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APG AGV-1000 Collision Avoidance user manual User Manual

Page 5

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Rev. A3, 10/08

AGV-1000

5

Automation Products Group, Inc.

APG...Providing tailored solutions for measurement applications

Tel: 1/888/525-7300 • Fax: 1/435/753-7490 • www.apgsensors.com • [email protected]

• Understanding Ultrasonics

Ultrasonic sensors measure distance

using a transducer to send out ultrasonic
bursts. Each burst contains a series of 1-20
pulsed sound waves that emit in the shape
of a cone, reflect off the target, and are
received by the sensor. The time required
for the sound burst to travel to and from
the target is converted into a distance
measurement by the sensor.

Ultrasonic sensing is affected by several

factors including the target surface,
distance, size, and angle. The following
considerations will help ensure the best
possible target conditions.

Surface

The ideal target surface is hard and smooth and perpendicular to the face of

the transducer. This surface will reflect a greater amount of signal than a soft,
sound wave absorbent surface. A target with poor sound wave reflection
characteristics will reduce the operating distance of the sensor and decrease its
accuracy.

detection

area

beam spread

low sensitivity

and

pulses

high sensitivity

and

pulses