SENSOR TECHNOLOGY

Submitted By : SOUMYAJIT SAHA(Department of BCA,Batch :2017-2020)

University Roll No. :15201217020

WHAT IS A SENSOR?

A sensor is a device that detects and responds to some type of input from the physical environment ( such as heat, light, sound, pressure, magnetism or a particular motion ) and then transmits a signal to a measuring or control instrument.

USE OF SENSORS

USES : Sensors are used in everyday objects such as  touch-sensitive elevator buttons, lamps which dim or brighten by touching the base, Washing machines, Electric kettle etc.

Its applications include Cars, Machines, Aerospace, Medicines,  Manufacturing, Robotics and many more

TYPES OF SENSOR

Analog Sensors:  Accelerometers , Light Sensors , Sound Sensors , Pressure Sensor , Analog Temperature Sensor

 Digital Sensors: Switches , Infrared Sensors , Digital Accelerometers , Digital Temperature Sensor Digital Sensors

PARAMETERS THAT CAN BE SENSED

  • Motion, Position, Displacement
  • Force, Strain
  • Pressure
  • Flow
  • Velocity and Acceleration
  • Sound
  • Moisture
  • Light
  • Radiation
  • Temperature

SOME EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SENSORS

Accelerometers : Accelerometer sensors are fixed to get acceleration along the X, Y, and Z-axes, and they record the GPS coordinates.

 Light Sensor : The light sensor is a passive device that converts the light energy into an electrical signal output. Light sensors are more commonly known as Photoelectric Devices or Photo Sensors because they convert light energy  into electronic signal. Light sensors often detect light that's not visible to the human eye.

Sound Sensor : A sound sensor is defined as a module that detects sound waves through its intensity and converting it to electrical signals. Sound Sensors are used in phones, computers, music systems etc.

Pressure Sensor : A pressure sensor is a device for pressure measurement of gases or liquids. A pressure sensor usually acts as a transducer; it generates a signal as a function of the pressure imposed. For the purposes of this article, such a signal is electrical. Pressure sensors are used for control and monitoring in thousands of everyday applications such as measuring of combustion pressure in an engine cylinder, etc.

 Infrared Sensor : An infrared sensor is an electronic device, that is used to sense some aspects of the surroundings. An IR sensor can measure the heat of an object as well as detects the motion. These types of sensors measure only infrared radiation. These are used in Houses and Hotels at automatic lights and water taps.

Temperature Sensor : A temperature sensor is an electronic device that measures the temperature of its environment and converts the input data into electronic data to record, monitor, or signal temperature changes. They are used in Battery chargers, Refrigerators, GPS devices and many more devices.

SENSOR’S CHARACTERISTICS

 A good sensor has the following characteristics :  Optimum measurement accuracy ,It is sensitive only to the measured property , High sensitivity , Fast response 

A substandard sensor has the following properties : Several types of deviations can be observed , Low sensitivity , Slow response , Short term stability

LIMITATIONS OF SENSORS  

Low cost devices are not as accurate, Non-linearity and Offset Errors , Challenging to get good data , Need well designed Data Acquisition Electronics , Limited Computing power , Limited Energy

CONCLUSION

Owing to its wide range of applications sensor technology is gaining momentum in modern day technological world. Engineers should always keep in mind, while designing or creating a new type of sensors, that should be satisfying the followings :

 Simple , Low Cost , Low power Consumption , High Reliable , Compact