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    Test LVDT

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    napoleon_velasc3617
    This paper presents a novel digital signal processing technique for conditioning signals from Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDTs). The technique uses a modified Costas receiver in a DSP implementation. Static testing shows the DSP technique achieves better linearity than existing analog and DSP solutions over the full stroke range of 4-wire and 5-wire LVDTs. Dynamic testing also demonstrates the DSP technique has better noise rejection than commercially available analog solutions. The DSP-based LVDT signal conditioner requires no manual tuning and provides improved performance compared to other solutions.

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    Test LVDT

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    napoleon_velasc3617
    188 views4 pages
    This paper presents a novel digital signal processing technique for conditioning signals from Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDTs). The technique uses a modified Costas receiver in a DSP implementation. Static testing shows the DSP technique achieves better linearity than existing analog and DSP solutions over the full stroke range of 4-wire and 5-wire LVDTs. Dynamic testing also demonstrates the DSP technique has better noise rejection than commercially available analog solutions. The DSP-based LVDT signal conditioner requires no manual tuning and provides improved performance compared to other solutions.

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    Test LVDT

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    This paper presents a novel digital signal processing technique for conditioning signals from Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDTs). The technique uses a modified Costas receiver in a DSP implementation. Static testing shows the DSP technique achieves better linearity than existing analog and DSP solutions over the full stroke range of 4-wire and 5-wire LVDTs. Dynamic testing also demonstrates the DSP technique has better noise rejection than commercially available analog solutions. The DSP-based LVDT signal conditioner requires no manual tuning and provides improved performance compared to other solutions.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    188 views4 pages

    Test LVDT

    Uploaded by

    napoleon_velasc3617
    This paper presents a novel digital signal processing technique for conditioning signals from Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDTs). The technique uses a modified Costas receiver in a DSP implementation. Static testing shows the DSP technique achieves better linearity than existing analog and DSP solutions over the full stroke range of 4-wire and 5-wire LVDTs. Dynamic testing also demonstrates the DSP technique has better noise rejection than commercially available analog solutions. The DSP-based LVDT signal conditioner requires no manual tuning and provides improved performance compared to other solutions.

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    Test and Comparison of LVDT Signal Conditioner Performance

    Robert S. Weissbach, David R. Loker aild Ralph M. Ford


    School of Engineering and Engineering Technology
    The Pennsylvania State University at Erie

    Abstract There are many excellent resources available on


    LVDT signal conditioning [ 1-61. The only available
    This paper presents the results of a novel digital signal commercial solutions found are the Analog Devices
    processor (DSP) based technique for signal AD598 and AD698 integrated circuits (ICs) [7,8]. The
    conditioning of Linear Variable Dgferential differences in operation and application of these ICs are
    Transformers (L VDTs). Signal conditioning is documented in the work by Novacek [9].
    achieved through a modified DSP-based Costas A recent work reported a real-time digital signal
    receiver. This system is tested and compared with two processing (DSP) method of LVDT signal conditioning
    commercially available analog signal conditioners and that achievcs better linearity than the AD598 [lo]. This
    a second DSP-based signal conditioner. The system system excites the LVDT with a sine wave, and digitizes
    developed by the authors has better dynamic response both primaiy and secondary signals. Spectral estimation
    than existing solutions and better noise rejection than (SE) techniques are utilized to estimate the magnitude of
    commercially available solutions. Static testing of the the two digitized signals, and the position is computed
    system using both 4-wire and 5-wire LVDTs verifies from a ratio of the magnitudes. However, SE techniques
    that the conditioner meets or exceeds the linearity require analyzing the data over many samples (1024 in
    performance of existing signal conditioning systems the work presented) and is analogous to averaging to find
    over the full-scale operating range. In addition, this the sine wave magnitudes. This restricts the use of this
    system requires no phase compensation network or technique to static measurement problems (i.e.. where the
    manual tuning. LVDT core is stationary).
    The aut nors in [ 111 have investigated an alternative
    DSP soluticm that would allow dynamic, as well as static,
    1. Background measureme nts, by considering the signals involved in the
    operation of the LVDT to be analogous to a Double
    The LVDT is a well-established displacement Sideband Suppressed Carrier AM (DSBSC-AM)
    transducer that allows accurate measurement of communication system. A modified Costas receiver
    (similar to it phased-lock loop) is used to generate a local,
    position. It consists of a transformer with a single
    primary winding, two balanced secondary windings in-phase copy of the carrier signal. This local copy of the
    carrier is multiplied by the modulated signal seen at the
    (series opposed), and a moveable core (see Figure 1).
    The primary winding is excited by a sine wave, LVDT secondary windings and the result is lowpass
    typically between 2kHz and 1OkHz. Two general styles filtered to obtain the baseband signal, which is akin to the
    of LVDT available today are the 4-wire and 5-wire position inf"nation.
    LVDT. The difference between the 4-wire and 5-wire
    LVDT is that the 5-wire design includes an additional
    wire which represents the connection point (center tap)
    for both secondary windings, allowing the voltage at
    both windings to be computed relative to the center tap.
    The signal at the output terminals of a 4-wire LVDT is
    the difference of the secondary windings. The 4-wire
    LVDT does not have a center tap available. As the
    magnetically permeable core is moved from the center
    position, the magnetic coupling between the primary
    and one secondary coil increases, while the other
    simultaneously decreases. Therefore, the difference Figure 1. LVDT Schematic Drawing.
    between the two output signals is a non-zero sine wave Courtesy http://bits.me.berkely.edu/-beam.
    with amplitude proportional to the core position.

    0 2000 IEEE
    0-7803-5890-2/00/$10.00

    1143
    Clamp
    2. Implementation and Testing
    The DSP design was implemented and tested in a Extension
    real-time test bed on a Bridgenorth BN4000 DSP
    development board with a BN3216 analog interface
    module. The system uses a Texas Instruments Gauge Blocks
    TMS320C40 DSP that provides 16 bit resolution at
    sample rates up to 100kHz. As shown in Figure 2, the
    development board has 2 A/D input channels and 2 D/A Figure 3. Static test fixture.
    output channels. A primary excitation of 2.5kHz was
    generated on the DSP and sent via a D/A channel to the Table 1. Signal conditioner design specifications.
    LVDT. Both the LVDT primary and secondary signals
    were digitized via the two A/D channels. The output
    I LVDT I Stroke I Excitation I DC 1 core 1
    voltage (the demodulated position signal) was routed to
    the D/A and made available as an analog signal.

    3. Test Results Model


    #A5451
    3.1 Static Testing

    The linearity of the new DSP technique, the AD598, #200-HR


    the AD698, and the SE-based DSP [lo] signal
    conditioners was measured and compared. A static test
    fixture (see Figure 3) was built to accomplish this, and of sample frequency to excitation frequency necessary for
    measurements were made utilizing both a Collins 4- proper operation of the spectral estimation algorithm
    wire and Schaevitz 5-wire LVDT. The LVDTs have an employed.
    average deviation from linearity of 0.1% and 0.15%, For each set of measurements a linear least squares fit
    respectively, over the full scale operating range [ 12,131. was calculated from the data points. The measured data
    The conditioners were each designed to meet the set of was then compared to the linear fit and the maximum and
    specifications shown in Table 1. The DSP receiver was average deviation from linearity computed. The results
    designed as outlined in [ l l ] , and the Analog Devices are summarized in Table 2. The experiments were
    solutions were designed following the procedures repeated twice to ensure repeatability of results.
    outlined in [7,8]. The SE-based DSP algorithm [lo] Table 2(a) indicates the Costas-based DSP signal
    was implemented (real-time on the BN4000 system) conditioner provides a linear response over the entire
    following the procedure outlined by the authors. The stroke length which is slightly less than that obtained by
    only differences are that a 2.5kHz excitation and SokHz both the AD698 signal conditioner and SE-based DSP
    sample rate were used. This maintains the proper ratio algorithm. However, all of the methods employed
    achieved a linearity which is within the linearity
    specification of the 4-wire LVDT itself. For the 5-wire
    LVDT results provided in Table 2(b), the Costas-based
    DSP signal conditioner again achieved the same linearity
    as the AD698 signal conditioner, and achieved better
    linearity than either the AD598 or SE-based signal
    conditioners. The linearity of the Costas-based DSP
    l l I- I I signal conditioner exceeded the linearity specification of
    i the 5-wire LVDT itself by 0.02%.

    3.2 Dynamic Testing

    The signal conditioners were dynamically tested by


    LVIYI' simulating sinusoidal core motion that varied from 1 to
    250Hz. A DSBSC-AM waveform was fed directly to the
    Figure 2. Real-time DSP Implementation input of the signal conditioners. This method was
    selected due to the lack of an appropriate mechanical

    1144
    signal measured. Based on these two measures, a figure
    AD598 AD698 DSPSE DSP of merit,
    Costas
    Max N/A 0.16% 0.18% 0.2% F= ~ ~ ' I o ~ ~ ~ ( S N & , / S dB,
    NR~,,) (1)
    Linearity
    Deviation was computed. The results are shown in Table 3 and
    Average N/A 0.05% 0.06% 0.07% indicate that the SE-based algorithm has the best noise
    Linearity performance. This is because the SE algorithm averages
    Deviation many samples (1024) to determine the output. This is
    also the reason why the SE algorithm cannot be used for
    dynamic measurements. The AD598 and AD698 signal
    AD598 AD698 DSPSE DSP conditioners improved the SNR by 16.5dB, and the
    Costas Costas-based DSP signal conditioner had an SNR
    Max 0.64% 0.37% 0.79% 0.37% improvement of 18.5dB. This represents a 28% increase
    Linearity in absolute (not dB) output SNR relative to the Analog
    Deviation
    Devices designs.
    Linearity
    4. Conclusions

    vibration system suitable for varying the frequency over Testing and comparison of the new DSP-based LVDT
    the range of interest. However, the electrical signals signal conditioning system with other analog and digital
    seen by the signal conditioner are identical in each case. signal conditioners has been performed. Test results
    The DSP SE-based algorithm does not work for indicate that the new DSP-based LVDT signal
    dynamic systems and was not tested. As seen in Figure conditioning system has:
    4, the dynamic responses for the AD598 and AD698 Better linearity than the AD598 and SE-based signal
    show that the maximum attenuation at 250Hz is nearly conditioners, and matches the linearity of the AD698
    6dB. This matches the expected response given by the signal conditioner.
    manufacturer. However, the dynamic response using Better frequency response over the entire dynamic
    the DSP-based algorithm does not experience any range (0 - 250 Hz) than the other signal conditioners.
    significant attenuation for frequencies below 150 Hz. Better electrical noise characteristics than either the
    The maximum attenuation at 250Hz is 1.56dB. AD598 or AD698 signal conditioners.
    In addition, this system is advantageous because:
    3.3 Noise Testing It proctsses both 4-wire and 5-wire LVDTs.
    Phase correction is automatically achieved.
    The objective was to determine the performance of
    each signal conditioner in the presence of noise. To
    accomplish this, noise was added to the secondary
    output signal of the LVDT, as seen in Figure 5. To
    quantify the noise performance, varying noise amounts
    were added to a fixed power secondary signal to
    produce a range of input signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)
    levels. Then, the analog output signal (representing the
    position) was digitized, and the SNR of the output

    Frequency (Hr)
    IO 100 1000 Figure 5. Experimental noise testing setup.

    Table 3 . LVDT static noise rejection test results for 5-

    F(dB) F(dB) F(dB)


    AD598 AD698 SE-Based DSP
    16.3 19.8 18.7
    Figure 4. Dynamic (frequency) response of signal
    conditioning systems.

    1145
    5 . Acknowledgements [5] F. Yassa and S. Garverick, A Multichannel Digital
    Demodulator for LVDT/RVDT Position Sensors, IEEE
    Journal of Solid-state Circuits, Vol. 25, No. 2 pp. 441 -
    The authors would like to thank Mr. Allen Platz of 450, April 1990.
    Lord Coporation for sponsoring this project* We [6] E. E. Herceg, An LVDT Primer, Sensors, Volume 13,
    would also like to thank Brian Swahn, an electrical and Issue 6, pp. 27 - 30, June 1996.
    computer engineering student at Penn State Erie, for his [7] Analog Devices, LVDT Signal Conditioner, AD598
    valuable help with the experimental testing. Application Note, 1989.
    [SI Analog Devices, Universal LVDT Signal Conditioner,
    6. References AD698 Application Note, 1995.
    [9] G. Novacek, Accurate Linear Measurement Using
    LVDTs, Circuit Cellar Ink, Issue #106, pp. 20 - 27, May
    P. T. Ormiston, Measuring Displacement with LVDT 1999.
    Transducers, Electronic Engineering, Volume 50, Issue [lo] D. Crescini, A. Flammini, D. Marioli and A. Taroni,
    608, pp. 69-71, June 1978. Application of an FFT-Based Algorithm to Signal
    N. Gray, Simplifying LVDT Signal Conditioning, Processing of LVDT Position Sensors, IEEE Transactions
    Machine Design, pp. 103 - 106, May 7, 1987. on Instrumentation and Measurement, Vol. 47, No. 5, pp.
    S. Saxena and S. Seksena, A Self-compensated Smart 1119 - 1123, October 1998.
    LVDT Transducer, IEEE Transactions on [l 11 S. Haykin, Communication Systems, Td edition, Wiley,
    Instrumentation and Measurement, Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 1983.
    748 - 753, June 1989. [121 Collins 4-Wire Specification Sheet, Model #A5451.
    J. Sylvan, Monolithic Signal Conditioner Simplifies [131 Schaevitz 5-Wire Specification Sheet, Model #2000-HR.
    Displacement Sensing, Electronic Engineering, Volume
    62, Issue 759, pp. 41 - 46, March 1990.

    1146

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