Module-3:

SENSORS AND SIGNAL CONDITIONING

EEE 4021
LECTURE-1: Reactance Variation Sensors
CAPACITIVE SENSORS- Variable,
Differential
Course Instructor:-
Dr. K.V.Lakshmi Narayana,
Associate Professor
SELECT, VIT , Vellore.
 Outline of Lecture 1 of Module-3
 Introduction to Capacitive Sensors
Sensing Principle
Dynamic Model
Types-Variable, Differential
Advantages and disadvantages
 Applications of Capacitive Transducers
 Introduction to Capacitive Sensors
Capacitive Sensors are reactive sensors as the reactance
variations in a component or circuit are used for
measurement.
Capacitive sensors are the devices which electronically
measure the capacitance between two or more
conductors in a dielectric environment, usually air or a
liquid.
Capacitive sensors are mostly used in different
applications such as measurement of level,
displacement, pressure, fluid density, vibrations and so
on.
The change in capacitance of a capacitive sensor
due to a change in process variable is generally very
small.
Basics of Capacitance
Basics of Capacitance
 The capacitance is a
property of capacitor to
store an electric charge
when its plates are at
different potential.

 The relationship
between the charge, Q
and voltage, V is given by
Q
C
V
Sensing Principle

 A capacitor consists of
two electric conductors
separated by a dielectric
(solid, liquid, or gas) or a
vacuum.
 It operates on the
principle of a variation in
capacitance produced by
the physical quantity being
measured.
 Sensing Principle
 The capacitance can be
varied by changing either
the dielectric constant (εr),
the effective area (A), or the
distance between plates (d).

 The capacitance changes are

caused by physical variables
like force, displacement,
pressure and so on.
Types: (I)Variable Capacitor-
(a) Variable gap type capacitive sensor

A
C
d
C A
Senistivity, S   2
d d
Variable Capacitor-(b )Variable Area type capacitive sensor
Measurement of
translational
displacement

 0  r w (L  x )
C
d
 A  (WL)
C 
d d
C W
Senistivity, S  
L d
Measurement of angular displacement

 A  ( r 2 )
C 
d 2d
 ( r )
2
At ,  C 
2d
C  (r 2 )
Senistivity, S  
 2d
Different arrangements for capacitive sensors based on (a-e) a
variation of area, ( f ) plate separation, and (g, h) dielectric.
Measurement of liquid level using
dielectric type capacitive sensor
2 0 (1h1   2 ( L  h1 ))
C
r2
ln( )
r1

 r1 and r2 are the

inner and outer radii
of the cylindrical
capacitor
respectively.
 h1 is the liquid level
 II. Differential Capacitor
 A differential capacitor consists of two variable
capacitors so arranged that they undergo same change
but in opposite directions.
 A differential capacitor arrangement is used for
improving the linearity.
• Consider the variable gap differential
capacitor excited by the ac supply

A
C1 
dz
A
C2 
dz
 The advantages of differential output are:
1. A differential capacitor arrangement is used for
improving the linearity
2. The sensitivity and accuracy are increased
3. The output is less effected by the external
magnetic fields.
4. The effective variations due to temperature
changes are reduced
 Different arrangements for differential capacitive
sensors based on the variation of effective plate area
 Advantages of Capacitive Transducers
 They require extremely small forces to
operate them and hence are very useful in
small systems.
 They are extremely sensitive
 They have good frequency response
 They have high input impedance and
therefore the loading effects are minimum
 The force requirements of capacitive
transducers are very small and therefore
they require small power to operate them.
 Disadvantages of Capacitive Transducers
 The metallic parts of the capacitive transducers
must be insulated from each other and the
frames must be earthed to reduce the effects of
stray capacitances. Otherwise the capacitance
transducer generates erroneous results

 Due to edge effects, capacitive transducer

shows non-linear effects.

 The cables connected to the capacitive

transducer are the sources of loading which
results loss of sensitivity
Applications of Capacitive Transducers

 These are used for measurement of both linear and

angular displacements. As they are extremely sensitive,
they can be used for measurement of extremely small
displacements in the order of 0.1X10-6 mm.
 Used for measurement of force, pressure. The force and
pressure to be measured first converted into displacement
which causes change in capacitance
 Used for measurement of humidity in gases.
 They are commonly used in conjunction with mechanical
modifiers for measurement of volume, density, liquid
level, weight etc.
 THANK YOU ONE AND ALL

Next Lecture
on Introduction to Inductive Sensors

End of Lecture 1