Definition
A sensor detects (senses) changes in the ambient conditions or in the state of another device or a system, and forwards or processes this information in a certain manner.
"A device which detects or measures a physical property and record, indicates, or otherwise responds to it"
Sensors
They perform some input functions by sensing or feeling the physical changes in characteristics of a system in response to a stimuli.
For example heat is converted to electrical signals in a temperature sensor, or atmospheric pressure is converted to electrical signals in a barometer.
Transducers
Transducers convert or transduce energy of one kind into another.
For example, in a sound system, a microphone (input device) converts sound waves into electrical signals for an amplifier to amplify (a process), and a loudspeaker (output device) converts these electrical signals back into sound waves.
Sensor vs. Transducer
The word "Transducer" is the collective term used for both Sensors which can be used to sense a wide range of different energy forms such as movement, electrical signals, radiant energy, thermal or magnetic energy etc., And Actuators which can be used to switch voltages or current.
Sensor Features
Sensor Resolution
Sensor ClassesA sensor detects (senses) changes in the ambient conditions or in the state of another device or a system, and forwards or processes this information in a certain manner.
"A device which detects or measures a physical property and record, indicates, or otherwise responds to it"
Sensors
They perform some input functions by sensing or feeling the physical changes in characteristics of a system in response to a stimuli.
For example heat is converted to electrical signals in a temperature sensor, or atmospheric pressure is converted to electrical signals in a barometer.
Transducers
Transducers convert or transduce energy of one kind into another.
For example, in a sound system, a microphone (input device) converts sound waves into electrical signals for an amplifier to amplify (a process), and a loudspeaker (output device) converts these electrical signals back into sound waves.
Sensor vs. Transducer
The word "Transducer" is the collective term used for both Sensors which can be used to sense a wide range of different energy forms such as movement, electrical signals, radiant energy, thermal or magnetic energy etc., And Actuators which can be used to switch voltages or current.
Sensor Features
- It is only sensitive to the measured property (e.g., A temperature sensor senses the ambient temperature of a room.)
- It is insensitive to any other property likely to be encountered in its application (e.g., A temperature sensor does not bother about light or pressure while sensing the temperature.)
- It does not influence the measured property (e.g., measuring the temperature does not reduce or increase the temperature).
Sensor Resolution
- The resolution of a sensor is the smallest change it can detect in the quantity that it is measuring.
- The resolution of a sensor with a digital output is usually the smallest resolution the digital output it is capable of processing.
- The more is the resolution of a sensor, the more accurate is its precision.
- A sensor's accuracy does not depend upon its resolution.
Analog Sensors
- Analog Sensors produces a continuous output signal or voltage which is generally proportional to the quantity being measured.
- Physical quantities such as Temperature, speed, Pressure, Displacement, Strain etc. are all analog quantities as they tend to be continuous in nature.
- For example, the temperature of a liquid can be measured using a thermometer or thermocouple (e.g. in geysers) which continuously responds to temperature changes as the liquid is heated up or cooled down.
Digital Sensors
- Digital Sensors produce discrete output voltages that are a digital representation of the quantity being measured.
- Digital sensors produce a binary output signal in the form of a logic "1" or a logic "0" , ("ON" or "OFF).
- Digital signal only produces discrete (non-continuous) values, which may be output as a signal "bit" (serial transmission), or by combing the bits to produce a signal "byte" output (parallel transmission).
Scalar Sensors
- Scalar Sensors produce output signal or voltage which generally proportional to the magnitude of the quantity being measured.
- Physical quantities such as temperature, color, pressure, strain, etc. are all scalar quantities as only their magnitude is sufficient to convey an information.
- For example the temperature of a room can be measured using thermometer or thermocouple, which responds to temperature changes irrespective of the orientation of the sensor or its direction.
Vector Sensors
- Vector Sensors produce output signal or voltage which generally proportional to the magnitude, direction, as well as the orientation of the quantity being measured.
- Physical quantities such as sound, image, velocity, acceleration, orientation, etc. are all vector quantities, as only their magnitude is not sufficient to convey the complete information.
- For example, the acceleration of a body can be measured using an accelerometer, which gives the components of acceleration of the body with respect to the x,y,z coordinate axes.
Sensor Types
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