clear object detection, clear label detection
[2]
and for liquid level
measurement, applications that photoelectrics struggle with because of target translucence. Target color and/or
reflectivity don't affect ultrasonic sensors which can operate reliably in high-glare environments.
[3]
Other types of transducers are used in commercially available ultrasonic cleaning devices. An ultrasonic transducer
is affixed to a stainless steel pan which is filled with a solvent (frequently water or isopropanol) and a square wave is
applied to it, imparting vibrational energy on the liquid.
Nowadays Ultrasonic sensors are widely used in automotive applications for park assist technology.
References
[1] Ultrasonic Flow Meters and Foam (http:/ / www. openchannelflow. com/ blog/ article/ the-heady-problem-of-foam-in-flumes-and-weirs),
Openchannelflow.com
[2] LabelSensors.com (http:/ / www. labelsensors. com/ choose/ labelSensorTypes. html)
[3] Ultrasonics Basics (Banner Engineering) (http:/ / www. bannerengineering. com/ training/ faq. php?faqID=34& div=1)
External links
Ultrasonic Basics (http:/ / www. piezotechnologies. com/ Resources/ ultrasonic-basics. aspx)
Ultrasonic Acoustic Sensing (http:/ / www. cs. brown. edu/ people/ tld/ courses/ cs148/ 02/ sonar. html) Brown
University
Laser Ultrasonic Sensor Streamlines Papermaking Process (http:/ / www. lbl. gov/ Science-Articles/ Archive/
EETD-papersensor-Ridgway. html), Lawrence Berkeley Lab, Dan Krotz
Ultrasonic Flaw Detection for Technicians (http:/ / www. silverwinguk. com/ en/ technical pdfs/ ultrasonics_vol1.
htm), Chapter 2, 3rd ed., 2004 by J. C. Drury (~5 pages)
Measure distance using the ultrasonic sensor (http:/ / www. emant. com/ index. php?tid=100011)
Ultrasonic sensor
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Ultra Technology (http:/ / www. ultratechnology. se) More uniform fibre distribution in paper with ultrasonics in
the paper machine wet end.
Ultrasound transducer (http:/ / www. cancer. gov/ dictionary?CdrID=367430) entry in the public domain NCI
Dictionary of Cancer Terms
United ultrasonic (http:/ / www. united-ultrasonic. com)
Ultrasonic Transmitter and Receiver circuit diagram (http:/ / www. explorecircuits. com/ circuit/
cir_ultrasonic_transmitter_receiver. htm)
Ultrasonic Sensors for Industry (http:/ / www. bannerengineering. com/ en-US/ products/ 8/ Sensors/ 30/
Ultrasonic)
Siemens Ultrasonic Level Measurement (http:/ / www. automation. siemens. com/ w1/
process-instrumentation-ultrasonic-4930. htm)
Ultrasonic Transducer Technical Info (http:/ / www. bjultrasonic. com/ ultrasonic-technical-info/
ultrasonic-transducer-technical/ )
Transducer for cleaning (http:/ / ultrasonic-cleaners. org/ ultrasonic-transducer-for-cleaning. html)
Choosing an Ultrasonic Sensor for Proximity or Distance Measurement (http:/ / www. sensorsmag. com/ sensors/
acoustic-ultrasound/ choosing-ultrasonic-sensor-proximity-or-distance-measurement-825) Sensors Magazine.
Transducer Info Center (http:/ / www. transducer. co. nz).
Outdoor Ultrasonic Sensors (http:/ / www. maxbotix. com)
Article Sources and Contributors
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Article Sources and Contributors
Ultrasonic sensor Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=595803027 Contributors: Arthena, Axel.mulder, BAxelrod, Cheerioswithmilk, Cpeteod, Creutiman, Dbcv, GLaDOS,
Glane23, Guoguo12, Gwen-chan, IP9191, Inthend9, Iztwoz, J.delanoy, JaGa, Jeriff Cheng, JoanneB, K6ka, Kevin Murray, Kychan1958, Loupeter, Materialscientist, Michael Lenz, Mortense,
Neha1701, Nepenthes, Nihiltres, O keyes, Oreo Priest, Otrfan, PiezoJane, Prunesqualer, Redhorse819, Richi4321, Robvanaalst, Rukifelth, Skomorokh, The Anome, Una Smith, William Avery,
Wtshymanski, Yun-Yuuzhan (lost password), Zntrip, Zzuuzz, 84 anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
Image:Soundfield_Water_4MHz_TransducerRadius5mm.png Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Soundfield_Water_4MHz_TransducerRadius5mm.png License: Public
Domain Contributors: Michael Lenz
Image: Soundfield_Water_4MHz_TransducerRadius5mm_Focus30mm.png Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Soundfield_Water_4MHz_TransducerRadius5mm_Focus30mm.png License: Public Domain Contributors: Michael Lenz
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