Powder Level s Piezoelectric type LTS(3-terminal type self-oscillation formula) series TSP(2-terminal type separate excitation oscillation formula) series Issue date: February 2012 Conformity to RoHS Directive: This means that, in conformity with EU Directive 2002/95/EC, lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and specific bromine-based flame retardants, PBB and PBDE, have not been used, except for exempted applications.
(1/8) Powder Level s LTS, TSP Series TDK s piezo-type level sensor, which uses a sensor element consisting of a piezoelectric ceramic, was developed originally by TDK. The sensor detects the presence of powder when the sensor element, which a built-in oscillating causes to vibrate, comes into contact with powder and the vibrational conditions are altered. The TSP series, which employs an external source of oscillation based on a custom chip, offers even better operational stability. FEATURES This is a unique sensor that employs a piezoelectric ceramic sensor element. The exterior has a die cast finish which makes the sensor highly resistant to effects caused by external vibrations and provide stable detection characteristics. The sensor can detect both magnetic and non-magnetic powders. The sensor can be easily mounted to a wide range of locations. Two output types are available: ON/OFF digital output (D type) and continuously variable analog type (A type). Compact size and low cost. APPLICATIONS Toner detectors for copiers, laser printers, etc. Detectors for coffee and other powders in automatic beverage vending machines. Detectors for other types of powders. PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION TSP 1 5 D 10 C - 01 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (1) Types of toner sensors LTS: 3-terminal type self-oscillation formula TSP: 2-terminal type separate excitation oscillation formula (2) diameter 1 : 11mm dia. (3) Operational voltage 5 : DC.5V (4) Output type D : Digital A : Analog (5) Shape of case (6) Output terminal type C : Directly attached connector None : Lead lines (7) Identifying control number SENSOR LEVEL EVALUATION METHOD Position the sensor as indicated in the drawing below. The sensor level is determined as the level at which the sensor detects powder when powder is supplied from above. level Mesh Powder
(2/8) 3-TERMAL TYPE SELF-OSCILLATION FORMULA, LTS SERIES PRCIPLES OF OPERATION A vibrator, comprising a piezoelectric element attached to a metallic diaphragm, is supported by a die cast case. The vibrator is driven by a self-oscillation. When the vibrator comes into contact with powder, the vibrator s oscillation is impeded, causing the vibrator to stop and hence the powder to be detected. Two types of outputs are available: The analog output type (direct output of oscillation waveform) and the digital type (output of highlow levels after passing the oscillation waveform through rectifying, integrating, and comparator s). Self-oscillation Rectifying Integrating Comparator Digital output type Analog output type ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS Item Standard Operating input voltage 5V±0.5V Input current 20mA max. Operating temperature range 0 to 50 C level 5mm±3mm Output voltage HIGH 4.5V min. Output voltage LOW 0.5V max. SHAPES AND DIMENSIONS (2) 3 17 11±0.2 8.5±0.2 3.5 26±0.2 19 13 2-ø3.3 2-ø6 (16) CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS Digital output type 4.7kΩ 5V (18) V 2 0.5 0.5 ø11 2 7 4 11 Analog output type Lot No. Dimensions in mm 5V Oscilloscope
(3/8) 2-TERMAL TYPE SEPARATE EXCITATION OSCILLATION FORMULA, TSP SERIES PRCIPLES OF OPERATION A vibrator, comprising a piezoelectric element attached to a metallic diaphragm, is supported by a die cast case. The vibrator is driven by an external excitation oscillation. When the vibrator comes into contact with powder, the vibrator s oscillation is impeded, causing the vibrator to stop and hence the powder to be detected. The external excitation oscillator and phase comparator etc. are driven by a TDK custom chip. These products are available in two types: The "External chip" type in which all the ry is provided in a separate chip and the sensor consists only of the vibrator element, and the "Internal chip" type in which the signal processing is performed inside the sensor to provide a binary output of high/low levels. Sweep oscllation Amplifier Rectifying IC un-inclusion type detection Cariculation process Comparator IC inclusion type ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS Item Standard Operating input voltage 5V±0.5V Input current 20mA max. Operating temperature range 0 to 50 C level 5mm±3mm Output voltage HIGH 4.5V min. Output voltage LOW 0.5V max. BUILT- IC TYPE SHAPES AND DIMENSIONS CIRCUIT DIAGRAM 2 10 6 4 0.5 2-ø6 2-ø3.3 14 4 8±0.2 4 3 4.7kΩ 5V V 25±0.2 12.5 4 17 7.8 2-C2 ø11 8.8 Lot No. Pin No.3 Pin No.2 Pin No.1 Dimensions in mm
(4/8) IC SEPARATED TYPE SHAPES AND DIMENSIONS SENSOR 14 3 8±0.2 4 25±0.2 ø11 4 17 12.5 2-ø3.3 hole ø16 ø11 4 6 2.5 6 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM control 4.7kΩ V 5V + Side pattern CUSTOM IC CIRCUIT 1 1 Cin Rin 2 TSP15A10 DRV 3 MON 4 5 3 5 1 15 VDD 4 1 14 detection Disposal Side pattern Sweep oscillator 2 1.5 Dimensions in mm VDD 8 7 FA RFA Reversible 6 the polarity SL(to or VDD) 5 Ri C0 IC SEPARATED TYPE PRECAUTIONS Shorten the connection distance between the sensor and IC block as much as possible. This distance must not exceed 250mm. Observe the polarity of the sensor block. Consult with TDK when using this product. C0 : 10μF Cin : 1000pF Rin : 240kΩ Ri : 10Ω RFA : 18kΩ
(5/8) PIEZO-TYPE LEVEL SENSORS BASIC PRCIPLES OF OPERATION The basic structure and principles of operation of a piezoelectric vibration type sensor are the same as those of a piezoelectric sounder. The most generally used vibrator "unimorph" structure comprises a thin piezoelectric disk, which has electrodes formed on both surfaces, attached to a thin metal diaphragm (Fig.1). Fig.1: Structure of 3-terminal piezoelectric unimorph vibrator Metal diaphragm (Vibrator) Piezoelectric disk Since the sensing diaphragm surface will be exposed to powder and must be wiped periodically, the piezoelectric vibration sensor must be constructed in such a way that the surface of the sensing diaphragm is flat and is located at the very front of the sensor. In order to fulfill these conditions, the bond between the unimorph structure and the case is located at the diaphragm perimeter, not at the unimorph edge. The diaphragm perimeter is connected to the case (diaphragm perimeter mounting in Fig.4). Fig.4.Unimorph mounting/support methods (a) Unimorph edge support Electrode (b) Diaphragm perimeter support (c) Diaphragm perimeter mounting The piezoelectric ceramic undergoes polarization treatment in the direction perpendicular to the disk surface. As shown in Fig. 2, when an external voltage is applied, the disk expands and contracts in the direction of the polarization as well as in a perpendicular direction relative to the direction of polarization. In the unimorph structure, a metal diaphragm that does not expand-contract when an electric field is applied is attached to one side of the disk. Therefore this metal diaphragm is flexed by expansion-contraction of the piezoelectric ceramic as shown in Fig.3. The unimorph structure vibrates due to repeated flexure when an AC signal is used as the applied voltage. Since sensor detection characteristics are greatly affected by changes in the diaphragm perimeter support, various methods are required to avoid this source of variance. These methods include use of elastic silicone to attach the diaphragm, use of a fixed attachment area / thickness, etc. (Fig.5) Fig.5: Structure of piezoelectric vibrator type sensor ø11mm ø9mm Diaphragm(Phospher bronze) Piezoelectric element Fig.2: Movement of the piezoelectric element Fig.3: Flexing vibration Case (Zn die cast) Silicon ( polarization direction) Board for control Electronic component
(6/8) 3-TERMAL TYPE POWDER LEVEL SENSORS PRCIPLES OF OPERATION The three-terminal type powder level sensor is equipped with a primary electrode and an output electrode on the piezoelectric ceramic. The self-oscillation method is used to vibrate the perimeter-supported unimorph at its innate vibration frequency. The unimorph structure utilized for this is shown in Fig.6. Self-oscillation is carried out using a drive such as that of Fig.7. Fig.6: Electrode structure of 3-terminal piezoelectric vibrator Metal diaphragm Piezoelectric disk Fig.8: Frequency characteristics of gain and phase change with a contact load to be applied to piezoelectric vibrator surface Gain(dB) 25 15 5 5 15 25 Gain max. Fr Gain 1 120 20 80 130 (deg) 35 180 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6500 00 7500 8000 25 15 1 120 Electrode Fig.7: Self-oscillation formula drive with 3-terminal piezoelectric vibrator R1 R2 Q1 Gain(dB) 5 5 Gain 15 25 20 80 130 35 180 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6500 00 7500 8000 (deg) C1 C2 D2 R6 Q2 25 1 R3 15 120 R4 D1 R5 C3 Vibration characteristics are shown in Fig.8, as loading is gradually increased starting from a non-loaded state with no powder contacting the sensor diaphragm surface. Vibration can be maintained since gain from the main electrode to the output electrode is high in the non-loaded state. As the loading of the sensor diaphragm surface increases (Fig.9), this gain decreases, and the gain needed to maintain vibration can no longer be maintained as a threshold loading value is exceeded. Then vibration stops. The presence or absence of powder is detected by determining whether a vibration occurs and then outputting the result. Gain(dB) 5 5 15 25 Gain 20 80 130 35 180 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6500 00 7500 8000 Fig.9: Input and output waveform of piezoelectric vibrator Gain Ein Ein Eout Eout (deg) Input voltage Amplifier Output voltage
(7/8) 2-TERMAL TYPE POWDER LEVEL SENSORS PRCIPLES OF OPERATION The two-terminal type powder level sensor comprises a piezoelectric ceramic equipped with electrodes on both sides. The sensor is operated by applying an external AC signal to the electrodes on both sides (Fig. 10). Fig.10: Structure of 2-terminal piezoelectric unimorph vibrator Metal diaphragm Piezoelectric disk Electrode In contrast to the three-terminal type powder level sensor, the vibration does not stop even after a load is applied since the vibration is caused by an external AC signal. The changes in unimorph characteristics are used to distinguish whether or not a load is applied to the sensor diaphragm surface. In the equivalent diagram shown in Fig.11, Cd denotes electrostatic capacitance, L0 denotes equivalent mass, C0 denotes the inverse number of the equivalent stiffness and R0 denotes equivalent mechanical resistance. The frequency at the impedance minimum in Fig.12 is the series resonance point of L0, C0, and R0. Fig.11: Equivalent of 2-terminal piezoelectric unimorph vibrator Cd L0 C0 R0 The unimorph of the two-terminal type sensor becomes inductive in the vicinity of the resonance point when unloaded and exhibits a capacitance at other times. However as the load upon the sensor diaphragm surface increases, the phase characteristics gradually change, and the sensor exhibits a capacitance over the entire frequency range as the load is increased above a certain value(fig.12). Using this characteristic, the loading is determined by detecting the phase in the vicinity of the unimorph resonance point and determining whether the sensor exhibits inductance (no load is applied to the sensor diaphragm surface) or capacitance (load is applied to the sensor diaphragm surface). This in turn allows the sensor to detect the presence or absence of powder on the sensor diaphragm surface. TDK has built a special chip into this two-terminal type sensor to realize stable driving and detection characteristics. The special chip includes a sweep oscillator, waveform shaping/amplification, phase detector and digital control. Since the resonance frequency for the toner sensor is centered in the vicinity of 6kHz, a frequency sweep from 4 to 8kHz is performed to determine whether the signal from the sensor is inductive or capacitive within this frequency range. If the piezoelectric element is detected to be inductive during a sweep, a primary signal output indicates the "non-loaded" condition. If piezoelectric element inductance is not detected during a sweep, the primary signal output indicates the "loaded" condition. Although the presence or absence of toner can be detected simply based on this output signal, a counter is provided that improves sensor accuracy by averaging out output chattering (frequent alternating toner loaded / non-loaded indications from the sensor diaphragm surface). Toner detection is stabilized by providing final sensor output as a secondary output passing through this counter. Fig.12: Frequency characteristics of impedance and phase change with contact load to be applied to piezoelectric vibrator surface (deg) (deg) (deg) 90 20000 18000 50 max. 16000 30 14000 10 12000 10000 10 Impedance 8000 6000 50 Fr 4000 2000 R0 90 0 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6500 00 7500 8000 90 50 30 20000 18000 16000 14000 10 12000 10000 10 Impedance 8000 6000 50 4000 2000 90 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6500 00 7500 0 8000 90 50 30 10 10 50 Impedance 20000 18000 16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 90 0 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6500 00 7500 8000 Impedance( ) Impedance( ) Impedance( )
(8/8) PRECAUTIONS [ALL TYPES] An extremely thin metal sheet and piezoelectric element are used for the toner sensor detector surface. Therefore the sensor detector surface must be handled carefully to make sure that it is not subjected to mechanical stress. Grounding and other measures must be considered because the sensor ry and piezoelectric element can be damaged by surges and static electricity. [3-TERMAL TYPE] A ground should be connected to the case of the LTS type during operation to prevent the case from changing potential. [2-TERMAL TYPE] Make sure that the OFF time of the sensor s power supply is at least 1msec to prevent an internal logic error. The length of wiring connections must be no longer that 250mm when a separate chip is used to operate the sensor. Please consult with TDK when using a separate chip. RELIABILITY TESTG Temperature storage test The sensor must operate properly after being placed for 240 hours in a +60 C environment. Low temperature storage test The sensor must operate properly after being placed for 240 hours in a 20 C environment. Humidity endurance test The sensor must operate properly after being placed for 240 hours in a +30 C, 25% relative humidity environment. Humidity endurance test The sensor must operate properly after being placed for 240 hours in a +40 C, 95% relative humidity environment. Vibration test The sensor must operate properly after being subjected to vibration cycles in directions x, y and z for two hours in each direction; a single cycle consisting of 10 to 55Hz vibrations with an amplitude of 0.7mm for one minute.