Lecture 1

What is a sensor?
Sensors are input devices that measure data from the
environment. They convert data from the environment, into a
signal that can be processed by a control system. Sensors are
also known as transducers, as they are used to detect different
physical conditions.
It is a device which receives and responds to a signal. A sensor's
sensitivity indicates how much the sensor's output changes
when the measured quantity changes.

A sensor may be simply defined as a device that converts a

nonelectrical input quantity into an electrical output signal E.

Actuator.
Processor. (e.g. amplifies, conditions, and transforms)

There are six primary energy domains and the associated symbols are as
follows:
Electrical (E)
Thermal (T)
Radiation (R)
Mechanical (Me)
Magnetic (M)
Bio(chemical) ( C )

Ideal sensor
Is sensitive to the measured property.
Is insensitive to any other property likely to be encountered
in its application.
The measured property is not influenced by any other
environmental changes.
Ideal sensors are designed to be linear. The output signal of
such a sensor is linearly proportional to the value or simple
function of the measured property.

Characteristics of sensors
Transfer Function: An ideal or theoretical outputstimulus relationship exists for every sensor. If the sensor is
ideally designed and fabricated with ideal materials by ideal workers using ideal tools, the output of such
a sensor would always represent the true value of the stimulus. An ideal (theoretical) outputstimulus
relationship is characterized by the so-called transfer function. This function establishes dependence between
the electrical signal S produced by the sensor and the stimulus s :
S = f(s).
Span(Full scale input)- The highest possible input value that can be applied to the sensor without causing an
unacceptable large inaccuracy.
Full scale output- Algebric difference between the electric output signals measured with maximum input
stimulus and lowest input stimulus applied.
Accuracy: Accuracy is the capacity of a measuring instrument to give RESULTS close to the TRUE VALUE of the
measured quantity
Hysteresis: the effect of direction of the input on the output

Nonlinearity

Ref : Hand book of modern sensors by Jacob Fraden

Calibration

Precision

High accuracy, but low precision

High precision, but low accuracy

Saturation

Repeatability: Ability to recreate the same result under the same condition
at different times. It is often expressed as the maximum difference between
output readings from two calibrating cycles
Deadband

Resolution: the smallest detectable incremental change of input that can be

detected in the output signal
Environmental conditions

Reliability
Uncertainty