Simple LVDT Demodulator

Abstract

A simple technique to realize demodulator for linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) is presented in this paper. The proposed LVDT demodulator is based on sample and hold technique. The proposed scheme consists of peak detector, phase detector, monostable circuit, sample and hold circuit, and controllable unity-gain inverting/noninverting amplifier. The presented technique employs the simple and low-cost devices such as op-amp, and digital logic gate. Experimentation with the commercial LVDT model OP12.5G from Solartron metrology shows that the proposed LVDT demodulator provides the output voltage corresponding to the movement of LVDT core with satisfactory values and good linearity. The maximum error of the proposed demodulator is about 1.5%. In addition, the output magnitude of proposed LVDT demodulator can be adjusted by variable resistor (VR1) without the external circuit requirement.