School of Engineering Technology

Department of Electrical Engineering

Instrumentation and control systems lab

Lab Experiment # 4
Distance Sensors
(LVDT & Rotation angle sensor)
Instrumentation and control systems Lab School of Engineering Technology
Session # 4 Department of Electrical Engineering

Sensor Module 15 – (KL-64015 )

Slide 2
Instrumentation and control systems Lab School of Engineering Technology
Session # 4 Department of Electrical Engineering

Variable Difference Transformer (LVDT)

• It is an electromechanical device that
converts linear motion into an electrical
signal.
• It is a type of transformer that uses a
movable core to vary the coupling between
two coils, the output voltage of this
transformer is proportional to the
displacement of the core.

Slide 3
Instrumentation and control systems Lab School of Engineering Technology
Session # 4 Department of Electrical Engineering

Activity #1- Characteristic of LVDT

• Switch power ON and the display should be ON.
• AC calibration: Connect the scope probes to the input of SENSOR30, then adjust R5 to
obtain 5 Vrms AC (14.14 VP-P AC) and record the frequency, f =___________Hz.

• Position correction: Measure the output difference voltage (VO ) between VO30-1 and VO30-2
using DMM, then adjust the LVDT position to achieve a zero output (VO = 0V). This
ensures that the LVDT core is located at the center position.

Slide 4
Instrumentation and control systems Lab School of Engineering Technology
Session # 4 Department of Electrical Engineering

Activity #1- Characteristic of LVDT

• Using a ruler, accurately determine the current core position, then move the LVDT
position to 1mm right.

• Fine tune R5 to obtain VO = 0.5V (Now we fixed the transfer ratio = 0.5V/mm).

Slide 5
Instrumentation and control systems Lab School of Engineering Technology
Session # 4 Department of Electrical Engineering

Activity #1- Characteristic of LVDT

• Move the LVDT position left/right and record VO for each displacement in table
below.(Note: + leftward , – rightward)

Displacement +3 +2 +1 0 -1 -2 -3
(mm)

DCV Display

• Compare readouts to actual displacement and comment your results.

Slide 6
Instrumentation and control systems Lab School of Engineering Technology
Session # 4 Department of Electrical Engineering

Activity #2- Application of LVDT- Position Detector

• Complete the connections as follows:

SECTION SIGNAL TO SECTION SIGNAL

MICROCONTROLLER SIGNALS 1 BUZZER SIN IN

DIFFERENT AMPLIFIER VO A/D CONVERTER A/D IN

DIFFERENT AMPLIFIER GND A/D CONVERTER GND

KL-64015 VO30-1 DIFFERENT AMPLIFIER V+

KL-64015 VO30-2 DIFFERENT AMPLIFIER V-

Slide 7
Instrumentation and control systems Lab School of Engineering Technology
Session # 4 Department of Electrical Engineering

Activity #2- Application of LVDT- Position Detector

• Select CHIP in MODE SELECTOR.

• Fine tune R5 to fix the transfer ratio = 1V/mm.

Slide 8
Instrumentation and control systems Lab School of Engineering Technology
Session # 4 Department of Electrical Engineering

Activity #2- Application of LVDT- Position Detector

• Turn the value of THUMBWHEEL SW. in the order shown in the table below and moving
the LVDT position left/right. Then, measure and record the voltage when the BUZZER
turned on.

THUMBWHEEL SW 0819 1638 2457 3276 4095

Default Displacement (mm) 1 2 3 4 5

DCV Display
MICROCONTROLLER SIGNALS 1

Slide 9
Instrumentation and control systems Lab School of Engineering Technology
Session # 4 Department of Electrical Engineering

Sensor Module 16 – (KL-64016 )

Slide 10
Instrumentation and control systems Lab School of Engineering Technology
Session # 4 Department of Electrical Engineering

Rotation Angle Sensor

• It is also known as potentiometric position
or displacement transducer , which is a
device that measure the rotation of an
object and convert it into an electrical
signal.
• It is relatively simple device, consisting of a
sliding contact (wiper) that moves over a
resistance element.
• The output voltage is a position-
proportional fraction of the excitation
voltage

Slide 11
Instrumentation and control systems Lab School of Engineering Technology
Session # 4 Department of Electrical Engineering

Activity #3- Rotation Angle Sensor

• Switch power ON and the display should be ON.

• Turn the potentiometer dial fully CCW (0°).

• Use the meter to measure the reference voltage Vf1 , then set Vf1 =3.6V
by adjusting the R2.

• Adjust the R7 to obtain VO31 =0V.

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Instrumentation and control systems Lab School of Engineering Technology
Session # 4 Department of Electrical Engineering

Activity #3- Rotation Angle Sensor Characteristics

• Turn the potentiometer to change angular position and record VO31 for each
dial value in the table below.
SENSOR31 1 turn 2 turn 3 turn 4 turn 5 turn 6 turn 7 turn 8 turn 9 turn 10 turn
Dial 360° 720° 1080° 1440° 1800° 2160° 2520° 2880° 3240° 3600°

VO31
Voltage

Note: 1 turn = 360°

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 Instrumentation and control systems Lab School of Engineering Technology
Session # 4 Department of Electrical Engineering

Activity #4- Rotation Angle Sensor Repeatability Precision

• Repeat the measurement process twice more:
SENSOR 1 turn 2 turn 3 turn 4 turn 5 turn 6 turn 7 turn 8 turn 9 turn 10 turn
31 360° 720° 1080° 1440° 1800° 2160° 2520° 2880° 3240° 3600°
Dial
VO31
Voltage
Trial 1
VO31
Voltage
Trial 2
VO31
Voltage
Trial 3

Slide 14
 Instrumentation and control systems Lab School of Engineering Technology
Session # 4 Department of Electrical Engineering

Activity #5- Rotation Angle Sensor Precision Calculation

• Employ the accumulated data you collect to determine the precision of the rotation
angle sensor.