Ultrasonic Detection

Ultrasonic detection is most commonly used in industrial applications to detect hidden tracks,
discontinuities in metals, composites, plastics, ceramics, and for water level detection. For this
purpose the laws of physics which are indicating the propagation of sound waves through solid
materials have been used since ultrasonic sensors using sound instead of light for detection.

What is the principle of Ultrasonic Detection?

Defining sound wave

Sound is a mechanical wave travelling through the mediums, which may be a solid, or liquid or
gas. Sound waves can travel through the mediums with specific velocity depends on the medium
of propagation. The sound waves which are having high frequency reflect from boundaries and
produces distinctive echo patterns.

Laws of physics for sound waves

Sound waves are having specific frequencies or number of oscillations per second. Humans can
detect sounds in a frequency range from about 20Hz to 20 KHz. However the frequency range
normally employed in ultrasonic detection is 100 KHz to 50MHz. The velocity of ultrasound at a
particular time and temperature is constant in a medium.
W = C/F (or) W = CT

Where W = Wave length

C = Velocity of sound in a medium

F = Frequency of wave

T=Time Period
The most common methods of ultrasonic examination utilize either longitudinal waves or shear
waves. The longitudinal wave is a compression wave in which the particle motion is in the same
direction of the propagation wave. The shear wave is a wave motion in which the particle motion
is perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Ultrasonic detection introduces high frequency
sound waves into a test object to obtain information about the object without altering or
damaging it in any way. Two values are measured in ultrasonic detection.

The amount of time, taking for the sound to travel through the medium and amplitude of the
received signal. Based on velocity and time thickness can be calculated.

Thickness of material = Material sound velocity X Time of Fight

Transducers for Wave Propagation and particle detection

For sending sound waves and receiving echo, ultrasonic sensors, normally called transceivers or
transducers will be used. They work on a principle similar to radar that will convert electrical
energy into mechanical energy in the form of sound, and vice versa.

The commonly used transducers are contact transducers, angle beam transducers, delay line
transducers, immersion transducers, and dual element transducers. Contact transducers are
typically used for locating voids and cracks to the outside surface of a part as well as measuring
thickness. Angle beam transducers use the principle of reflection and mode conversion to
produce refracted shear or longitudinal waves in the test material.

Delay line transducers are single element longitudinal wave transducers used in conjunction with
a replaceable delay line. One of the reasons for choosing delay line transducer is that near
surface resolution can be improved. The delay allows the element to stop vibrating before a
return signal from the reflector can be received.
The major advantages offered by immersion transducers over contact transducers are Uniform
coupling reduces sensitivity variations, Reduction in scan time, and increases sensitivity to small
reflectors.

Operation of ultrasonic sensors:

When an electrical pulse of high voltage is applied to the ultrasonic transducer it vibrates across
a specific spectrum of frequencies and generates a burst of sound waves. Whenever any obstacle
comes ahead of the ultrasonic sensor the sound waves will reflect back in the form of echo and
generates an electric pulse. It calculates the time taken between sending sound waves and
receiving echo. The echo patterns will be compared with the patterns of sound waves to
determine detected signal’s condition.

3 Applications involving Ultrasonic detection:

The distance of obstacle or discontinuities in metals is related to velocity of sound waves in a

medium through which waves are passed and the time taken for echo reception. Hence the
ultrasonic detection can be used for finding the distances between particles, for detecting the
discontinuities in metals and for indicating the liquid level.

 Ultrasonic Distance Measurement

Ultrasonic sensors are used for distance measuring applications. These gadgets regularly transmit
a short burst of ultrasonic sound to a target, which reflects the sound back to the sensor. The
system then measures the time for the echo to return to the sensor and computes the distance to
the target using the speed of sound within the medium.

Different sorts of transducers are utilized within industrially accessible ultrasonic cleaning
devices. An ultrasonic transducer is affixed to a stainless steel pan which is filled with a solvent
and a square wave is applied to it, conferring vibration energy on the liquid.
The ultrasonic distance sensors measures distance using sonar; an ultrasonic (well above human
hearing) beat is transmitted from the unit and distance-to-target is determined by measuring the
time required for the echo return. Output from the ultrasonic sensor is a variable-width beat that
compares to the distance to the target.

8 Features of Ultrasonic Distance Sensor:

1. Supply voltage: 5V (DC).

2. Supply current: 15mA.
3. Modulation frequency: 40Hz.
4. Output: 0 – 5V (Output high when obstacle detected in range).
5. Beam Angle: Max 15 degree.
6. Distance: 2cm – 400cm.
7. Accuracy: 0.3cm.
8. Communication: Positive TTL pulse.
Operation of Ultrasonic distance Sensor:

Ultrasonic sensor module comprises of one transmitter and one receiver. The transmitter can
deliver 40 KHz ultrasonic sound while the maximum receiver is designed to accept only 40 KHz
sound waves. The receiver ultrasonic sensor that is kept next to the transmitter shall thus be able
to receive reflected 40 KHz, once the module faces any obstacle in front. Thus whenever any
obstacles come ahead of the ultrasonic module it calculates the time taken from sending the
signals to receiving them since  time and distance are related for sound waves passing through air
medium at 343.2m/sec. Upon receiving the signal MC program while executed displays the data
i.e. the distance measured on a LCD interfaced to the microcontroller in cms.

Characteristically, robotics applications are very popular but you’ll also find this product to be
useful in security systems or as an infrared replacement if so desired.

HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor

Ultrasonic Sensor HC SR04

Ultrasonic Sensor HC SR04 Pin Diagram
[Click the image to enlarge it]

Ultrasonic Sensor Pin Configuration

Pin
Pin Name Description
Number
1 Vcc The Vcc pin powers the sensor, typically with +5V
Trigger pin is an Input pin. This pin has to be kept
2 Trigger high for 10us to initialize measurement by sending US
wave.
Echo pin is an Output pin. This pin goes high for a
3 Echo period of time which will be equal to the time taken
for the US wave to return back to the sensor.
4 Ground This pin is connected to the Ground of the system.
 
HC-SR04 Sensor Features

 Operating voltage: +5V

 Theoretical  Measuring Distance: 2cm to 450cm
 Practical Measuring Distance: 2cm to 80cm
 Accuracy: 3mm
 Measuring angle covered: <15°
 Operating Current: <15mA
 Operating Frequency: 40Hz

Equivalent distance measuring Sensors

US transmitter Receiver pair, IR sensor module, IR sensor pair, IR Analog distance sensor,

HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor - Working

As shown above the HC-SR04 Ultrasonic (US) sensor is a 4 pin module, whose pin names are
Vcc, Trigger, Echo and Ground respectively. This sensor is a very popular sensor used in many
applications where measuring distance or sensing objects are required. The module has two eyes
like projects in the front which forms the Ultrasonic transmitter and Receiver. The sensor works
with the simple high school formula that

Distance = Speed × Time

The Ultrasonic transmitter transmits an ultrasonic wave, this wave travels in air and when it gets
objected by any material it gets reflected back toward the sensor this reflected wave is observed
by the Ultrasonic receiver module as shown in the picture below
Now, to calculate the distance using the above formulae, we should know the Speed and time.
Since we are using the Ultrasonic wave we know the universal speed of US wave at room
conditions which is 330m/s. The circuitry inbuilt on the module will calculate the time taken for
the US wave to come back and turns on the echo pin high for that same particular amount of
time, this way we can also know the time taken. Now simply calculate the distance using a
microcontroller or microprocessor.

How to use the HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor

HC-SR04 distance sensor is commonly used with both microcontroller and microprocessor
platforms like Arduino, ARM, PIC, Raspberry Pie etc. The following guide is universally since it
has to be followed irrespective of the type of computational device used.

  Power the Sensor using a regulated +5V through the Vcc ad Ground pins of the sensor. The
current consumed by the sensor is less than 15mA and hence can be directly powered by the on
board 5V pins (If available). The Trigger and the Echo pins are both I/O pins and hence they can
be connected to I/O pins of the microcontroller. To start the measurement, the trigger pin has to
be made high for 10uS and then turned off. This action will trigger an ultrasonic wave at
frequency of 40Hz from the transmitter and the receiver will wait for the wave to return. Once
the wave is returned after it getting reflected by any object the Echo pin goes high for a particular
amount of time which will be equal to the time taken for the wave to return back to the sensor.

The amount of time during which the Echo pin stays high is measured by the MCU/MPU as it
gives the information about the time taken for the wave to return back to the Sensor. Using this
information the distance is measured as explained in the above heading.
 

Applications

 Used to avoid and detect obstacles with robots like biped robot, obstacle avoider robot,
path finding robot etc.
 Used to measure the distance within a wide range of 2cm to 400cm
 Can be used to map the objects surrounding the sensor by rotating it
 Depth of certain places like wells, pits etc can be measured since the waves can penetrate
through water