LV-MaxSonar
®
- EZ™ Series
LV-MaxSonar -EZ™ Series
High Performance Sonar Range Finder
MB1000, MB1010, MB1020, MB1030, MB1040
2
With 2.5V - 5.5V power the LV-MaxSonar-EZ provides very short to long-range
detection and ranging in a very small package. The LV-MaxSonar-EZ detects objects
from 0-inches to 254-inches (6.45-meters) and provides sonar range information from 6-
inches out to 254-inches with 1-inch resolution. Objects from 0-inches to 6-inches typically range as 6-inches
1
. The
interface output formats included are pulse width output, analog voltage output, and RS232 serial output. Factory
calibration and testing is completed with a flat object.
1
See Close Range Operation
®
Features
•
Continuously variable gain for control
and side lobe suppression
•
Object detection to zero range objects
•
2.5V to 5.5V supply with 2mA typical
current draw
•
Readings can occur up to every 50mS,
(20-Hz rate)
•
Free run operation can continually
measure and output range information
•
Triggered operation provides the range
reading as desired
•
Interfaces are active simultaneously
•
Serial, 0 to Vcc, 9600 Baud, 81N
•
Analog, (Vcc/512) / inch
•
Pulse width, (147uS/inch)
•
Learns ringdown pattern when
commanded to start ranging
•
Designed for protected indoor
•
Sensor operates at 42KHz
•
High output square wave sensor drive
(double Vcc)
•
Actual operating temperature range from
–40°C to +65°C, Recommended
operating temperature range from 0°C to
+60°C
1
Applications and Uses
•
UAV blimps, micro planes and some
helicopters
•
Bin level measurement
•
Proximity zone detection
•
People detection
•
Robot ranging sensor
•
Autonomous navigation
•
Multi-sensor arrays
•
Distance measuring
•
Long range object detection
•
Wide beam sensitivity
Notes:
1
Benefits
Very low cost ultrasonic rangefinder
Reliable and stable range data
Quality beam characteristics
Mounting holes provided on the circuit
board
•
Very low power ranger, excellent for
multiple sensor or battery-based systems
•
Fast measurement cycles
•
Sensor reports the range reading directly
and frees up user processor
•
Choose one of three sensor outputs
•
Triggered externally or internally
•
•
•
•
Please reference page 4 for minimum operating
voltage verses temperature information.
2
Please reference page 12 for part number key.
environments
LV-MaxSonar-EZ Mechanical Dimensions
K
Paint Dot Location
Part Num-
MB1000
MB1010
MB1020
MB1030
MB1040
ber
Paint
Black
Brown
Red
Orange
Yellow
Dot Color
J
Close Range Operation
Applications requiring 100% reading-to-reading reliability should not use MaxSonar sensors at a distance closer than
6 inches. Although most users find MaxSonar sensors to work reliably from 0 to 6 inches for detecting objects in many
applications, MaxBotix
®
Inc. does not guarantee operational reliability for objects closer than the minimum reported
distance. Because of ultrasonic physics, these sensors are unable to achieve 100% reliability at close distances.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Warning: Personal Safety Applications
We do not recommend or endorse this product be used as a component in any personal safety applications. This product is
not designed, intended or authorized for such use. These sensors and controls do not include the self-checking redundant
circuitry needed for such use. Such unauthorized use may create a failure of the MaxBotix
®
Inc. product which may result
in personal injury or death. MaxBotix
®
Inc. will not be held liable for unauthorized use of this component.
MaxBotix
®
Inc.
Copyright 2005 - 2015 MaxBotix Incorporated
Patent 7,679,996
MaxBotix Inc., products are engineered and assembled in the USA.
Page 1
Web:
www.maxbotix.com
PD11832e
LV-MaxSonar
®
- EZ™ Series
About Ultrasonic Sensors
Our ultrasonic sensors are in air, non-contact object detection and ranging sensors that detect objects within an area. These
sensors are not affected by the color or other visual characteristics of the detected object. Ultrasonic sensors use high
frequency sound to detect and localize objects in a variety of environments. Ultrasonic sensors measure the time of flight
for sound that has been transmitted to and reflected back from nearby objects. Based upon the time of flight, the sensor
then outputs a range reading.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Pin Out Description
Pin 1-BW-*Leave
open or hold low for serial output on the TX output. When BW pin is held high the TX output sends a
pulse (instead of serial data), suitable for low noise chaining.
Pin 2-PW-
This pin outputs a pulse width representation of range. The distance can be calculated using the scale factor of
147uS per inch.
Pin 3-AN-
Outputs analog voltage with a scaling factor of (Vcc/512) per inch. A supply of 5V yields ~9.8mV/in. and
3.3V yields ~6.4mV/in. The output is buffered and corresponds to the most recent range data.
Pin 4-RX–
This pin is internally pulled high. The LV-MaxSonar-EZ will continually measure range and output if RX
data is left unconnected or held high. If held low the sensor will stop ranging. Bring high for 20uS or more to
command a range reading.
Pin 5-TX-
When the *BW is open or held low, the TX output delivers asynchronous serial with an RS232 format, except
voltages are 0-Vcc. The output is an ASCII capital “R”, followed by three ASCII character digits representing the
range in inches up to a maximum of 255, followed by a carriage return (ASCII 13). The baud rate is 9600, 8 bits, no
parity, with one stop bit. Although the voltage of 0-Vcc is outside the RS232 standard, most RS232 devices have
sufficient margin to read 0-Vcc serial data. If standard voltage level RS232 is desired, invert, and connect an RS232
converter such as a MAX232. When BW pin is held high the TX output sends a single pulse, suitable for low noise
chaining. (no serial data)
Pin 6-+5V-
Vcc – Operates on 2.5V - 5.5V. Recommended current capability of 3mA for 5V, and 2mA for 3V. Please
reference page 4 for minimum operating voltage verses temperature information.
Pin 7-GND-
Return for the DC power supply. GND (& Vcc) must be ripple and noise free for best operation.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Range “0” Location
Range Zero
The range is measured from the front of the transducer.
The LV-MaxSonar-EZ reports the range to distant targets starting from the front of the sensor as shown in the diagram
below.
In general, the LV-MaxSonar-EZ will report the range to the leading edge of the closest detectable object. Target
detection has been characterized in the sensor beam patterns.
Sensor Minimum Distance
The sensor minimum reported distance is 6-inches (15.2 cm). However, the LV-MaxSonar-EZ will range and report
targets to the front sensor face. Large targets closer than 6-inches will typically range as 6-inches.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sensor Operation from 6-inches to 20-inches
Because of acoustic phase effects in the near field, objects between 6-inches and 20-inches may experience acoustic phase
MaxBotix
®
Inc.
Copyright 2005 - 2015 MaxBotix Incorporated
Patent 7,679,996
MaxBotix Inc., products are engineered and assembled in the USA.
Page 2
Web:
www.maxbotix.com
PD11832e
LV-MaxSonar
®
- EZ™ Series
cancellation of the returning waveform resulting in inaccuracies of up to 2-inches. These effects become less prevalent as
the target distance increases, and has not been observed past 20-inches.
General Power-Up Instruction
Each time the LV-MaxSonar-EZ is powered up, it will calibrate during its first read cycle. The sensor uses this stored
information to range a close object. It is important that objects not be close to the sensor during this calibration cycle. The
best sensitivity is obtained when the detection area is clear for fourteen inches, but good results are common when clear
for at least seven inches. If an object is too close during the calibration cycle, the sensor may ignore objects at that
distance.
The LV-MaxSonar-EZ does not use the calibration data to temperature compensate for range, but instead to compensate
for the sensor ringdown pattern. If the temperature, humidity, or applied voltage changes during operation, the sensor may
require recalibration to reacquire the ringdown pattern. Unless recalibrated, if the temperature increases, the sensor is
more likely to have false close readings. If the temperature decreases, the sensor is more likely to have reduced up close
sensitivity. To recalibrate the LV-MaxSonar-EZ, cycle power, then command a read cycle.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Timing Diagram
Timing Description
250mS after power-up, the LV-MaxSonar-EZ is ready to accept the RX command. If the RX pin is left open or held high,
the sensor will first run a calibration cycle (49mS), and then it will take a range reading (49mS). After the power up delay,
the first reading will take an additional ~100mS. Subsequent readings will take 49mS. The LV-MaxSonar-EZ checks the
RX pin at the end of every cycle. Range data can be acquired once every 49mS.
Each 49mS period starts by the RX being high or open, after which the LV-MaxSonar-EZ sends the transmit burst, after
which the pulse width pin (PW) is set high. When a target is detected the PW pin is pulled low. The PW pin is high for up
to 37.5mS if no target is detected. The remainder of the 49mS time (less 4.7mS) is spent adjusting the analog voltage to
the correct level. When a long distance is measured immediately after a short distance reading, the analog voltage may not
reach the exact level within one read cycle. During the last 4.7mS, the serial data is sent.
MaxBotix
®
Inc.
Copyright 2005 - 2015 MaxBotix Incorporated
Patent 7,679,996
MaxBotix Inc., products are engineered and assembled in the USA.
Page 3
Web:
www.maxbotix.com
PD11832e
LV-MaxSonar
®
- EZ™ Series
Voltage vs Temperature
The graph below shows minimum operating voltage of the sensor verses temperature.
MaxBotix
®
Inc.
Copyright 2005 - 2015 MaxBotix Incorporated
Patent 7,679,996
MaxBotix Inc., products are engineered and assembled in the USA.
Page 4
Web:
www.maxbotix.com
PD11832e
LV-MaxSonar
®
- EZ™ Series
Using Multiple Sensors in a single system
When using multiple ultrasonic sensors in a single system, there can be interference (cross-talk) from the other sensors.
MaxBotix Inc., has engineered and supplied a solution to this problem for the LV-MaxSonar-EZ sensors. The solution is
referred to as chaining. We have 3 methods of chaining that work well to avoid the issue of cross-talk.
The first method is AN Output Commanded Loop. The first sensor will range, then trigger the next sensor to range and so
on for all the sensor in the array. Once the last sensor has ranged, the array stops until the first sensor is triggered to range
again. Below is a diagram on how to set this up.
The next method is AN Output Constantly Looping. The first sensor will range, then trigger the next sensor to range and
so on for all the sensor in the array. Once the last sensor has ranged, it will trigger the first sensor in the array to range
again and will continue this loop indefinitely. Below is a diagram on how to set this up.
The final method is AN Output Simultaneous Operation. This method does not work in all applications and is sensitive to
how the other sensors in the array are positioned in comparison to each other. Testing is recommend to verify this method
will work for your application. All the sensors RX pins are conned together and triggered at the same time causing all the
sensor to take a range reading at the same time. Once the range reading is complete, the sensors stop ranging until
triggered next time. Below is a diagram on how to set this up.
MaxBotix
®
Inc.
Copyright 2005 - 2015 MaxBotix Incorporated
Patent 7,679,996
MaxBotix Inc., products are engineered and assembled in the USA.
Page 5
Web:
www.maxbotix.com
PD11832e
