Version 1

Jan 07

Ultrasonic Sensor Technical Information

CONFIDENTIAL

OMRON

Topics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

What is Ultrasonic sensor?

Omrons Range of Ultrasonic Sensors
Ultrasonic Sensor Terminologies
Application Examples
Guidelines for selection of Ultrasonic Sensor

1. What is Ultrasonic Sensor?

The ultrasonic sensor generates sound wave and measures the time of flight of this
wave from sensor to and from the object and calculates the distance to the target. A
simple teach-in setting defines the distance at which the sensor will switch.
Sensing performance is not affected by object color, surface and texture.

Sound waves

Transmitter

Receiver

object

1. What is Ultrasonic Sensor?

Dead Zone
Distance between the sensing face and the minimum sensing range.

Tone Burst

Ultrasonic sensor

Sensing zone
Dead zone

If object is too near to the sensor (within the dead zone), the tone burst
leading edge can strike the target and return in echo to the sensor
before the trailing edge left the transducer. The echo generated can
reflect off the face of the sensor and goes back to the target. This
multiple echo can cause error.

1. What is Ultrasonic Sensor?

Background suppression
Ultrasonic sensor measures the elapsed time from the sensor to the
target object and back from it. When the sensor is adjusted to sense the
object at a given distance, a timing window is established. The sensor
accepts and acknowledge the echoes received within the window. Signal
echoing from background materials will not trigger the sensor.

t= 50ms

Object

Background
Ultrasonic sensor
T= 80ms
The sensor recognizes that
the timing for the echoes is
longer than expected and will
not trigger an output.

1. What is Ultrasonic Sensor?

Factors that affect sensing distance:
Object Material
Object Size

Sensing Distance
75%

Metal

55%
Cardboard
30%
Sponge

10%

Sponge absorb most of the sound

wave, therefore the sensing distance is
the shorter.
The bigger the object, the longer is the
sensing distance.
Size of flat target

3X3

12X12

50X50

2. Omrons Range of Ultrasonic Sensors

1.

E4C-UDA - Digital Amplifier Ultrasonic Sensor

2.

E4DA - Ultrasonic Displacement Sensor

Sensing distance from 30 to 70mm
High speed response of 2ms
High resolution of 0.2mm
Enables the detection of minute object
Hold function eliminates chattering

3.

Latest

3 types of sensor heads with different sensing distance to choose from (30cm, 80cm or 100cm)
Amplifier is available in twin output and analog output models
Almost straight directional pattern

E4PA-N - Ultrasonic Displacement Sensor (long sensing distance)

Sensing distance from 50 to 6000mm

Long sensing distance suits a variety of applications
A setting plug with temperature compensation function makes setting of
measurement range easy
Equipped with new mutual interference prevention function

2. Omrons Range of Ultrasonic Sensors

4.

E4E2 - Compact Ultrasonic Sensor

5.

Sensing distance till 500mm

Ideal for detecting transparent film, transparent bottles and clear plastic
containers
Compact, vertical design with built-in amplifier allows easy mounting on small
conveyor lines
Sensing distance = 500mm
Equipped with stability indicator

E4B - Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor

Available in through-beam & diffuse-reflective models

Sensing distance zone setting for the ultrasonic beam (1m for through-beam & up
till 700mm for diffuse-reflective)
Stable detection of a variety of objects regardless of color, transparency, or
material (metallic/non-metallic) of objects
Narrow ultrasonic beam width of 8, enables minute object detection (as small as
20 x 20mm)
Detects objects smoothly while largely suppressing interference from background
objects

2. Omrons Range of Ultrasonic Sensors

6.

E4C - Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor

7.

Available in through-beam (500mm) & diffuse-reflective models (100 to

350mm)
Stable detection of a variety of objects regardless of color, transparency, or
material (metallic or non-metallic) of objects
Separate amplifier design allows sensor head to be compact as M18
Reflective models with limited sensing zones ensure smooth object detection
without being influenced by background objects
Incorporates a sync selector to prevent mutual interference

E4B - Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor

Sensing distance zone setting for the ultrasonic beam

Stable detection of a variety of objects regardless of color, transparency, or
material (metallic/non-metallic) of objects
Narrow ultrasonic beam width of 8, enables minute object detection (as
small as 20 x 20mm)
Detects objects smoothly while largely suppressing interference from
background objects

3. Ultrasonic Sensor Terminologies

Terms

Explanation

Directional
Characteristics

The ratio of the sound output (needed to transmit

the specified sound energy to the targeted
object) of the non-directivity transmitter to the
sound output of the directivity transmitter is called
the directivity gain.
As the frequency and vibration area increase, the
directivity grows sharper and sound waves are
emitted with greater efficiency.
The directivity of a sensor unit used as an
ultrasonic switch is 8 to 30 (sound pressure
half-angle).
The directivity is also strongly affected by the
shape of the sensor horn and the vibration mode
of the transducer, and thus the sensor unit
shape, operation frequency, and transducer type
are selected to provide the desired operation
range.

F.S (Full Scale)

This indicates the range of the rated detection distance. Each model has a different
value.

Limit Zone
(Reflective Models)

Not only the maximum detection distance but also the minimum detection distance
can be adjusted, in connection with or independently of the maximum distance. This
detection range is called the limit zone (zone limit).

3. Ultrasonic Sensor Terminologies

Terms

Explanation

Linearity

When the relation between the distance and the linear output at fixed temperature
and
voltage conditions is shown as a graph, this is the percentage of the maximum error
with respect to an ideal straight line.

Multi-reflection

This occurs when ultrasonic waves that have already reflected from the detection
object once reflect from the sensor head surface, nearby walls, or the ceiling back to
the detection object, and then back to the sensor.
For e.g. in the case of double reflection, the same ultrasound waves are received as
a single reflection but at twice the distance.

Non-sensitive zone &

Uncertainty zone
(Reflective models)

The non-sensitive zone is the interval between the surface of the sensor head and
the minimum detection distance resulting from detection distance adjustment. The
uncertainty zone is the area close to the sensor head configuration and
reverberations.
Detection may occur in the uncertainty zone due to multi-reflection between the
sensor and the object.

Received Waves

Transmitted ultrasound waves that are received at the transducer, and which are
either direct or reflected from an object. Normally expressed as a converted voltage,

3. Ultrasonic Sensor Terminologies

Terms

Explanation

Reflection &
Transmission

Ultrasound waves move straight forward in a uniform medium, and are reflected and
transmitted at the boundary between differing media. This phenomenon is affected by
the type and shape of the media. A human body in air causes considerable reflection
and can be easily detected.

Side Lobe

Directivity is indicated using a graph showing the sound level as a length from the
center as the angle is shifted away from the angle of the transducer center, where the
sound level (sound strength) is a maximum. As the angle increases from the center,
the directivity decreases, and then after a certain point increases.
This is called the side lobe, and can result in stray reflection off peripheral objects
that will affect the detection characteristics.

Speed of Sound

The speed of sound "C" in air is C 331.5 + 0.61 (m/s), where is the air
temperature (C). The speed of sound changes as the air temperature changes, and
this results in temperature-based distance measurement error.

Transducer

This is a device which uses electrical energy to generate ultrasonic waves, and which
also converts ultrasonic vibrational energy

Transmitted Waves

Ultrasound waves that are emitted in the specified direction when the transducer is
connected to the oscillator. Normally expressed as a voltage applied to the
transducer, or as a sound pressure.

4. Application Examples

Detection of Transparent LCD Substrate

Detection of Thin, Clear Film

Detection of Position of Remaining

Glass Substrates in Cassettes

Detection of Transparent Tray

4. Application Examples

Detection of Tires

Control of Rubber Sheet Tension

Detection of Liquid Level

Detection of Sheet Sag

5. Guidelines for Selection of Ultrasonic Sensor

1. Sensing Method

Through-beam => E4E2, E4C, E4B-T

Reflective => E4B-LS/RS, E4C-LS, E4PA-N

2. Sensing Distance
(Longest up till 6metres => E4PA-N)
3. Directional Characteristics
(Straight directional pattern => E4C-UDA Series)
4. Built-in Amplifier / Separate Amplifier

Built-in Amplifier => E4E2, E4B, E4PA-N

Separate Amplifier => E4C, E4C-UDA

5. Output Configuration

NPN/PNP Open Collector Configuration, Terminal Selection

Current / Voltage Output

6. Response Frequency