What is a Sensor?

A sensor is an input device of the controller that which provides an output with
respect to a specific physical quantity of the input. The term “input device” in the
definition of a Sensor means that it is part of a bigger system which provides
input to a main control system (like a Processor or a Microcontroller).It is a
device that converts signals from one energy domain to electrical,
mechanical,and information technology.
Real Time Application of Sensors
The example we are talking about here is the Autopilot System in aircrafts.
Almost all civilian and military aircrafts have the feature of Automatic Flight
Control system or sometimes called as Autopilot.

An Automatic Flight Control System consists of several sensors for various tasks
like speed control, height monitoring, position tracking, status of doors, obstacle
detection, fuel level, maneuvering and many more. A Computer takes data from
all these sensors and processes them by comparing them with pre-designed
values.

The computer then provides control signals to different parts like engines, flaps,
rudders, motors etc. that help in a smooth flight. The combination of Sensors,
Computers and Mechanics makes it possible to run the plane in Autopilot Mode.
Classification of Sensors
There are several classifications of sensors Some are very simple and some
are very complex. The following classification of sensors may already be used
by an expert in the subject but this is a very simple classification of sensors.

In the first classification of the sensors, they are divided in to Active and
Passive. Active Sensors are those which require an external excitation signal or
a power signal.

Passive Sensors, on the other hand, do not require any external power signal
and directly generates output response.

An active sensor is a sensing device that requires an external source of power

to operate; active sensors contrast with passive sensors, which simply detect
and respond to some type of input from the physical environment.

Passive Sensors
Passive sensors detect reflected electromagnetic radiation from a source such
as the sun. The camera on your phone is a passive sensor, receiving the
reflected spectrum from the sun as it reflects off your body and clothes, thus
capturing your likeness in a photo.

Passive sensors include radiometers, which are devices used for measuring the
radiant flux of electromagnetic radiation, and spectrometers, which are optical
instruments used to see spectral lines and measure their wavelength and
intensity [1]. These sensors operate in the visible, infrared, thermal infrared, and
microwave segments of the electromagnetic spectrum [1].
EXAMPLE
The sun provides a very convenient source of energy for remote sensing. The
sun's energy is either reflected, as it is for visible wavelengths, or absorbed and
then re-emitted, as it is for thermal infrared wavelengths. Remote sensing
systems which measure energy that is naturally available are called passive
sensors. Passive sensors can only be used to detect energy when the naturally
occurring energy is available. For all reflected energy, this can only take place
during the time when the sun is illuminating the Earth. There is no reflected
energy available from the sun at night. Energy that is naturally emitted (such as
thermal infrared) can be detected day or night, as long as the amount of energy
is large enough to be recorded.
Active sensors, on the other hand, provide their own energy source for
illumination. The sensor emits radiation which is directed toward the target to be
investigated. The radiation reflected from that target is detected and measured
by the sensor. Advantages for active sensors include the ability to obtain
measurements anytime, regardless of the time of day or season. Active sensors
can be used for examining wavelengths that are not sufficiently provided by the
sun, such as microwaves, or to better control the way a target is illuminated.
However, active systems require the generation of a fairly large amount of
energy to adequately illuminate targets. Some examples of active sensors are a
laser fluorosensor and a synthetic aperture radar (SAR).

Passive sensor, receiving

the reflected spectrum from
the sun as it reflects off
your body and clothes, thus capturing your likeness in a photo.

The other type of classification is based on the means of detection used in the
sensor. Some of the means of detection are Electric, Biological, Chemical,
Radioactive etc.
The next classification is based on conversion phenomenon i.e., the input and
the output. Some of the common conversion phenomena are Photoelectric,
Thermoelectric, Electrochemical, Electromagnetic, Thermooptic, etc.

The final classification of the sensors are Analog and Digital Sensors. Analog
Sensors produce an analog output i.e., a continuous output signal (usually
voltage but sometimes other quantities like Resistance, Current, etc.) with
respect to the quantity being measured.

Digital Sensors, in contrast to Analog Sensors, work with discrete or digital data.
The data in digital sensors, which is used for conversion and transmission, is
digital in nature.

Different Types of Sensors

The following is a list of different types of sensors that are commonly used in
various applications. All these sensors are used for measuring one of the
physical properties like Temperature, Resistance, Capacitance, Conduction,
Heat Transfer etc.

1.Temperature Sensor
2.Proximity Sensor
3.Accelerometer
4.IR Sensor (Infrared Sensor)
5.Pressure Sensor
6.Light Sensor
7.Ultrasonic Sensor
8.Smoke, Gas and Alcohol Sensor
9.Touch Sensor
10.Color Sensor
11.Humidity Sensor
12.Position Sensor
13.Magnetic Sensor (Hall Effect Sensor)
14.Microphone (Sound Sensor)
15.Tilt Sensor
 16.Flow and Level Sensor
17.PIR Sensor
18.Touch Sensor
19.Strain and Weight Sensor
We will see about few of the above-mentioned sensors in brief. More information
about the sensors will be added subsequently. A list of projects using the above
sensors is given at the end of the page.

Temperature Sensor
One of the most common and most popular sensors is the Temperature Sensor.
A Temperature Sensor, as the name suggests, senses the temperature i.e., it
measures the changes in the temperature.

There are different types of Temperature Sensors like Temperature Sensor ICs
(like LM35, DS18B20), Thermistors, Thermocouples, RTD (Resistive
Temperature Devices), etc.Temperature Sensors can be analog or digital. In an
Analog Temperature Sensor, the changes in the Temperature correspond to
change in its physical property like resistance or voltage. LM35 is a classic
Analog Temperature Sensor.
Coming to the Digital Temperature Sensor, the output is a discrete digital value
(usually, some numerical data after converting analog value to digital
value). DS18B20 is a simple Digital Temperature Sensor.

Temperature Sensors are used everywhere like computers, mobile phones,

automobiles, air conditioning systems, industries etc.

Proximity Sensors
A Proximity Sensor is a non-contact type sensor that detects the presence of an
object. Proximity Sensors can be implemented using different techniques like
Optical (like Infrared or Laser), Sound (Ultrasonic), Magnetic (Inductive),
Capacitive, etc.

Inductive Proximity Sensor is able to detect the presence of a metallic target.  

Capacitive sensors
A capacitive sensor is a proximity sensor that detects nearby objects by their effect on
the electrical field created by the sensor. ... Capacitive sensors have some similarities to
radar in their ability to detect conductive materials, while seeing through insulating materials
such as wood or plastic.
Infrared Sensor (IR Sensor)
IR Sensors or Infrared Sensor are light based sensor that are used in various
applications like Proximity and Object Detection. IR Sensors are used as
proximity sensors in almost all mobile phones.

here are two types of Infrared or IR Sensors: Transmissive Type and Reflective
Type. In Transmissive Type IR Sensor, the IR Transmitter (usually an IR LED)
and the IR Detector (usually a Photo Diode) are positioned facing each other so
that when an object passes between them, the sensor detects the object.

The other type of IR Sensor is a Reflective Type IR Sensor. In this, the

transmitter and the detector are positioned adjacent to each other facing the
object. When an object comes in front of the sensor, the infrared light from the
IR Transmitter is reflected from the object and is detected by the IR Receiver
and thus the sensor detects the object.

Different applications where IR Sensor is implemented are Mobile Phones,

Robots, Industrial assembly, automobiles etc.

Ultrasonic Sensor
An Ultrasonic Sensor is a non-contact type device that can be used to measure
distance as well as velocity of an object. An Ultrasonic Sensor works based on
the properties of the sound waves with frequency greater than that of the human
audible range.
Using the time of flight of the sound wave, an Ultrasonic Sensor can measure
the distance of the object (similar to SONAR). The Doppler Shift property of the
sound wave is used to measure the velocity of an object.

Light Sensor
Sometimes also known as Photo Sensors, Light Sensors are one of the
important sensors. A simple Light Sensor available today is the Light Dependent
Resistor or LDR. The property of LDR is that its resistance is inversely
proportional to the intensity of the ambient light i.e., when the intensity of light
increases, its resistance decreases and vise-versa.

By using LDR is a circuit, we can calibrate the changes in its resistance to

measure the intensity of Light. There are two other Light Sensors (or Photo
Sensors) which are often used in complex electronic system design. They are
Photo Diode and Photo Transistor. All these are Analog Sensors.

There are also Digital Light Sensors like BH1750, TSL2561, etc., which can
calculate intensity of light and provide a digital equivalent value.

Smoke and Gas Sensors

One of the very useful sensors in safety related applications are Smoke and
Gas Sensors. Almost all offices and industries are equipped with several smoke
detectors, which detect any smoke (due to fire) and sound an alarm.

Gas Sensors are more common in laboratories, large scale kitchens and
industries. They can detect different gases like LPG, Propane, Butane, Methane
(CH4), etc.

Now-a-days, smoke sensors (which often can detect smoke as well gas) are
also installed in most homes as a safety measure.

The “MQ” series of sensors are a bunch of cheap sensors for detecting CO,
CO2, CH4, Alcohol, Propane, Butane, LPG etc. You can use these sensors to
build your own Smoke Sensor Application.

Alcohol Sensor
As the name suggests, an Alcohol Sensor detects alcohol. Usually, alcohol
sensors are used in breathalyzer devices, which determine whether a person is
drunk or not. Law enforcement personnel uses breathalyzers to catch drunk-
and-drive culprits.
Touch Sensor
We do not give much importance to touch sensors but they became an integral
part of our life. Whether you know or not, all touch screen devices (Mobile
Phones, Tablets, Laptops, etc.) have touch sensors in them. Another common
application of touch sensor is trackpads in our laptops.

Touch Sensors, as the name suggests, detect touch of a finger or a stylus. Often
touch sensors are classified into Resistive and Capacitive type. Almost all
modern touch sensors are of Capacitive Types as they are more accurate and
have better signal to noise ratio.
Color Sensor
A Color Sensor is an useful device in building color sensing applications in the
field of image processing, color identification, industrial object tracking etc. The
TCS3200 is a simple Color Sensor, which can detect any color and output a
square wave proportional to the wavelength of the detected color.

Humidity Sensor
If you see Weather Monitoring Systems, they often provide temperature as well
as humidity data. So, measuring humidity is an important task in
many applications and Humidity Sensors help us in achieving this.
Often all humidity sensors measure relative humidity (a ratio of water content in
air to maximum potential of air to hold water). Since relative humidity is
dependent on temperature of air, almost all Humidity Sensors can also measure
Temperature.

Tilt Sensor
Often used to detect inclination or orientation, Tilt Sensors are one of the
simplest and inexpensive sensors out there. Previously, tilt sensors are made up
of Mercury (and hence they are sometimes called as Mercury Switches) but
most modern tilt sensors contain a roller ball.