Omega Products LVU30 Installation Manual

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LVU30 Series Ultrasonic Sensors

Installation and Operation Guide

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User’s Guide

Servicing North America:

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It is the policy of OMEGA Engineering, Inc. to comply with all worldwide safety and EMC/EMI
regulations that apply. OMEGA is constantly pursuing certification of its products to the European New
Approach Directives. OMEGA will add the CE mark to every appropriate device upon certification.

The information contained in this document is believed to be correct, but OMEGA accepts no liability for any
errors it contains, and reserves the right to alter specifications without notice.
WARNING: These products are not designed for use in, and should not be used for, human applications.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Page

1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1

2 Quick Guide on Getting Started ..................................................................... 2

Mounting the Sensor ........................................................................................................................ 2

Operating an Sensor Without a Computer .................................................................................. 2

Operating an Sensor Connected to a Computer ........................................................................ 3

Operating Up to 32 Sensors Simultaneously Using a Multi-Drop Configuration ................. 5

3 Product Description ......................................................................................... 6

DC Power Requirements .................................................................................................................. 6

Voltage Output (V-out) of a Sensor ............................................................................................... 6

RS485 Port ............................................................................................................................................ 8

4 Installing LVU30 Series Software ................................................................... 10

5 Status and Setup Screen .................................................................................. 11

Establishing Communication between a PC and the Sensor ..................................................... 11

Editing the Sensor Parameters ......................................................................................................... 12

Sensor Selection Box of the Status and Setup Screen ................................................................. 13

Status Box of the Status and Setup Screen .................................................................................... 14

Mode Selection for Output Voltage Box of the Status and Setup Screen ............................... 15

Sampling Settings Box of the Status and Setup Screen ............................................................... 17

Miscellaneous Box of the Status and Setup Screen ..................................................................... 18

Messages Box of the Status and Setup Screen .............................................................................. 19

Self Heating Correction ..................................................................................................................... 19

Calibration of the Voltage Output .................................................................................................. 20

Displaying the Ultrasonic Signal ...................................................................................................... 21

Overview of Main Drop Down Menus of the Status and Setup Screen Settings ................... 23

6 Factory Default Programmed Settings ........................................................... 27

7 Troubleshooting ................................................................................................ 28

8 Terminology ........................................................................................................ 28

9 Wire Color Code ................................................................................................ 30

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1 Introduction

In operation, an LVU30 Series Sensor generates a high frequency ultrasonic pulse, measures the time
it takes for the reflected echo to return from a target, and then calculates the target distance using the
speed of sound. The value of the speed of sound, which is a function of temperature, is determined
by the sensor using its internal temperature probe. The distance to a target can be obtained from an
LVU30 Series Sensor in a variety of ways. For example, the sensor output can be a DC voltage, the
value of which is proportional to the target distance, or the sensor can be programmed to produce a
switched voltage output at a user-determined target distance. Information regarding the target can be
sent by an RS485 communication link to a computer and displayed using the LVU30 Series Software,
or another host device can be used.

Key Features of LVU30 Series Sensors include:

• Analog or Setpoint Switched Output

• Plug & Play Setup - No Targets Needed

• Software Set Span and Zero - No Pots or Pushbuttons

®

• Easy to use Setup Software using Windows

• Built-in Temperature/Sound Speed Compensation

98 /NT/2000 / XP operating systems

• Up to 32 Sensors on RS485 Multi-drop Loop

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2 Quick Guide on Getting Started

Mounting the Sensor

The LVU30 Series Family of Low Cost Sensors is designed to be easily mounted by using the 1” NPT
threaded shaft that is part of the housing of each sensor. The sensor can be screwed into a 1” NPT
tapped hole in a mounting plate, or it can be mounted onto a flat plate by inserting the threaded shaft
of the housing through a hole in the plate and securing the sensor using the locknut that is included
with each sensor. An optional Mounting Bracket can also be purchased, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Photograph of a LVU30 Series Sensor Attached to an Optional Mounting Bracket

Operating a Sensor Without a Computer

• With the 12-24 V DC Power Supply turned OFF, connect it to the red and black leads of the

Sensor, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

Wiring Diagram for an LVU30 Series Sensor Used Without a Computer

2

2 Quick Guide on Getting Started (continued)

• Turn the Power Supply ON.

• The DC voltage on the white lead of the sensor will be proportional to the distance to the

target.

Operating an Sensor Connected to a Computer

• Download the LVU30 Series Software into the computer from the Omega website at

www.omega.com.

• With the 12-24 V DC Power Supply turned OFF, connect it to the red and black leads of the

sensor, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3

Wiring Diagram for an LVU30 Series Sensor Used With a Computer

• For the sensor to communicate with a computer, either an RS232/RS485 converter is

required when connecting to a serial port, or a USB/RS485 converter is required when
connecting to a USB port.

• Connect the sensor’s green lead to the converter’s A (-) terminal [the TDA (-) terminal on a

USB converter], and the brown lead to the converter’s B (+) terminal [the TDB (+) terminal
on USB converter].

NOTE: Use of termination resistors on the RS485 network is not required.

• Plug the Communication Converter into the appropriate serial or USB port on the

Computer.

• Turn the Power Supply ON.

• Execute the LVU30 Series program.

3

2 Quick Guide on Getting Started (continued)

• The Status and Setup Screen will appear, as shown in Figure 4, and an indication that the

sensor was “found” will appear in the ‘Messages’ box at the bottom of the screen.

Figure 4

Example of the Status and Setup Screen for an Sensor

NOTE: If the sensor is not “found”, you may have to select another communications port. Use

the drop-down menu ‘Settings’ then ‘Communications Port’ to select another port. Use
the ‘Tools’ drop-down menu and then ‘Search for Sensors’ to establish communications
on the new port.

• Point the LVU30 Series sensor towards a target, such as a wall, to obtain a distance

measurement.

• To change any of the settings, move the mouse pointer and click on the field to be

modified. After all changes have been made, click on the ‘Program’ button. There is no
limit to the number of times the sensor can be reprogrammed. The Sensor’s settings are
non-volatile and the programmed values will be retained even if power is lost.

• The sensor can be adjusted for optimum performance in each application by adjusting its

settings. (See Section 5 for detailed information regarding utilization of these adjustment
features.)

4

2 Quick Guide on Getting Started (continued)

Operating Up to 32 Sensors Simultaneously Using a Multi-Drop Configuration

• Download the LVU30 Series Software into the Computer from the Omega Engineering

website at www.omega.com.

• With the 12-24 V DC Power Supply turned OFF, connect it to the red and black leads of the

sensor, as shown in Figure 5.

‘

Figure 5

Wiring Diagram for LVU30 Series Sensors Using a Multi-Drop Configuration

• Connect the first sensor to the Computer using the steps shown in the subsection entitled

“Operating a Sensor Connected to a Computer”, and insert a unique ID Tag from 1 to 32
into the sensor.

• Disconnect the sensor and then sequentially connect to the computer, by themselves one at

a time, each of the remaining multiple sensors that are going to be placed on the
communications bus, and insert a unique ID Tag from 1 to 32 into each of them. Once this
has been done, all the sensors can be wired in parallel to the RS485 communications bus, as
illustrated in Figure 5.

• Restart the LVU30 Series program. Any sensor can now be selected from the drop down list

next to the ID Tag and its status viewed.

• Any sensor can be reprogrammed, including changing its ID Tag, by selecting it and making

the desired changes.

5

3 Product Description

This section contains a general overview of the LVU30 Series of Ultrasonic Sensors. For detailed
information on any specific model of sensors, refer to the datasheet located on the Omega
Engineering, Inc. website (www.omega.com) for the particular model.

DC Power Requirements

LVU30 Series Sensors are powered from 12 to 24 V DC sources, either batteries or power supplies,
that are capable of supplying currents of approximately 30 ma. The red and black wires of the sensor
must be connected to the DC power, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5 in Section 2.

Voltage Output (V-out) of a Sensor

The white lead of an LVU30 Series Sensor produces a DC analog Output Voltage, V-out, as shown in
Figure 2, 3, and 5 in Section 2. The value of V-out provides information regarding the Target Distance,
which is the distance from the sensor to a target. Sensors have two modes of operation. In the
Proportional Voltage Output Mode, V-out is an analog DC voltage that is directly proportional to the
Target Distance. In the Switched Setpoint Output Mode, V-out switches between two different
voltage levels based on the Target Distance falling within specific distance zones that are programmed
into the sensor as Setpoints. More detailed information regarding the use of these two operational
modes is contained in Section 5.

Proportional Voltage Output Mode (‘Linear Mode’)

Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of the Proportional Voltage Output Mode (‘Linear Mode’) of V-out
for an LVU30 Series Sensor. A Zero distance and a Span distance that are anywhere within the
Minimum Sensing Range and Maximum Sensing Range of the sensor can be programmed into the
sensor. The values of V-out will then be proportional to the Target Distance in the zone between the
distances set for Zero and Span. If a target is any closer than the Zero distance, V-out will be the
voltage value that was programmed into the sensor for the Zero distance. If the target is further away
than the Span distance, V-out will be the voltage value that was programmed into the Sensor for the
Span distance. If no target is detected, than V-out will be a third voltage, which is programmed as the
Loss of Echo Voltage.

Figure 6

Schematic Illustration of the Proportional Voltage Output Mode of V-out for an LVU30 Series Sensor

6

3 Product Description (continued)

In the ‘Linear Mode’, the user can set the values for the following programming options using the
Status and Setup Screen shown in Figure 4 in Section 2 on Page 4.

1) Set any Output Voltage value from 0 V DC to 10.25 V DC for the Zero Distance

2) Set any Output Voltage value from 0 V DC to 10.25 V DC for the Span Distance

3) Set any Output Voltage value from 0 V DC to 10.25 V DC for the No Echo Time Out to indicate that

the target is “lost”, which occurs after the preset number of samples that were programmed into
the ‘No Echo Time Out’ in the ‘Sampling Settings’.

With this flexibility, positive or negative slopes can be programmed, along with any start and end
voltage value. Targets within the detection zone, established by the Zero and Span distances, will
produce an output voltage that is proportional to the Target Distance between the Zero Output
Voltage and the Span Output Voltage. Targets detected beyond the endpoints of the selected
distance zone will produce output voltages equal to the nearer endpoint. Targets detected closer
than the minimum specified Sensing Range will produce a V-out equal to the Outpoint Voltage
programmed for the Zero distance. Targets detected at distances greater than the programmed Span
distance will produce a V-out equal to the Outpout Voltage programmed for the Span distance. If no
target is detected, V-out will be the Output Voltage programmed for ‘No Echo Time Out’.

Switched Setpoint Output Mode (‘Switch Mode’)

Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of the Switched Setpoint Output Mode (‘Switch Mode’) of V-out for
an LVU30 Series Sensor. In this Switch Mode, a Close Setpoint Distance and a Far Setpoint Distance,
that are anywhere within the Minimum and Maximum Sensing Range, can be programmed into the
sensor. These two setpoint distances will then establish three distance zones, which are the CIose
Zone for Target Distances less than the Close Setpoint Distance, the Mid Zone for target distances
between the Close Setpoint Distance and the Far Setpoint Distance, and the Far Zone for Target
Distances greater than the Far Setpoint Distance. Different value of V-out can be selected to be
produced for when the target is located in each of the three zones.

Figure 7

Schematic Illustration of the Switched Setpoint Output Mode of V-out for an LVU30 Series Sensor

7

3 Product Description (continued)

In the ‘Switch Mode’, the user can set the value of the following programming options using the
Status and Setup Screen shown in Figure 4 in Section 2 on Page 4.

1) Set a value for the Close Setpoint Distance.

2) Set a value for the Far Setpoint Distance.

3) Set a value of 0 V DC or 10.25 V DC for V-out when the Target Distance is in the Close Zone

(<Close Setpoint Distance).

4) Set a value of 0 V DC or 10.25 V DC for V-out when the Target Distance is in the Mid Zone (>Close

Setpoint Distance and <Far Setpoint Distance).

5) Set a value of 0 V DC or 10.25 V DC for V-out when the Target Distance is in the Far Zone (>Far

Setpoint Distance).

6) Set a value of 0 V DC or 10.25 V DC for when No Echo has been detected after a preset timeout.

7) The Mid Zone also has a ‘No Change’ programmable option where the value of V-out will not

charge when a target enters this zone from another zone.

8) Hysteresis around the setpoints can be programmed from 0% to 75%.

9) V-out for targets detected closer than the minimum specified Sensing Range of the specific model

of LVU30 Series Sensor used will be the same as the value for V-out set for the Close Zone.

RS485 Port

Monitoring and programming the sensor occurs through the RS485 serial communications port. The
advantages of an RS485 based system include the ability to have long cable lengths while wiring up to
32 sensors on just one pair of wires (multi-drop). This method allows for access to all sensors from
any convenient location. When communicating with a PC, a communications converter will be
required (either a USB or RS232 to RS485).

Wire the sensor to the RS485 Communication Converter as shown in Figure 3 in Section 2. The
converter’s terminal for the green wire of the sensor will be marked as TDA, A (-), or some
combination for the A terminal wiring. The converter’s terminal for the brown wire of the sensor will
be marked as TDB, B (+), or some combination for the B terminal wiring. If the converter has any of
the switches shown below, set to the following positions:

• TD 422 or TD 485, set to TD 485 position

• ECHO ON or ECHO OFF, set to ECHO OFF position

• 4 Wire or 2 Wire, set to 2 Wire position

The sensor is now ready to communicate using the LVU30 Series Software Program.

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