CHAPTER 1

INTERDUCTION
Can you think of a world without sensors? A world where our smartphones can’t
detect our touch, cars can’t sense obstacles, and medical devices can’t monitor vital
signs. More precisely, it is a world where technology is blind, deaf, and unresponsive.
No, the presence of different types of sensors has vanished such emptiness of the
world.
Sensors detect changes in their environment and convert them into signals that an
observer or an instrument can read. One more thing: by sensors, it doesn’t mean only
physical elements that make it. It includes its physical packaging, external
connections, and associated signal-processing hardware.
This repetitive duty of sensors has made our lives incredible as we use them in
different fields, from industry to education, from farming to medicine.

CHAPTER 2

Classification of Sensor

2.1 Active Sensors

Active sensors require an external power source to function.They provide the
majority of the output power of the signal.

These sensors are classified into various types. Some of them are:

 Accelerometers
 Light sensors
 Sound sensors
 Pressure sensors
 Temperature sensors

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2.2 Passive Sensors

According to a study, passive sensors generate their own electric signal. There is no
requirement for any external power source. Hence, this sensor technology gathers data
by detecting vibrations, light, radiation, heat, or other phenomena.

Some examples of technologies that use passive sensors are:

 Photographic
 Thermal
 Electric field sensing
 Chemical
 Infrared
 Seismic

2.3 Analog Sensors

Analog sensors produce a continuous output signal or measurement. The

classification of analog sensors is the same as active sensors.

The analog signals are directly proportional to the measurement. They have infinite
possible values within a specific range. For instance, an analog sensor detecting
changes in external parameters like wind speed or light intensity can give an output
anywhere between its output range, like 0V to 5V.

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2.4 Digital Sensors
Digital sensors include digital accelerometers and digital temperature sensors. In
simple words, they are digitalized versions of analog sensors.

These sensors typically use pulse width modulation to generate output pulses.
Likewise, they produce a binary signal, which means the signal is either on or off,
representing a series of 1s and 0s.

Typically, digital sensors are used in systems where the presence or absence of
something is being detected. Some examples of devices with these sensors are push
buttons or light switches that indicate whether a device is on or off.

CHAPTER 3

Different Types of Sensors

3.1 Temperature Sensor
Temperature is one of the most commonly measured
environmental quantities for different reasons. There
are different types of temperature sensors that can
measure temperature, such as a thermocouple,
thermistors, semiconductor temperature sensors,
resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), and so on. Based on the

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requirement,different types of sensors are used for measuring temperature in different
applications.

Temperature Sensor Circuit

A simple temperature sensor with the

circuit can be used for switching on or
off the load at a specific temperature
which is detected by the temperature
sensor (thermistor is used here). The
circuit consists of the battery,
thermistor, transistors, and relay which
are connected as shown in the figure.

Figure 1

3.2 IR Sensor

The small photo chips having a photocell which are used

to emit and detect the infrared light are called as IR
sensors. IR sensors are generally used for designing
remote control technology. IR sensors can be used for
detecting obstacles of the robotic vehicle and thus control
the direction of the robotic vehicle. There are different
types of sensors that can be used for detecting infrared lights.

IR Sensor Circuit

A simple IR sensor circuit is used in our day-to-day life as a remote control for a TV.
It consists of IR emitter circuit and IR receiver circuits which can be designed as
shown in the figure.

Figure 2
The IR emitter circuit which is used as a
remote by the controller is used for
emitting infrared light. This infrared light is

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sent or transmitted towards the IR receiver circuit which interfaces to the device like a
TV or IR remote-controlled robot. Based on the commands received the TV or robot
is controlled.

3.3 Sound Sensor

These sensors are usually microphone devices that are

used to know the sound and deliver the corresponding
level of voltage based on the detected sound level. With
the implementation of a sound sensor, a small robot can
be manufactured to navigate depending on the level of
the received sound.

When compared with light sensors, the design process of sound sensors is somewhat
complicated. This is because sound sensors deliver very minimal voltage difference
and this has to be amplified to provide measurable voltage variation.

The sound sensor switching circuit is shown below:

3.4 Acceleration Sensor

This type of sensor is employed to calculate angular and

acceleration values. An accelerometer is mainly used for the
calculation of acceleration.

There exist two types of forces that show the impact on

an accelerometer and those are:

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Static Force – This is the frictional force that exists between any two objects. With
the calculation of gravitational force, one can know the tilting value of the robot. This
calculation is helpful for robotic balancing, or to know either the robot has a driving
motion on uphill or on a flat edge.

Dynamic Force – This is measured as the amount of acceleration that is necessary for
the movement of an object. The calculation of dynamic force through an
accelerometer defines either the velocity or speed rates for what the robot is having
motion.

These accelerometer sensors are available in multiple configurations. The type of

selection is dependent on the requirement of the industry. A few of the parameters
that are to be checked in before proper sensor selection are bandwidth, type of output
either digital or analog, the total number of axes, and the sensitivity.

The below picture shows the schematic diagram of an acceleration sensor.

Figure 3

4. Reference

ELECTRONICS | PROJECTS | FOCUS Types of Sensors with Their Circuit

Diagrams (What are Different Types of Sensors with Circuits?) (19/12/2024)

NYBSYS Different Types of Sensors and Their Applications (Different Types

of Sensors and Their Applications) (19/12/2024)

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