5/19/2018

Today’s Lecture
MEASUREMENTS &
INSTRUMENTATION Defining sensors and transducers

Classifying sensors
Lecture 04 : Sensors
Some important sensor characteristics
KANISHKA Madusanka
kanishka@mech.mrt.ac.lk Some important physical principles used in sensing.

Department of Mechanical Engineering Advantages of electrical transducers. (sensors)

University of Moratuwa

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Introduction Introduction

What is sense ?

Sense is the ability to feel or detect or understand changes in

the surrounding environment

What is sensing?

The process of detecting and converting changes changes in

the environment to an understandable form

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Sensors and transducers Sensors and transducers

 Sensor is a device that receives a stimulus and  A sensor can comprises of several transducers
outputs an electrical signal
 Upon a stimulus (the quantity, property or the
condition that is being sensed), sensors
generate electrical output.
 Transducer is device that converts one form of
energy to another form of energy.
 All sensors are transducers but all the • Example – A chemical sensor can comprise of a transducer that
transducers are not necessarily sensors. converts the chemical energy to heat and another transducer that
converts heat to electrical signal.
 We want the stimulus to be converted to
electrical domain rather than any other domain. Stimulus – Chemical reaction, Output – electrical signal

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Sensors and transducers Classifying sensors

Different sensor classification criteria are available.
 Sensor can be a direct sensor (one element, single transducer)
or a complex sensor (several elements, several transducers) Passive Generates the output by the applied stimulus
 The stimulus for sensors can be any conceivable physical or sensors itself. No need additional energy source.
chemical characteristic such as E.g. Thermocouple, piezo electric sensors
 Light flux
 Temperature
 Pressure In addition to the stimulus there is a power
Active
 Humidity source applied to the sensor. The stimulus is
sensors
 Vibration modulated in the excitation signal (external
 Position energy) and given as the output.
 Displacement …
E.g. Temperature sensitive resistors (Thermistors),

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Classifying sensors Sensor characteristics

Depending on the reference selected
Sense the stimulus with reference to an
Absolute
absolute physical scale which is independent
sensors
from the measurement conditions
E.g. Thermistor – K scale
Produce the output to the stimulus with
Relative respect to a special case of the stimulus. Not
sensors directly connected with an absolute physical
scale.
E.g. Thermocouple
 We will look at the sensor as a black box and consider
some of its characteristics that characterize the
stimulus, output and the transition.
 These sensor characteristics are significant when
selecting a sensor to a particular application.
 Some may not be applicable for all type of sensors.
 Frequency response and bandwidth –
 The range of frequencies within which the sensor
can be effectively used is called the bandwidth.

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Sensor characteristics - Sensitivity Sensor characteristics

 Sensitivity refers to the ability of the sensor to produce  Full Scale Input (Span) – The dynamic range of
a change in output for a unit change in the stimulus. stimuli that the sensor can sense is called the
 Defined as Change of output/Change of input
span. It gives the highest possible input that
can be sensed with an acceptable level of
 Unit depends on the actual sensor which is under accuracy. Sometimes the span is given by
interest. decibels. (dB)
 Static error – The difference between the measured and  Eg: Thermistor – from -900C to 1300C
the actual values. Thermocouple – from -1850C to 17000C
Capacitive Proximity Sensor - from 1mm
Error
Error_Percentage   100% to 5cm
Actual_Value

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Sensor characteristics Sensor characteristics

 Accuracy – Tells how inaccurate the sensor is !!!
Full Scale Output (FSO) – This is the algebraic Measured as the highest deviation of a value
difference between the electrical output signals indicated by the sensor, from the actual (true) value at
obtained with the highest possible input and the that input.
lowest possible input respectively. The accuracy (inaccuracy) is expressed as,
 Directly in terms of the measured output value
Eg: 0V – 5V for temperature sensor1  As a percentage of the input full scale (span)
4-20mA for temperature sensor2  In terms of the output signal
0-24V for load cell1
E.g. A piezo-resistive pressure sensor having 100 kPa
span and 10Ω full scale output, has an accuracy of
either +-0.5%, +-500Pa or +-0.05Ω

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Sensor characteristics Sensor characteristics

 Hysteresis – Output of some sensors not only  Saturation – At some levels of the input stimuli the
depend on the present stimuli but also depend on output will no longer be responsive to the input.
the past inputs. (history). Then further increase in stimuli will not produce
considerable output.

Because of this the output can be different

for the same value of input when the
measurement is taken for increasing input After the linear span the
and decreasing input separately. sensor exhibits span end
nonlinearity or saturation.
Physical and structural changes in
materials and friction can cause the
hysteresis

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Sensor characteristics Sensor characteristics

 Repeatability (Precision) – Ability of the sensor to  Resolution – The smallest change in the stimuli
produce the same output in different measurement that is capable of resulting a measurable output
trials under the same conditions. difference.
 Output impedance – Plays an important role when
 Repeatability error is the inability to do so. interfacing the sensors with other circuitry.
Repeatability error can be caused by build up
charges, material plasticity, thermal noise.
 Dead band – Tells the insensitivity of a sensor over a
given range of input signal.

Sensor having voltage output Sensor having current output

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Sensor characteristics Some physical principles used for sensing

 Capacitance –
 Reliability – Ability of a sensor to perform its function
 Inductance/Magnetism –
under stated conditions for a given period of time.  Resistance –
Usually this figure is expressed as a probability that  Temperature sensitivity
the sensor will function properly with out a failure  Strain sensitivity
over a given period of time.  Moisture sensitivity
But not commonly specified by the sensor
 Piezoelectric effect –
manufacturers.
 Hall effect -
Can be expressed as a MTBF (Mean Time Between  Sound waves -
Failure) figure.  Heat transfer -

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Some physical principles used for sensing Some physical principles used for sensing
 Inductance/Magnetism –
 Hall effect -

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Advantages of electrical transducers (sensors)

 Electrical amplification and attenuation(gradual loss) is
possible
 Effect of friction is minimized. END
 Mass – inertia effects are minimized.
 Output can be indicated and recorded remotely.
 Output can be modified or conditioned in order to meet
D.G. KANISHKA Madusanka
the requirement imposed by the other control elements. kanishka@mech.mrt.ac.lk
 The electrical/electronics based systems can be Department of Mechanical Engineering
controlled with a small power. University of Moratuwa

 Electrical signal can be easily transmitted for further

manipulation.

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