DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name of the staff :Sri N.Khaja meeran
Designation :Lecturer
Branch :AEIE
Institute :S.G.P.R Govt polytechnic,Kurnool
Year/Semester :III Semester
Subject :Process Instrumentation-I
Subject code :AEI-305
Topic :Displacement and position measurement
Sub-Topic :capacitive proximity sensor
Duration :50 min
Teaching Aids :PPT, Animations, Photographs.

AEI 305. 20 1
 Objectives

Upon the completion of this topic you will be able

to know about

• Principle and operation of capacitive proximity sensor

AEI 305. 20 2
 Principle

• The principle of operation of capacitive proximity sensor is

based upon the equation of parallel plate capacitor.

• The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is given by
A
C=
d

Where,
A = over lapping area
d = distance between plates
ε = dielectric constant
AEI 305. 20 3
Fig.1

AEI 305. 20 4
 Principle…

• The capacitance of a capacitor changes in two ways.

• Changing the distance between the two plates.

• Changing the overlapping area of the two plates.

AEI 305. 20 5
1.Changing the displacement between two plates

Fig 2
AEI 305. 20 6
 Operation

This consists of a fixed plate and movable plate .

• The displacement to be measured is applied to the arm

which is connected to the movable plate.

• Due to movement of the arm the distance between the

plates changes and accordingly the capacitance
changes.

AEI 305. 20 7
 •This capacitance is inversely proportional to the
distance between the plates.

1
C
d
•This capacitance can be converted into electrical
signal by an a.c bridge circuit.

AEI 305. 20 8
The response of this Transducer is non-linear.

Fig 3

AEI 305. 20 9
2.Changing the overlapping area of the Plates

Fig 3
AEI 305. 20 10
 Operation
This consists of two plates a fixed and movable plate.

• As displacement changes the overlapping area of the

plates changes

• Accordingly the capacitance also changes .

• The capacitance change is proportional to the

overlapping area of the plates.

AEI 305. 20 11
• The capacitance can be converted into output voltage
by a ac bridge circuit.

• The output voltage eo is proportional to the overlapping

area A of the plates.

i.e. e0  A

AEI 305. 20 12
The response of this Transducer is linear.

Fig 5

AEI 305. 20 13
 Summary

We have discussed about

• The principle and operation of capacitive

proximity sensor.

AEI 305. 20 14
 Quiz

1.Capacitive proximity sensor is a

(a) Flow sensor

(c) Temperature sensor

(e) Displacement sensor

(g) None of the above

AEI 305. 20 15
2. Capacitive proximity sensor is used to
measure

(a) Displacement

(c) Pressure

(e) Temperature

(g) force

AEI 305. 20 16
 Frequently Asked Questions

1.Describe the principle of capacitive proximity sensor.

2. Explain the operation of capacitive proximity sensor

with neat diagram.

AEI 305. 20 17