INTRODUCTION TO SENSORS
Let us consider a measurement system. It is composed of
an input device which senses the environment or
surrounding to generate an output
A signal processing block which processes the signal from
input device and an output device which presents the signal
to human or machine operator in a more readable and
usable form.
The initial stage is input device which is mainly what we
are going to discuss in this chapter.
Sensor
• A device which provides a usable output in response to a
specified measured.
• A sensor acquires a physical quantity and converts it into a
signal suitable for processing (e.g. optical, electrical,
mechanical)
• Nowadays common sensors convert measurement of physical
Phenomena into an electrical signal.
A sensor is a device that responds to any change in physical
phenomena or environmental variables like heat, pressure,
humidity, movement etc.
This change affects the physical, chemical or
electromagnetic properties of the sensors which is further
processed to a more usable and readable form.
Sensor is the heart of a measurement system. It is the first
element that comes in contact with environmental variables
to generate an output.
The signal produced by the sensor is equivalent to the
quantity to be measured.
Sensors are used to measure a particular characteristic of
any object or device.
For example a thermocouple, a thermocouple will
sense heat energy (temperature) at one of its junction
and produce equivalent output voltage which can be
measured by a voltage read by the voltmeter.
All sensors need to be calibrated with respect to some
reference value or standard for accurate measurement.
Below is the figure of a thermocouple.
Note that a transducer and a sensor are not the same.
The thermocouple acts as a transducer but the additional
circuits or components needed like the voltmeter, a display
etc together from a temperature sensor.
Hence the transducer will just convert the energy from one
form to another and all the remaining work is done by the
additional circuits connected.
This whole device forms a sensor. Sensors and transducers
are closely related to each other.
Characteristics of Sensors
A good sensor should have the following characteristics
o High Sensitivity: Sensitivity indicates how much the
output of the device changes with unit change in input
(quantity to be measured).
For example the voltage of a temperature sensor
changes by 1mV for every 1oC change in temperature than
the sensitivity of the sensor is said to be 1mV/oC.
o Linearity: The output should change linearly with the
input.
o High Resolution: Resolution is the smallest change in
the input that the device can detect.
o Less Noise and Disturbance.
o Less power consumption.
Types of Sensors
Sensors are classified based on the nature of quantity they
measure. Following are the types of sensors with few
examples.
Sensor classification
Based on the quantity being measured
Temperature: Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD), Thermistor,
Thermocouple
Pressure: Bourdon tube, manometer, diaphragms, pressure
gauge.
Force/ torque: Strain gauge, load cell.
Speed/ position: Tachometer, encoder, LVDT
Light: Photo-diode, Light dependent resistor
Active and passive sensors:
Based on power requirement sensors can be classified as
active and passive.
Active sensors are those which do not require external
power source for their functioning. They generate power
within themselves to operate and hence called as self-
generating type.
o The energy for functioning is derived from the
quantity being measured. For example piezoelectric
crystal generate electrical output (charge) when
subjected to acceleration.
Passive sensors:- It require external power source for
their functioning. Most of the resistive, inductive and
capacitive sensors are passive (just as resistors, inductors
and capacitors are called passive devices).
Analog and digital sensor:
An analog sensor converts the physical quantity
being measured to analog form (continuous in
time). Thermocouple, RTD, Strain gauge are called
analog sensors.
A digital sensor produces output in the form of
pulse. Encoders are example of digital sensors.
Inverse sensors:
There are some sensors which are capable of
sensing a physical quantity to convert it to
other form and also sense the output signal
form to get back the quantity in original form.
For example a piezoelectric crystal when
subjected to vibration generates voltage.
o At the same time when a piezo crystal is
subjected to varying voltage they begin
to vibrate.
o This property makes them suitable to use
in microphone and speakers.
