Proximity Sensor Terminology Company

Information

Systems
Overview

Programmable
Controllers
Never use this catalog for installation or Break function (N.C., Installation notes
operation of equipment. Refer to manual
for installation and operation instruc-
normally closed) Select a sensor compatible with the oper- Field I/O

tions.
The following descriptions refer to the
European standard EN 60947-5-2. of
A break function causes load current to
flow only when a target is not detected.
Degree of protection
ating environment: verify the compatibility
between building materials, the presence Software
of chemicals, temperature range, protec-
C-more &
tion degree, vibrations, shocks, EMC,
supply voltage available, load type, etc.
other HMI

September 95. If not otherwise specified, proximity Select the sensor by referring to the size Drives

The specifications given here are switches (when installed in accordance and type of material to be detected. Soft
intended to be minimum performance with manufacturer’s instructions) have Check the minimum distances between
Starters

values described by the standard. minimum IP65 protection against dust sensor and damping materials or another Motors &
and water jets. Gearbox
sensor.
Alignment Steppers/

Proximity switches must not be mutually

influenced. For this reason, a minimum
distance between them (referred to as
alignment) must be provided.
Differential travel (H) Check that the number of operations Servos
does not exceed the maximum switching
The differential travel is given frequency. If the phase of the output Motor
Controls
as a percentage of the effective operating signal is important, check the turn on and
distance (Sr) and is the maximum differ- turn off time. Proximity
ence between the switching distances. Sensors
The differential is intentionally introduced Metallic chips or dust must not accumu-
to guarantee the stability of the output late on the sensing face. The distance Photo
Sensors
state in case the target is positioned near between the sensor and the object to
the switching points. detect must not exceed the assured oper- Limit
Switches
ating distance Sa; the best operating
distance is Sn/2.
Electrical Check the effect of vibrations.
Encoders

connections Install the sensor using the installation

Current
Sensors
Keep sensor cables and power cables accessories and do not exceed the
Pressure
separated to avoid electrical interference. maximum tightening torque. Sensors
Non- The power supply voltage must not
Embeddable Embeddable
Size D A exceed the specified limits UB.
Temperature
A (mm) Sensors
(mm)
If a non-stabilized supply voltage is used
Pushbuttons/
Ø3 0 -- for DC sensors, the maximum voltage Lights
M4 0 -- peak under minimum power consump-
Process
tion conditions and minimum voltage
Ø4 0 --
peak under maximum power consump- Relays/
M5 0 -- tion must not exceed UB limits. Timers

5X5 0 --
Comm.
M8 2 / 3* 8
Terminal
8X8 2 / 3* -- Blocks &
Wiring
M12 6 / 10* 12
Power
M18 12 / 20* 30
M30 30 60 Circuit
Protection
*Extended distance models
Enclosures

Tools

If the power supply of the sensor is also Pneumatics

used to switch inductive loads, a suppres- Appendix

sion device must be provided. A fuse to
protect the power supply line is also Product
Index
recommended.
Part #
Index

Volume 13
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 Proximity Sensor Terminology

Leakage current Material Influence: Table 3 Off-state (leakage)

The leakage current is the current which
Target Material Operating current (Ir)
passes through the output transistor Distance
This is the current that flows through the
when it is blocked (this must be taken into Steel Type FE 360 S(n) x 1.00 load circuit of the proximity switch in the
account, especially in the case of parallel Brass S(n) x 1.00 OFF state at the maximum supply
connection of several switches). voltage.
Aluminum S(n) x 1.30
Copper S(n) x 0.89
LED status indicators Open collector
SS (1mm thick) S(n) x 0.57
Proximity switches may incorporate one The output transistor is not internally
SS (2mm thick) S(n) x 0.90
or more color indicators. The meaning connected to a pull-up or pull-down load.
of the colors are: It is therefore possible to connect an
CONTINUOUS GREEN: Power ON
external load supplied by an external
CONTINUOUS YELLOW: Output ON Mounting voltage.
CONTINUOUS RED: Fault Shielded (embeddable) proximity switches
(on AC models, RED = output ON
These proximity switches may be flush Operating distance
mounted regardless of the metal being (sensing range) (S)
Make function (N.O., used. For reliable operation, it is neces-
normally open) sary to observe the minimum distances The operating distance is the distance at
from adjacent metal targets. which a standard target approaching the
A make function causes load current to active face of the sensor causes a sensor
flow only when a target is detected. output state change.

Material influence Output type and load

The nominal sensing distance S(n) is connections –3-wire
defined using precisely defined
measuring conditions (See Operating NPN
Distance.) Other conditions may result in There are two power wires and one
a reduction of the operating distance. output wire. The switching element is
The tables in the next column show the connected between the output wire and
influence different target materials have the negative terminal, and the load is
on the operating distances of the connected between the output wire and
sensors. the positive terminal. In the ON state, the
Sn = Nominal sensing distance current sinks from the load into the
Material Influence: Table 1 (see Rated operating distance)
switching element.
Target Material Operating Unshielded (non-embeddable)
Distance
Steel Type FE 360 S(n) x 1.00
proximity switches Output type and load
When mounting non-embeddable connections –3-wire
Brass S(n) x 0.64
mounting proximity switches in
Aluminum S(n) x 0.55 conducting materials (metals), it is neces- PNP
Copper S(n) x 0.51 sary to observe the minimum distances There are two power wires and one
from adjacent metal targets. Flush output wire. The switching element is
Stainless Steel (V2A) S(n) x 0.85
mounting in non-conducting materials is connected between the output wire and
permitted. the positive terminal, and the load is
Material Influence: Table 2
connected between the output wire and
Target Material Operating
Distance the negative terminal. In the ON state,
the current flows from the switching
Steel Type FE 360 S(n) x 1.00
element into the load.
Brass S(n) x 0.44
Aluminum S(n) x 0.36
Overvoltage
Copper S(n) x 0.32
protection
Stainless Steel (V2A) S(n) x 0.69
No damage will occur in the presence of
surge pulses exceeding UB and energy
less than 0.5J.

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 Proximity Sensor Terminology Company
Information

Systems
Overview

Polarity reversing Repeat accuracy (R) Switching frequency (f) Programmable

Controllers

protection The repeat accuracy of the Switching frequency is the maximum

No damage will occur to proximity effective operating distance (Sr) is output switching frequency performed by Field I/O

switches if the supply wires are reversed.
Protection against
inductive loads
Unless otherwise specified, DC sensors
are protected against inductive over-
voltage by use of a surge diode or a zener
diode.
Unshielded proximity
switches
The sensor housing does not cover the
measured over an eight hour period at an the output circuit when standard targets
Software
ambient temperature of 73°F (±9°) [23°C cross the sensing field at a distance of
(± 5°)] at a specified humidity and with a Sn/2. The targets are spaced 2d.
specified supply voltage. The difference • For DC sensors, the minimum output
C-more &
other HMI
pulse width must not fall below 50 µS.
between the measurements shall not
Drives
exceed the specified value, or if not spec- • For AC sensors, the minimum output
ified, 10% of Sr. pulse must not fall below half a sine peri-
od Soft
Starters
(ie. for 60 Hz, 1/60÷2 = 8.33 ms.)
Ripple Motors &
Gearbox
This is given as a percentage of the mean Temperature range
supply voltage. It is the maximum peak-to- Unless otherwise specified, the minimum
Steppers/
Servos
peak value of the admitted ripple voltage.
A ripple voltage of <10% Ue is desirable.
temperature range is –13 to +158°F (-25
Motor
to +70°C). Controls

side of the sensing head. This type of Shocks Proximity

sensor has a higher sensing range than Turn-on time Sensors

the shielded type. In accordance with IEC 68-2-27

Turn-on time is the elapsed time from Photo
Pulse shape: half-sine when the target enters the sensing range Sensors

Rated insulation voltage Peak acceleration: 30g until the output switches. Limit
(Ui) Pulse duration: 11 ms Switches

Unless specified differently, all of the Turn-off time Encoders

sensors with a supply voltage of up to 50 Shielded proximity Turn-off time is the elapsed time from Current
VAC and 75 VDC are tested at 500 VAC. switches when the target is removed until the Sensors

Sensors with a supply voltage up to 250 output switches.

A metal housing surrounds the coil, and Pressure
VAC are tested as follows: only the front of the active face is sensitive.
Sensors
Class 1 (with earth terminal) at 1500 VAC
The device allows flush installation on Temperature
Class 2 (with double insulation, without earth metal plates without any performance Sensors
terminal) at 3000 VAC.
change. Refer to Alignment when Pushbuttons/
installing shielded sensors side-by-side. Lights

Rated operating distance Process

—(nominal sensing Short-circuit
Relays/
distance) (Sn) protection Timers

This distance does not take into account All DC sensors have integrated short- Comm.
manufacturing tolerances (±10%) or vari- circuit protection. AC sensors should be
protected externally by such devices as Terminal
ations due to external conditions, such as Blocks &
voltages and temperatures not falling fuses. Wiring

within the rated values.

Power
Standard target
Circuit
A standard target is square, 1mm thick, Protection
and made from type FE360 carbon steel.
Enclosures
The length of the side of the square is
equal to the diameter of the sensor’s Tools
active surface, or three times the
rated operating distance (Sn), whichever is Pneumatics

greater.
Appendix

Product
Index

Part #
Index

Volume 13
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 Proximity Sensor Terminology
Voltage drop (Ud)
This is the voltage measured across the
active output of the proximity switch when
the rated operational current (Ie) flows in
the load at the rated supply voltage and
the temperature is at 73°F (±9°) [(23°C
(±5°)]. Unless specified differently, the
following values are guaranteed:
•Two-wire DC models <8 VDC
•Three-wire DC models <3.5 VDC
•Two-wire AC models <10 VDC
Vibration
In accordance with IEC 68-2-6
Frequency range: 10-55 Hz
Amplitude: 1mm
Sweep cycle duration: 5 min.
Duration of endurance at 55 Hz: 30 min.
in each of the three axis directions
4-wire NPN or PNP
(programmable output
state)
There are two power wires: one
N.O./N.C. selection input wire and one
output wire. The output state is program-
mable by connecting the input wire to
one of the power supply lines.
4-wire NPN or PNP
(complementary
outputs)
There are two power wires: one normally
open output wire and one normally
closed output wire.
4-wire NPN and PNP
There are two power wires, and the
output type is wiring programmable. An
NPN output is available by connecting
the PNP terminal to the negative power
supply line. A PNP output is available by
connecting the NPN terminal to the posi-
tive power supply line.
Time delay before
availability (tv)
The time delay before availability is the
time between the switching on of the
supply voltage and the instant at which
the sensor becomes ready to operate
correctly.
During the reset the output circuit is in
OFF-state; false signal may be present
but the duration shall not exceed 2 ms. If
not specified otherwise, the reset dura-
tion doesn’t exceed 300 ms.

Field Device Examples -

3-Wire Connections
NPN (Sinking) PNP (Sourcing)
Field Device Example Field Device Example
24VDC DC Sourcing Input Module 24VDC DC Sinking Input Module
+ – + –

+ Brn Common + Common

Brn

Output Blk Optical Blk Optical

Sensor Isolator Sensor Isolator
Input Output Input

Current Sourcing Current Sinking

Configuration Configuration
Blu Blu
– –
(NPN) Current Sinking (PNP) Current Sourcing
Field Device Field Device

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