Low Cost Assembly Methods
A displacement sensor is a low power, low temperature electronic component used in applications requiring absolute displacement. The basic principle of operation is described as: "as the input voltage varies, the output voltage thus measured changes automatically corresponding to change in position of the input device". This concept is illustrated in Fig. a where a continuous loop, starting from the control circuit, flows through a capacitance loop having capacitance values c and d of variable values. As the loop is changed from time-to-time by changes in the control voltage, the end value of the capacitance loop increases and thereby the output is altered.
Capacitive displacement sensors are non-contact units that "rely on the principle of total electrical resistance as an interface between the measuring device and its application. Thus they can be used in applications where there is a need to control the motion of a conductor. For instance, in the manufacturing industry, these instruments are used to determine the length of long electrical wires during production. Also, they are used to determine the weight of an object as well as the shape and dimensions of the object.
The first type of low cost displacement sensor assembly is the analog laser displacement sensor assembly, or ACDI for short. This assembly uses a high frequency digital display system coupled with a microprocessor that creates the image seen on the digital display. It can measure the distance between two points, the distance from a third point to the first point, the rotation of the assembly between the two points, and the acceleration of the assembly around a central point.
The second type of low cost assembly that we will discuss is the digital laser displacement sensor assembly (DLS). This assembly operates on the principle of triangulation. This principle states that an object's center of mass moves with a certain velocity depending upon the frequency of its rotation. In this case, the assembly uses a microprocessor to calculate and output a waveform representing the location of the object. To measure the results of the assembly, an analog voltage signal is required. However, since this method does not require a microprocessor, it is generally easier to operate and produces higher quality results than the ACDI method.
The last type of low cost assembly that we will discuss is the 2d displacement sensor or ADA. This type of assembly has a miniature form factor and is equipped with an interface board that communicates with a laptop or personal computer through a serial line. The signals it produces are then amplified by a DC-to-DC power supply and sent to an integrated circuit that interprets the signals and converts them into an analog signal useful for analysis purposes. A variety of communication units are available for use with this type of system, including PICs, microcontroller-based units, and solderless devices.
There are a number of other methods used in the determination of a position for objects using displacement sensors and other dimensional measurement systems. These other techniques include ultrasonic, radar, infra-red, electromagnetic, and piezoelectric. They have their own limitations and advantages. The main advantage of ultrasound displacement measurements is the fast and accurate results it produces. Another advantage is the resolution it provides over the other forms of dimensional measurement systems. Ultrasonic and radar-based techniques rely heavily on the inherent properties of an object and may produce false results if those properties change.
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