Sensors And Actuators

Unlike other treatments of sensors or actuators, this book approaches the devices from the point of view of the fundamental coupling mechanism between the electrical and mechanical behaviour. The principles of operation of the solenoid are the same in both cases, and this book thus treats them together. It begins with a discussion of systems analysis as a tool for modelling transducers, before turning to a detailed discussion of transduction mechanisms. The whole is rounded off by an input/output analysis of transducers.

This book contains the proceedings of a conference held at the Manchester Business School on 15-16 July 1996. It covers the topics of fundamental materials studies and the design and fabrication of prototype devices, and represents a cross section of the UK activity in sensors and actuators.

An engineering system contains multiple components that interconnect to perform a specific task. Starting from basic fundamentals through to advanced applications, Sensors and Actuators: Engineering System Instrumentation, Second Edition thoroughly explains the inner workings of an engineering system. The text first provides introductory material-p

Control systems are found in a wide variety of areas, including chemical processing, aerospace, manufacturing, and automotive engineering. Beyond the controller, sensors and actuators are the most important components of the control system, and students, regardless of their chosen engineering field, need to understand the fundamentals of how these

This book introduces physical effects and fundamentals of piezoelectric sensors and actuators. It gives a comprehensive overview of piezoelectric materials such as quartz crystals and polycrystalline ceramic materials. Different modeling approaches and methods to precisely predict the behavior of piezoelectric devices are described. Furthermore, a simulation-based approach is detailed which enables the reliable characterization of sensor and actuator materials. One focus of the book lies on piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers. An optical approach is presented that allows the quantitative determination of the resulting sound fields. The book also deals with various applications of piezoelectric sensors and actuators. In particular, the studied application areas are · process measurement technology, · ultrasonic imaging, · piezoelectric positioning systems and · piezoelectric motors. The book addresses students, academic as well as industrial reseachers and development engineers who are concerned with piezoelectric sensors and actuators.

Hydrogels are a fascinating class of polymers which show an immense ability of swelling under the influence of temperature, pH value or concentrations of different species in aqueous solutions. The volume change can amount up to several hundred percent. This unique behaviour is already used in such applications like disposable diapers, contact lenses or drug-delivery systems. The ability to perform mechanical work has been shifted the technical interest more and more towards sensors and actuators exploiting the thermo-chemo-mechano-electrical coupling within hydrogels. The accuracy requirements for such devices are much more demanding than for previous applications. Therefore, a deep knowledge of both the material and the functional properties of hydrogel sensors and actuators is needed. The monograph describes state of the art and recent developments for these materials in sensor and actuator technology.

Research into and development of high-precision systems, microelectromechanical systems, distributed sensors/actuators, smart structural systems, high-precision controls, etc. have drawn much attention in recent years. These new devices and systems will bring about a new technical revolution in modern industries and impact future human life. This book presents a unique overview of these technologies such as silicon based sensors/actuators and control piezoelectric micro sensors/actuators, micro actuation and control, micro sensor applications in robot control, optical fiber sensors/systems, etc. These are four essential subjects emphasized in the book: 1. Survey of the (current) research and development; 2. Fundamental theories and tools; 3. Practical applications. 4. Outlining future research and development.

This practical text features computer-aided engineering methods for the design and application of magnetic actuators and sensors, using the latest software tools. John Brauer highlights the use of the electromagnetic finite element software package Maxwell? SV and introduces readers to applications using SPICE, MATLAB?, and Simplorer?. A free download of Maxwell? SV is available at the Ansoft site, and the software files for the examples are available at ftp://ftp.wiley.com/public/sci_tech_med/magnetic_actuators. The text is divided into four parts: * Part One, Magnetics, offers an introduction to magnetic actuators and sensors as well as basic electromagnetics, followed by an examination of the reluctance method, the finite element method, magnetic force, and other magnetic performance parameters * Part Two, Actuators, explores DC actuators, AC actuators, and magnetic actuator transient operation * Part Three, Sensors, details Hall effect and magnetoresistance as they apply to sensing position. Readers are introduced to many other types of magnetic sensors * Part Four, Systems, covers aspects of systems common to both magnetic actuators and sensors, including coil design and temperature calculations, electromagnetic compatibility, electromechanical finite elements, and electromechanical analysis using system models. The final chapter sets forth the advantages of electrohydraulic systems that incorporate magnetic actuators and/or sensors A major thrust of this book is teaching by example. In addition to solved examples provided by the author, problems at the end of each chapter help readers to confirm their understanding of new skills and techniques. References, provided in each chapter, help readers explore particular topics in greater depth. With its emphasis on problem solving and applications, this is an ideal textbook for electrical and mechanical engineers enrolled in upper-level undergraduate and graduate classes in electromechanical engineering.