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Introduction and Classification of Sensors

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Introduction and Classification of Sensors

G R Sinha
 Lecture Outline

 Introduction to Sensor
 Classification of Sensors

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Lecture 02: Introduction and Classification of Sensors G R Sinha
 Definition

• A sensor is a device that receives a stimulus and responds with an electrical signal.

Fig 1.1

Level control system. A sight tube and the operator’s eye form a sensor.

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Lecture 02: Introduction and Classification of Sensors G R Sinha
 What are some quantities that can be sensed?

• Motion, position, displacement

• Velocity and acceleration
• Force, strain
• Pressure
• Flow
• Sound
• Moisture
• Light
• Radiation
• Temperature
• Chemical presence

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Lecture 02: Introduction and Classification of Sensors G R Sinha
 Electrical Signal means…

 Electrical signal that can be channeled, amplified and modified by electronic devices:
 Voltage
 Current
 Charge
 The voltage, current or charge may be described by:
 Amplitude
 Frequency
 Phase
 Digital code

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Lecture 02: Introduction and Classification of Sensors G R Sinha
 Sensor as Energy Converter

 This conversion can be direct or it may require transducers.

Fig 1.2

 For example, A chemical sensor may have a part which converts the energy of a chemical reaction
into heat (transducer) and another part, a thermopile, which converts heat into an electrical signal.

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Lecture 02: Introduction and Classification of Sensors G R Sinha
 Stimuli Examples

 Acoustic- Wave: Amplitude, phase, polarization; wave velocity

 Electric-Charge, current, potential, voltage, Electric filed, permittivity and conductivity
 Magnetic: Magnetic field, permeability, magnetic flux
 Optical-Wave: Amplitude, phase, polarization, spectrum; Wave velocity; Refractive index; Absorption;
Reflectivity
 Mechanical-Position: angular and linear; acceleration; force; stress; pressure; mass; density; moment;
torque; Viscosity
 Radiation- Type, energy, intensity
 Thermal- Temperature, specific heat; Thermal conductivity

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Lecture 02: Introduction and Classification of Sensors G R Sinha
 Sensor Material

 Inorganic: Conductor, Semiconductor, Biological Substance

 Organic: Insulator, Liquid, gas, plasma

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Lecture 02: Introduction and Classification of Sensors G R Sinha
 Types of Sensors
 Direct: A sensor that can convert a non-electrical stimulus into an electrical signal with intermediate
stages, e.g. Thermocouple (temperature to voltage)
 Indirect: A sensor that multiple conversion steps to transform the measured signal into an electrical
signal, for example a fiber-optic displacement sensor (Light Current photons current)
Classification of Sensors
Based on physical laws or convenient distinguishing property
1. Active and Passive sensors
2. Contact and non-contact sensors
3. Absolute and relative sensors
4. Others

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Lecture 02: Introduction and Classification of Sensors G R Sinha
 Active and Passive Sensors
 Active sensor: A sensor that requires external power to operate, e.g. carbon microphone, thermistors,
strain gauges, capacitive and inductive sensors, etc.
The active sensor is also called as parametric sensor (output is a function of a parameter - like resistance)

 Passive sensor: It generates its own electric signal and does not require a power source, e.g.
thermocouples, magnetic microphones, piezoelectric sensors, photodiode.
Also called as self-generating sensors

Lecture 02: Introduction and Classification of Sensors G R Sinha

 Contact and Non Contact Sensors
 Contact sensor: A sensor that requires physical contact with the stimulus, e.g. strain gauges,
temperature sensors

 Non-contact sensor: It requires no physical contact, e.g. most optical and magnetic sensors, infrared
thermometers, etc.

Lecture 02: Introduction and Classification of Sensors G R Sinha

 Absolute and Relative Sensors
 Absolute sensor: A sensor that reacts to a stimulus on an absolute scale, such as thermistors, strain
gauges, etc., (thermistor always reads the absolute temperature)

 Relative scale: The stimulus is sensed relative to a fixed or variable reference, for example
thermocouple measures the temperature difference; pressure is often measured relative to
atmospheric pressure.

Lecture 02: Introduction and Classification of Sensors G R Sinha

 Others
 Classification based on broad area of detection: Electric sensors, Magnetic, Electromagnetic, Acoustic, Chemical,
Optical, Heat, Temperature, Mechanical, Radiation, Biological etc.

 Classification based on physical law: Photoelectric, Magnetoelectric, Thermoelectric, Photoconductive,

Photomagnetic, Thermomagnetic, Thermooptic, Electrochermical, Magnetoresistive, Photoelastic etc.

 Classification based on Specification: Accuracy, sensitivity, Stability, response time, hysteresis, Frequency response,
input, resolution, linearity, hardness, cost, size, weight, conduction materials, temperature etc.

 Classification as per Application: Agriculture, Automotive, Civil engineering and construction, Domestic appliances,
Commerce, Finance Environment, Meteorology, security, Energy, Information and Telecommunication, Health and
medicine, Marine, Military and Space, Recreation and toys, Scientific measurement, Manufacturing and
Transportation and many more…

Lecture 02: Introduction and Classification of Sensors G R Sinha

 Thanks with Happy Learning

E= mc2

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Lecture 02: Introduction and Classification of Sensors
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