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Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 3, Issue 4, April 2013)
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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 3, Issue 4, April 2013)
The normal frequency range for hearing of humans is
roughly around 20 to 20,000 hertz. Ultrasonic sound waves
are the sound waves that are above the range of human
hearing capability and, so have a frequency above 20,000
hertz. Any frequency which is above 20,000 hertz may be
considered as ultrasonic. Most of the industrial processes,
including almost all the sources of friction, create some
ultrasonic noise. The ultrasonic transducer produces
ultrasonic signals. These signals propagate through a
sensing medium and the same transducer can be used to Fig.2.2 typical view of sensor
detect the returning signals. Ultrasonic sensors usually have
a piezoelectric ceramic transducer that converts an Ultrasonic transducers operate to radiate ultrasonic
excitation electrical signal into ultrasonic energy bursts. waves through a medium such as air. Transducers generally
These energy bursts travel from the ultrasonic sensor, create ultrasonic vibrations with the use of piezoelectric
bounce off objects, and are returned towards the sensor as materials such as certain forms of crystal or ceramic
echoes. Transducers are the devices that convert electrical polymers.
energy to mechanical energy, or vice versa. The transducer
converts the received echoes into analog electrical signals IV. MEASUREMENT PRINCIPLE AND EFFECTIVE USE OF
that are outputs from the transducer. ULTRASONIC SENSOR
The piezoelectric effect refers to the voltage produced
between surfaces of a solid dielectric (no conducting
substance) when some mechanical stress is applied to it. On
the other hand when a voltage is applied across certain
surfaces of a solid that exhibits the piezoelectric effect, the
solid undergoes a mechanical distortion. Such type of
solids typically resonates within narrow frequency ranges.
Piezoelectric materials are generally used in transducers.
Fig.3.1 Operation of sensor
For example, they are used in phonograph cartridges, strain
gauges, and microphones that produce an electrical output Ultrasonic sensor transmits ultrasonic waves from its
from a mechanical input. Also, they are used in earphones sensor head and again receives the ultrasonic waves
and ultrasonic transmitters that produce a mechanical reflected from an obstacle. By measuring the length of time
output from an electrical input. from the transmission to reception of the ultrasonic wave, it
detects the distance and hence the position of the object.
Ultrasonic signals are like audible sound waves, except
that the frequencies are much higher than them. Our
ultrasonic transducers have piezoelectric crystals which
resonate to a desired frequency and convert electric energy
into acoustic energy and vice versa. The below illustration
shows how sound waves, transmitted in a conical shape, are
reflected from a target back to the transducer. Accordingly,
an output signal is produced to perform some kind of
indicating or control function. A certain minimum distance
from the sensor is required to provide a time delay so that
Fig: 2.1.Ultrasonic sensor the "echoes" can be interpreted. Some variables which can
affect the operation of ultrasonic sensing include, target
surface angle, reflective surface roughness or changes in
temperature or humidity. Targets can have any kind of
reflective form. Even round objects can be targets.
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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 3, Issue 4, April 2013)
10. After this, wait till pulse is high and as soon as that
becomes low copy the timer value and stop the timer.
11. Finally we have the time required for the wave to go hit
the obstacle and come back to the module.
12. If the pulse width obtained is in microseconds, the
distance of the obstacle from the vehicle can be
Calculated by the following formula:
Distance in cm = Pulse width/58
Distance in inches = Pulse width/148
Fig.3.2 Timing diagram 13. After calculating the distance of the obstacle we will
define variable speeds according to the distance of
V. METHODOLOGY approach of the obstacle and store them in three flags.
0 1 (1)
Fig.5.4Ultrasonic transmitter
d) Ultrasonic Receiver
Fig.5.2 Measurements made with the sensor placed in a car moving in If the ultrasonic wave detects the obstacle, it will
front of a parked vehicle produce a reflected wave. An ultrasonic receiver is used for
receiving the ultrasonic waves reflected from the road
a) Target Angle
surface to generate a received signal. There is an ultrasonic
This term refers to the "tilt response" limitations of a transducer which will transform back the sound wave to
particular sensor. Since ultrasonic sound waves reflect from electrical energy. This signal is amplified by an amplifier.
the surface target object, the obtained target angles indicate The amplified signal is compared with a reference signal to
acceptable amounts of tilt for a given sensor. detect components in the amplified signal due to obstacles
b) Beam Spread on the road surface. The magnitude of the reference signal
or the amplification factor of the amplifier is controlled to
This term is defined as the area in which a round wand
maintain a constant ratio between the averages of the
will be sensed if passed through the target area. This shows
reference signal.
the maximum spread of the ultrasonic sound waves as they
leaves the transducer.
c) Ultrasonic Transmitter
Before transmitting the ultrasonic waves, there is an
ultrasonic wave generator which generates an ultrasonic
wave. In that part, there is timing instruction which
generates an instruction signal for intermittently providing
ultrasonic waves. This signal will be sent to an ultrasonic
wave generator for generating ultrasonic waves based on
the instruction signal from the timing instruction (transform
electrical energy into sound wave). After the ultrasonic
wave is produced, the ultrasonic transmitter transmits the Fig.5.6 Transmit/Receive Waveform
ultrasonic waves towards a road surface to detect the
obstacle. The range in which the obstacle detected is
depends on the range of ultrasonic sensors used.
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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 3, Issue 4, April 2013)
VII. EXPERIMENTAL DISTANCE MEASUREMENT CIRCUIT
Fig 5.7 Receive circuit output voltage and comparable voltage wave
form
Fig 5.9 Wave forms of transmitted and received waves Fig. 6.2 Experimental connection for speed control for a vehicle
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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 3, Issue 4, April 2013)
Different sensors are installed in the vehicle to check Since the control system does not use the absolute speed
different automotive applications. In this case, we have to calculate the safety distance as done by the currently
only used the sensors to obtain the vehicles positioning in existing systems, the interaction with automotive
order to compare it with the distance obtained via the electronics is limited to actions on the accelerator and
ultrasonic sensor. Here we used ultrasonic sensor to brake. This matter, coupled with the fact of lower cost of
measure the distance of the obstacle and it is displayed on ultrasonic sensors compared with other kinds of sensors,
the screen. According to that distance we can perform could facilitate the application and mounting of the system
PWM. in many low-end vehicles, helping to improve comfort and
safety and offer a hassle free driving experience at a
VIII. CONCLUSIONS reduced cost.
In the present work, a prototype of an ultrasonic distance REFERENCES
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