Proximity Sensors

Proximity sensors, also known as proximity switches or distance sensors, are sensors used to detect the movement and position of objects without contact. Compared with traditional contact sensors such as limit switches and stroke switches, proximity sensors do not require direct contact with the detection object, without any wear and damage, and the working frequency is not limited by mechanical mechanisms, so proximity sensors have the advantages of long service life, short response speed, high working frequency, high environmental adaptability and wide application range. In the field of industrial control, with the increasing demand for work efficiency, proximity sensors have gradually replaced the position of contact sensors.

According to the working principle, proximity sensors can be divided into the inductive type proximity sensors, the capacitive type proximity sensors, the hall type proximity sensors, the magnetic type proximity sensors (or the magnetic switches), and the analog type proximity sensors. Due to the mature technology of inductive proximity sensors and capacitive proximity sensors, they have a wide range of applications. Hall-type proximity sensors are often used for the counting of objects. Magnetic proximity sensors are often used for cylinder positioning. Due to the immaturity of analog proximity sensors, their application range is very limited.

According to the installation requirements, proximity sensors can be divided into unshielded proximity sensors and shielded proximity sensors. The sensing head of the unshielded proximity sensor needs to maintain a certain gap with the nearby metal, but its sensing distance is relatively far. The sensing head of the shielded proximity sensor can be mounted in metal, but its sensing distance is relatively close. The magnetic switch does not have any installation restrictions, as long as the surrounding material is not magnetized.

According to the shape, proximity sensors can be divided into the cylindrical shape, the square shape, the round shape, and the slot shape.

According to the output form, proximity sensors can be divided into NPN type (two-wire), NPN type (three-wire), NPN type (four-wire), PNP type (two-wire), PNP type (three-wire), PNP type (four-wire), AC type (two-wire) and AC type (five-wire).

According to the output state, proximity sensors can be divided into normally open (NO) and normally closed (NC).

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