Datasheet

XL-MaxSonar

- EZ/AE™ Series

Page 9

Web: www.maxbotix.com

PD11840l

MaxBotix Inc., products are engineered and assembled in the USA.

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Beam Characteristics

Background Information Regarding our Beam Patterns

Each XL-MaxSonar-EZ sensor has a calibrated beam pattern. Each sensor is matched to provide the

approximate detection pattern shown in this datasheet. This allows end users to select the part

number that matches their given sensing application. Each part number has a consistent field of

detection so additional units of the same part number will have similar beam patterns. The beam

plots are provided to help identify an estimated detection zone for an application based on the

acoustic properties of a target versus the plotted beam patterns.

Each beam pattern is a 2D representation of the detection area of the sensor. The beam pattern is

actually shaped like a 3D cone (having the same detection pattern both vertically and horizontally).

Detection patterns for dowels are used to show the beam pattern of each sensor. Dowels are long

cylindered targets of a given diameter. The dowels provide consistent target detection characteristics

for a given size target which allows easy comparison of one MaxSonar sensor to another MaxSonar

sensor.

For each part number, the four patterns (A, B, C, and D) represent the detection zone for a given

target size. Each beam pattern shown is determined by the sensor’s part number and target size.

The actual beam angle changes over the full range. Use the beam pattern for a specific target at any given distance to

calculate the beam angle for that target at the specific distance. Generally, smaller targets are detected over a narrower

beam angle and a shorter distance. Larger targets are detected over a wider beam angle and a longer range.

Beam Pattern Target Shapes

A 6.1-mm (0.25-inch) diameter dowel 4ft length

B 2.54-cm (1-inch) diameter dowel 4ft length

C 8.89-cm (3.5-inch) diameter dowel 4ft length

D 11-inch wide board 4ft in length moved left to right with the

board parallel to the front sensor face. This shows the sensor’s

range capability.

People Sensing:

For users that

desire to detect

people, the

detection area to

the 1-inch

diameter dowel, in

general, represents

the area that the

sensor will

reliably detect

people.