Sensor

Sensor

A sensor is a device that detects events or changes in its environment and sends the information to other electronics, frequently a computer processor. A sensor is always used with other electronics.

Sensors are used in everyday objects such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons (tactile sensor) and lamps which dim or brighten by touching the base, besides innumerable applications of which most people are never aware. With advances in microtechnology and miniaturization, a proliferation of sensors has become available.

Types of Sensors

There are different types of sensors including thermal, proximity, optical, pressure, and acoustic sensors.

Thermal Sensor

A thermal sensor is a device that gathers and reads information related to temperature. A thermal sensor is made up of two different types of metals that are joined together at the ends. A voltage is then applied between the two metals.

Proximity Sensor

A proximity sensor is a sensor able to detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact. A proximity sensor often emits an electromagnetic field or a beam of electromagnetic radiation (infrared, for instance), and looks for changes in the field or return signal.

Optical Sensor

An optical sensor converts light rays into electronic signals. It measures the physical quantity of light and then translates it into a form that is readable by an instrument. An optical sensor is generally part of a larger system that integrates a source of light, a measuring device and the optical sensor.

Pressure Sensor

A pressure sensor is a device for pressure measurement of gases or liquids. Pressure is an expression of the force required to stop a fluid from expanding, and is usually stated in terms of force per unit area.

Acoustic Sensor

An acoustic sensor is a device that can monitor physical, biological, and chemical stimulus by producing as an output signal a voltage proportional to the input stimulus.

Applications

Sensors are used in a wide array of applications including industrial control systems, automotive systems, medical technology, and environmental monitoring.

See Also

• Actuator
• Transducer
• Remote sensing

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