Sensors

➢ Sensor is an element which produces a signal relating to the

quantity being measured.
➢ An input device which provides an output (signal) with respect to
a specific physical quantity.
➢ A device that converts signals from one energy domain to
electrical domain.
Different Sensors
 Examples of Sensors
➢ Dial Indicator: the indicating spindle acts as a sensor/detector for
displacement.
➢ Bourdon Tube Pressure Gauge is two fold: Firstly to sense the
pressure & secondly to give the output in the form of
displacement. Here the tube acts a sensor/detector transducer.
➢ Compressive Load Cell: the platform detects the force and gives
an output in the form of deflection. This deflection may be
further converted into an electrical output by strain gauges
(called secondary transducer).
 Smart Sensors
➢ Sensors that combined with signal conditioning and
microprocessors are referred as smart sensors.
➢ Smart Sensors Applications
✓ Communications
✓ Computations
✓ Multi sensing
✓ Self calibration
 Sensors
➢ The normal sensors have three crucial parts which are
1) Sensing Element (Transistor, Capacitors, Photo Diode etc.).
2) Conduction of Signals and Processing.
3) Sensor Interface.
Criteria for Classification of Sensors
1) Primary Input Quantity (Measurand)
2) Transduction Principles (Using Physical and Chemical effects)
3) Material and Technology
4) Property
5) Application
 Classification of Sensors
➢ Active Sensor: Active Sensors are those which require an external
excitation signal or a power signal. E.g.: LiDAR (Light Detection and
Ranging), Photoconductive Cell.
➢ Passive Sensor: Do not require any external power signal and directly
generates output response. E.g.: Radiometers, film photography.
➢ Based on Detection: Some of the means of detection are Electric,
Biological, Chemical, Radioactive etc.
➢ Analogue Sensors: Produce an analog output.
➢ Digital Sensors: Work with discrete or digital data.
➢ Some of the conversion phenomena are Photoelectric, Thermoelectric,
Electrochemical, Electromagnetic, Thermo-optic, etc.
 Classification of Sensors
➢ All these sensors are used for measuring one of the physical
properties like Temperature, Resistance, Capacitance, Conduction,
Heat Transfer etc.
1) Temperature Sensor 8) Smoke, Gas and Alcohol Sensor
2) Proximity Sensor 9) Touch Sensor
3) Accelerometer 10)Color Sensor
4) IR Sensor 11)Humidity Sensor
5) Pressure Sensor 12)Tilt Sensor
6) Light Sensor 13)Flow and Level Sensor
7) Ultrasonic Sensor
 Principle of working of Light sensors (Passive)
➢ Light Sensors are photoelectric devices / Photo sensors that convert light
energy (photons) whether visible or infra-red light into an electrical signal.

Applications: Smoke detectors, compact disc players, and televisions, remote

controls in VCRs, clock radios, street light
 Principle of working of Light sensors (Passive)
➢ Photodiodes: Are semiconductor
junction, connected into a circuit in
reverse bias giving a very high resistance.
➢ With no incident light, the reverse
current is almost negligible and is
termed the dark current.
➢ When light falls on the junction, extra
hole–electron pairs are produced and
there is an increase in the reverse
current and the diode resistance drops.
➢ The reverse current is very nearly
proportional to the intensity of the light.
 Principle of working of Light sensors (Passive)
➢ Photoresistor: A photoresistor (or light-dependent resistor, LDR, or photo-
conductive cell) is a light-controlled variable resistor. The resistance of a
photoresistor decreases with increasing incident light intensity
(photoconductivity).
a) Automatic Street Lights
b) Light meters in camera
c) Light sensors
d) Clock radios
 Principle of working of Proximity Switches
➢ A proximity sensor is a sensor able to detect the presence of nearby objects
without any physical contact.
➢ The microswitch is a small electrical switch which requires physical contact
and a small operating force to close the contacts.

(A) Lever-operated, (B) Roller-operated, (C) Cam-operated Switches

 Hall Effect Sensors
➢ A Hall effect sensor is a device that is
used to measure the magnitude of a
magnetic field.
➢ Its output voltage is directly
proportional to the magnetic field
strength through it.
➢ Hall effect sensors are used for
proximity sensing, positioning, speed
detection, and current sensing
applications.
➢ When a beam of charged particles
passes through a magnetic field, forces
act on the particles and the beam is
deflected from its straight line path.
 Assignment Questions

01 Write short note on Smart Sensors. 03

02 Broadly classify different of Sensors. 04
03 Write short note on Light sensors. 03
04 Write short note on Proximity Switches. 03
05 Write short note on Hall Effect Sensors. 03

Ankit P. Solanki (8141044274) [email protected]

Shroff S. R. Rotary Institute of Chemical Technology 15