Understanding Position Sensors

As the definitive resource on position sensing technology, Understanding Position Sensors encompasses all aspects necessary for a full understanding of the field, with topics of background, operational theory, design, and application.

While grasping the theory of technologies used in the measurement of linear and angular/rotary position sensors, the reader will also learn about terminology, interfacing, testing, and other valuable concepts that are useful in the understanding of sensors in general.

The first three chapters provide readers with the necessary background information on sensors. These chapters review the working definitions and conventions used in sensing technology; specification of position sensors and the effect on performance; and sensor output types, plus an extensive section covering communication protocols. The remaining chapters describe each separate sensor technology in detail. These include resistive sensors, cable extension transducers, capacitive sensors, inductive sensors, LVDT and RVDT sensors, distributed impedance sensors, Hall effect sensors, magnetoresistive sensors, magnetostrictive sensors, linear and rotary encoders, optical triangulation position sensors, and ultrasonic position sensors.

• Presents sensor specification, theory of operation, sensor design, and application criteria
• Reviews the background history of position sensors as well as the underlying engineering techniques
• Includes end-of-chapter exercises

Understanding Position Sensors is written for electrical, mechanical, and material engineers, as well as for engineering students who are interested in understanding sensor technologies, and can be used as a textbook for an engineering course on sensor technology.

David S. Nyce, a scientist, engineer, and inventor, has developed sensors of many types for over 40 years. He has worked as an electronics, mechanical, and chemical engineer as well as technical manager, operations manager, technical consultant, and business owner. His duties have ranged from development engineer and project engineer, to chief engineer, director of technology, general manager, vice president, and owner. He founded the Revolution Sensor Company in 2003 and has developed industrial, commercial, medical, military, aerospace, undersea, and automotive products, including an automated production line for onboard automotive sensors.

His experience comprises the design of transducers, sensors, and instrumentation for many types of measurement, including temperature sensing using a thermocouple, RTD, thermistor, or semiconductor; pressure sensing with LVDT, resistive, strain gage, and diffused semiconductor sensing elements; resistive and strain gage flow sensors; linear and angular position, velocity, and acceleration transducers and sensors with LVDT, Hall effect, inductive, capacitive, optical, magnetostrictive, and distributed impedance technologies; resistive, inductive, and force-balance acceler-ometers; liquid level sensors based on ultrasonic waves, magnetostriction, capacitive, LVDT, and distributed impedance technologies; densimeters; gas analysis using flame ionization, chemiluminescence, infra-red, paramagnetic, zirconia, and electrochemical techniques; and intrinsic safety, explosion proof, purging, and inerting safety systems.

Nyce holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, and Master of Business Administration. He is the inventor on twenty nine US patents.

He is an FAA-certificated airplane and helicopter pilot and an NRA-certified firearms instructor and has other hobbies, including competitive shooting, amateur rocketry, photography, riding Harleys, teaching science classes at local schools, teaching children to build and fly model airplanes and amateur rockets, playing beach doubles volleyball, archery, knife and axe-throwing, brewing beer, winemaking, hang gliding, hunting, fishing, boating, kayaking, and flying model aircraft.