PASCO PS-2103A User Manual

Motion Sensor

Motion Sensor

PS-2103A

PS-2103A

Instruction Sheet

012-09625A

Included Equipment Part Number

Motion Sensor PS-2103A

Additional Equipment Required

PASPORT Interface See PASCO catalog

or www.pasco.com

Quick Start

1. Connect the Motion Sensor to your PASPORT interface.

2. If you are using a computer, connect the PASPORT interface

to it and start DataStudio.

3. Place an object in front of the sensor at least 15 cm away.

4. Press or click the start button to begin recording data.

5. Move the object in a straight line directly away from or

toward the sensor.

Range
Switch

PASPORT Plug

Ta r ge t

Indicator

Rotating

Head

Introduction

The PS-2103A Motion Sensor works with your PASPORT inter­face to measure and record position, velocity, and acceleration. It
produces a series of ultrasonic pulses and detects the sound
reflecting back from an object in front of it. The interface mea­sures the times between outgoing pulses and returning echoes.
From these measurements, it determines the position, velocity,
and acceleration of the object.

This instruction sheet includes procedures for:

• setting up the hardware and software (page 2),

• collecting data (page 2),

• changing the sample rate (page 2),

• calibrating the sensor (page 3),

®

Clips for

mounting

on track

• mounting the sensor on equipment (page 3), and

• troubleshooting (page 4).

Theory of operation is described on page 4, and specifications are
listed on page 4.

Note: Essential DataStudio and GLX tasks are described briefly in this
instruction sheet. For more instructions press F1 to open DataStudio's
on-line help or see the Xplorer GLX Users’ Guide.

Hole for

mounting

on rod

Ultrasonic
Transducer

Motion Sensor PS-2103A

Set-up

To Connect to a PASPORT Interface

1. Connect the Motion Sensor's plug to any port of your

PASPORT interface.

2. If you are using a computer, connect the PASPORT interface

to it and start DataStudio.

DataStudio or your standalone PASPORT logging interface will
automatically prepare itself for data collection and create a graph
to display position data.

To Aim the Motion Sensor at an Object

1. Set the range switch to the short range ( ) or long

range ( ) setting.

• Select for measuring a cart on a track.

• Select for measuring most other objects.

2. Arrange the Motion Sensor and object so that the Motion

Sensor's transducer faces the object.

Data Collection

DataStudio

1. Click Start.

The Motion Sensor starts clicking. If a target is in range, the
target indicator flashes with each click. DataStudio starts
collecting and displaying data.

2. Click Stop to stop data collection.

3. Click Start again to start recording data in a new data run.

Xplorer GLX (Standalone)

1. Press s.

The Motion Sensor starts clicking. If a target is in range, the
target indicator flashes with each click. The GLX starts
collecting and displaying data.

2. Click

3. Click

s

to stop data collection.

s

again to start recording data in a new data run.

• The object should be at least 15 cm from the transducer.

• If the object will move, it should move directly toward
or away from the Motion Sensor.

• Aim the motion sensor slightly up to avoid detecting the
tabletop.

3. Remove objects that may interfere with the measurement.

These include objects between the sensor and target object,
either directly in front of the sensor or to the sides.

Sensor Configuration

To View Velocity and Acceleration

The Position measurement appears by default. You can also
enable Velocity and Acceleration measurements.

• In DataStudio, click Setup to open the Experiment Setup
window. Select the Vel oc it y and Acceleration check boxes.

• On the GLX while viewing any display screen, press
twice to open a data source menu. Select More to expand the
menu. Select Velo ci ty or Acceleration.

To Change the Sample Rate

• In DataStudio, click Setup to open the Experiment Setup
window. Click the up or down button next to the Sample
Rate setting.

• On the GLX, press
Highlight the Sample Rate setting and press

h

+ I to open the Sensors screen.

+or-

c

.

The normal range of sampling rates is between 1 Hz and 50 Hz.
At the default rate of 10 Hz, the Motion Sensor can measure dis­tance up to 8 m. The maximum distance decreases with increas­ing sample rate. At very high sample rates (between 50 Hz and
250 Hz), the maximum distance is less than 2 m.

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