Ultrasonic sensors are used in several industries including but not limited to incorporate packaging, beverage and food, agriculture, and so on. When it comes to sensors, ultrasonic sensors are unique. As of 2020, this market was estimated to be at about 3.89 billion United State dollars worldwide.
Ultrasonic sensors typically are of different types, these different types come in different sizes, accuracy, voltage, prices, and so on. Each type of sensor comes with capacities that make it do well in certain regions.
Hence, if you are looking to get electrostatic ultrasonic sensors, there are some key factors that you have to consider. Considering these factors will ensure you get the right ones for you.
Therefore, in this article, we will be discussing some of these key factors. But before we do that, let us first take a look at the pros and cons of this device.
Ultrasonic Sensors Pros
The following are some of the major pros of this device:
1. Low Cost and Compact Size
These devices typically come in relatively compact sizes, this makes using them easy. In addition to this, they don’t consume a lot of electricity while in use, their designs are simple, and they are relatively low cost.
2. Can Detect Without Establishing Physical Contact
An item’s presence can be detected and distance can be measured with ultrasonic sensors without there being any form of physical contact. It does this by producing and monitoring ultrasonic echoes.
3. Robustness
These devices are able withstand very tough conditions, like sandblasting.
4. High Sensitivity
They can be applied to solve very complex tasks that involve level measurement and object detection. This can be done very precisely (even up to a millimeter). The reason they are so precise is that their measuring method often performs adequately in nearly all types of conditions. As we have said, they do not need to touch the object before detecting them; they also don’t scratch sensing items.
5. Dirt and Dust Resistance
We already mentioned that they can withstand tough conditions; this is most likely because they are insensitive to both dirt and dust. Since the housing is quite robust, they don’t have weak points through which damages from working in tough conditions or harsh environments can cause.
6. Versatility
These devices are used in several sectors including:
- Level measurement
- Material handling
- Construction
- Agriculture
- Building materials
- Furniture and woodworking
- Beverage and food
- Machine tool/mechanical engineering
Also, several types of materials can be detected with these devices and it doesn’t matter their color, transparency, or shape. The only requirement here is that the object to be detected has to either be liquid or solid.
7. Low Maintenance
When it comes to maintenance, these devices don’t require a lot. Their lifespan is quite long so with the little maintenance provided, they will stay with you for long.
Ultrasonic Sensors Cons
The following are some of the major cons of this device:
1. Atmospheric Movements
The range can be reduced and the measurement can be affected by atmospheric movements. Noise (for instance, industrial noise) can affect working and this can sometimes result in detection errors.
2. Displacement
The sensor’s movement can affect the measurement collection process. To ensure that measurement is collected precisely, displacement has to be taken into account.
3. Slow Reaction
These devices react relatively slowly when compared to optical sensing technologies that work almost like ultrasonic technology.
Factors to Consider Before You Choose Ultrasonic Sensors
Below are 3 important things that you need to consider before you choose ultrasonic sensors:
1. Mode
Electrostatic ultrasonic sensors come in different modes. If the best results are to be achieved, the mode you choose should be based on your needs.
We have 3 types of modes namely, thru-beam, diffuse, and retro-reflective detection modes. Choosing the ideal mode can be a bit of a challenge if you aren’t properly informed about them.
i. Retro-Reflective
Retro-reflective modes make it possible to skip radio waves off a very durable reflector; the reflector can be likened to a floor or wall.
ii. Diffuse
Here, the transducer sends heartbeats and the reverberation is used to determine the existence and then the distance of the item. However, not all sensors can use this mode; for example, inductive sensors can’t be used for it. Photoelectric sensors also cannot perform too well in diffuse mode.
iii. Thru-Beam
Thru-beam mode is divided into two parts; the emitter and receiver. Thru-beam modes are used in several ways, the most common, however, are double sheet and splice detection which is used for printing.
2. Measurement Range
Ultrasonic sensors can come in several dimensions. Again, the size chosen should be based on what it is needed for. The size of these devices can come in ranges from small to medium, down to big. For example, there’s a device that can measure from 10-10,000 mm. When converted to feet, this is about 33 feet.
The transducer’s size often influences operating ranges. If the transducer is bigger, then your operating range typically will be more extensive as well. This is why the measurement range you choose should be based on how it will be applied.
3. Output Type
Output is of two types when it comes to ultrasonic sensors. The output may either be analog or switch point. The analog output voltage signal usually changes based on the projected length. The categories switch point output are NPN, PNP, and relay contact. Visit https://www.proface.com/ to learn more about the differences between PNP and NPN.
Conclusion
Electrostatic ultrasonic sensors can be used to detect an item’s presence without there being any form of physical contact. This is one of the many advantages of this type of device. But as it is with everything, they also have some disadvantages. However, despite these pros and cons, you will get the best results if the right device is selected for the job. To choose the right device, you simply need to consider your needs as it relates to the factors which have been discussed in this article.