Types of Sensor and Their Application

Sensor

Sensors are sophisticated devices that are frequently used to detect and respond to electrical or optical
signals. A Sensor converts the physical parameter (for example: temperature, blood pressure, humidity, speed,
etc.) into a signal which can be measured electrically.

Types of Sensor

1. Temperature Sensor

This device collects information about temperature from a source and converts into a form that is
understandable by other device or person. The best illustration of a temperature sensor is mercury in glass
thermometer. The mercury in the glass expands and contracts depending on the alterations in temperature.
The outside temperature is the source element for the temperature measurement. The position of the mercury
is observed by the viewer to measure the temperature. There are two basic types of temperature sensors: ·

 Contact Sensors – This type of sensor requires direct physical contact with the object or media that is
being sensed. They supervise the temperature of solids, liquids and gases over a wide range of
temperatures.
 Non contact Sensors – This type of sensor does not require any physical contact with the object or
media that is being sensed. They supervise non-reflective solids and liquids but are not useful for gases
due to natural transparency. These sensors use Plank‟s Law to measure temperature. This law deals
with the heat radiated from the source of heat to measure the temperature.

Application

Temperature sensors are most frequently used for measuring the temperature of electric motor
windings(sensors with insulation of shrink tube), measuring the temperature in bearings, measuring the
temperature of engine oil, measuring the temperature in transmissions and other. Other applications of these
temperature sensors can include temperature measurements in laboratories and in testing facilities,
measurements of temperature of solid, liquid and gaseous substances. Temperature sensors have high electric
strength up to 12 kV, according to sensor type (electric strength can be even higher if requested)

2. IR Sensor

This device emits and/or detects infrared radiation to sense a particular phase in the environment.
Generally, thermal radiation is emitted by all the objects in the infrared spectrum. The infrared sensor detects
this type of radiation which is not visible to human eye.
  Thermal infrared sensors – use infrared energy as heat. Their photo sensitivity is independent of the
wavelength being detected. Thermal detectors do not require cooling but do have slow response times
and low detection capabilities.

 Quantum infrared sensors – provide higher detection performance and faster response speed. Their
photo sensitivity is dependent on wavelength. Quantum detectors have to be cooled in order to obtain
accurate measurements.

Application

Due to its small size and ruggedness, this sensor is ideal for tyre and brake disk temperature
measurement. There are common application like NDIR gas analysis, IR flame detection, a variety of analytical
instruments for detection of radiation from deep UV to FIR (THz) and Single and Multi-channel pyrometers

Other Application:

 Climatology
 Meteorology

 Night vision

 Photobiomodulation

 Gas detectors

 Water analysis

 Anaesthesiology testing

 Petroleum exploration

 Rail safety

3. UV Sensor

These sensors measure the intensity or power of the incident ultraviolet radiation. This form of
electromagnetic radiation has wavelengths longer than x-rays but is still shorter than visible radiation. An active
material known as polycrystalline diamond is being used for reliable ultraviolet sensing. UV sensors can
discover the exposure of environment to ultraviolet radiation. There are many types of UV sensors. Examples
include:

 UV phototubes
 light sensors
 UV spectrum sensors
 Criteria to select a UV Sensor: Wavelength ranges in nanometres (nm) that can be detected by
the UV sensors, Operating temperature , Accuracy ,Weight and Power range.

Application

UV sensors are used in many different applications. Examples include pharmaceuticals, automobiles,
and robotics. UV sensors are also used in the printing industry for solvent handling and dyeing processes. In
addition, UV sensors are also used in the chemical industry for the production, storage, and transportation of
chemicals.

4. Proximity Sensor

A proximity sensor detects the presence of objects that are nearly placed without any point of contact.
Since there is no contact between the sensors and sensed object and lack of mechanical parts, these sensors
have long functional life and high reliability. The different types of proximity sensors are Inductive Proximity
Types of Sensors and Their Applications 77 sensors, Capacitive Proximity sensors, Ultrasonic proximity
sensors, photoelectric sensors, Hall-effect sensors, etc.

A proximity sensor emits an electromagnetic or electrostatic field or a beam of electromagnetic radiation

(such as infrared), and waits for the return signal or changes in the field. The object which is being sensed is
known as the proximity sensor's target.

 Inductive Proximity sensors – They have an oscillator as input to change the loss resistance by the
proximity of an electrically conductive medium. These sensors are preferred for metal targets.
 Capacitive Proximity sensors – They convert the electrostatic capacitance variation flanked by the
detecting electrode and the ground electrode. This occurs by approaching the nearby object with a
variation in an oscillation frequency.

Application

 Parking sensors, systems mounted on car bumpers that sense distance to nearby cars for parking
 Ground proximity warning system for aviation safety

 Vibration measurements of rotating shafts in machinery

 Top dead centre (TDC)/camshaft sensor in reciprocating engines.

 Sheet breaks sensing in paper machine.

 Anti-aircraft warfare

 Roller coasters
  Conveyor systems

 Beverage and food can making lines.

 3D Touch will come true with the aid of proximity sensing elements.

 Automatic faucets

 Improvised Explosive Devices or IEDs

 Mobile devices

o Touch screens that come in close proximity to the face

o Attenuating radio power in close proximity to the body, in order to reduce radiation
exposure.

5. Touch Sensors

Touch sensors are also called as tactile sensors and are sensitive to touch, force or pressure. They are
one of the simplest and useful sensors. The working of a touch sensor is similar to that of a simple switch.
When there is contact with the surface of the touch sensor, the circuit is closed inside the sensor and there is a
flow of current. When the contact is released, the circuit is opened and no current flows. A touch sensor detects
touch or near proximity without relying on physical contact. Touch sensors are making their way into many
applications like mobile phones, remote controls, and control panels, etc. Present day touch sensors can
replace mechanical buttons and switches. Touch sensors with simple rotational sliders, touch pads and rotary
wheels offer significant advantages for more intuitive user interfaces. Touch sensors are more convenient and
more reliable to use without moving parts. The use of touch sensors provides great freedom to the system
designer and help in reducing the overall cost of the system. The overall look of the system can be more
appealing and contemporary.

 Capacitive touch sensors are widely used in most portable devices like mobile phones and MP3
players. Capacitive touch sensors can be found even in home appliances, automotive and industrial
applications. The reasons for this level of mass adoption are their durability, robustness, attractive
product design and cost.

In capacitive touch sensors, the electrode represents one of the plates of the capacitor. The second
plate is represented by two objects: one is the environment of the sensor electrode which forms
parasitic capacitor C0 and the other is a conductive object like a human finger which forms touch
capacitor CT. The sensor electrode is connected to a measurement circuit and the capacitance is
measured periodically. The output capacitance will increase if a conductive object touches or
 approaches the sensor electrode. The measurement circuit will detect the change in the capacitance
and converts it into a trigger signal.

 A resistant touch sensor consists of two conductive layers separated by small spacer dots. The bottom
layer is made up of either glass or film and the top layer is made up of film. The conductive material is
coated with metallic film generally Indium Tin Oxide and is transparent in nature. A voltage is applied
across the surface of the conductor. When any probe like a finger, stylus pen, pen, etc. is used to apply
pressure on the top film of the sensor, it activates the sensor. When ample pressure is applied, the top
film flexes inward and makes contact with the bottom film. This results in voltage drop and the point of
contact creates a voltage divider network in the X – Y directions. This voltage and the changes in the
voltage are detected by a controller and calculate the position of the touch where the pressure is
applied based on the X – Y coordinates of the touch.

6. Eye Tracking Sensor

Eye tracking is a sensor technology that enables a device to know exactly where your eyes are
focused. It determines your presence, attention, focus, drowsiness, consciousness or other mental states. This
information can be used to gain deep insights into consumer behavior or to design revolutionary new user
interfaces across various devices. By using the eyes as a “pointer” on a screen, eye tracking facilitates
interactions with computers and other devices when the user cannot or does not wish to use their hands as the
input form.

Application

A wide variety of disciplines use eye tracking techniques, including cognitive

science, psychology (notably psycholinguistics, the visual world paradigm), human-computer
interaction(HCI), marketing research and medical research (neurological diagnosis). Specific applications
include the tracking eye movement in language reading, music reading, human activity recognition, the
perception of advertising, and the playing of sport.

7. Ultrasonic Sensor

The principle of ultrasonic sensor is similar to sonar or radar in which interpretation of echoes from radio or
sound waves to evaluate the attributes of a target by generating the high-frequency-sound waves (around
40kHz). The transducer used for converting energy into ultrasound or sound waves with ranges above human
hearing range is called an ultrasonic transducer.

Application
Machinery and processes in a wide range of industries use ToughSonic distance measurement sensors where
size or position feedback is required: printing, converting, robotics, material handling, transportation and more.
Here are just some of the ways they are used:

 Positioning & Locating

 Dimensioning & Selecting
 Profiling & Multi-Sensor Systems

8. Speed Sensor

The transmission speed sensors are used to calculate the actual gear ratio of the transmission while in use.
There are generally two speed sensors that work in conjunction to provide accurate transmission data to the
vehicle’s power train control module. The first is known as the input shaft speed (ISS) sensor. As described,
this sensor is used to monitor the speed of the transmission' input shaft. The other sensor is the output shaft
speed (OSS) sensor. If either of these two sensors falls out of alignment or experiences electrical issues, it
impacts the operation of the entire transmission.

Application

Speed sensors are machines used to detect the speed of an object, usually a transport vehicle. They include:

 Wheel speed sensors

 Speedometers

 Pitometer logs

 Pitot tubes

 Airspeed indicators

 Piezo sensors (e.g. in a road surface)

 LIDAR

 Ground speed radar

 Doppler radar

 ANPR (where vehicles are timed over a fixed distance)

 Laser surface velocimeters for moving surfaces