In this fast technological world, whether we are at home, in office, in shopping mall, or in a car. We are all surrounding by different types of sensors.
Like, human being uses his five sense elements to sense outside environment , machines uses sensor to sense outside. There are different types of sensors that are made for specific purposes like, proximity sensor for sensing nearby objects and so on.
What is sensor ?
Sensor is an electronic device which is used to detect and observe the changes in physical quantities , events , or outside environment and responds accordingly.
Sensors are always use with electronic devices as it gives some input to the main machine.
Different types of sensors and their applications ?
Man has invented different types of sensors. This is because of different applications which makes one techniques better than the others for each specific cases.
Here is the list of different types of sensors some of them are used in our day-to-day life.
- Proximity sensor
- Temperature sensor
- Infrared sensor (IR sensor)
- Motion sensor
- Ultrasonic sensor
- Humidity sensor
- Pressure sensor
- Light sensor
- Image sensor
- Touch sensor
- Accelerometer sensor
- Gyroscope sensor
- Level sensor
- Speed sensor
- Chemical sensor
- Gas sensor
- Smoke sensor
- Optical sensor
- Speed sensor
- Water quality sensor
- Color sensor
Proximity sensor
Proximity sensors refers to the sensors that are used to detect the presence of nearby objects using electromagnetic field , light and sound without having physical contact with the objects .
There are different types of proximity sensors like :-
- inductive proximity sensor
- Capacitive proximity sensor
- photoelectric proximity sensor
- ultrasonic proximity sensor
Application where proximity sensors are used :-
- Proximity sensors are mostly used on smartphone . While, making the phone call when you position the mobile phone close to your eyer screen turn off automatically .
- Another application where proximity sensor is used is car . It is very helpful in parking and making distance with other car by giving alert.
Temperature sensor
A temperature sensor is a device which will transform the temperature into electrical signal no matter how tiny the amount of signal might be .
Temperature sensor are used for the purpose as name says "For measuring the temperature" .
There are 4 types of temperature sensors :-
There are 4 types of temperature sensors :-
- Resistance temperature detector (RTD)
- Thermocouple
- Thermistor
- Semiconductor
Application where temperature sensors are used :-
- Temperature sensor are used in cars to measure the temperature of the engine .
- It is also used in home appliances like air conditioner, microwave and so on.
- Another application where temperature sensor is used is thermal power plant to measures the temperature of the boiler
Infrared sensor (IR SENSOR )
Infrared sensor is an electronic device used to detect certain occurrence in their surroundings. Infrared sensor emits or detects infrared radiation to sense it's surrounding.
There are 2 types of infrared sensors :-
- Active infrared sensor
- Passive infrared sensor
Application where infrared sensors are used :-
- Infrared sensor are used in the mobile phone(mostly redmi phones ). It acts as a universal remote which helps you to control appliances like TV, AC, set-up box , etc.
Motion sensor
Motion sensor refers to the sensor which is used to detects some movements within the range of the sensor and do some task or give alert.
There are 3 types of motion sensor :-
- Passive infrared motion sensor
- Microwave motion sensor
- Dual tech motion sensor
Application where motion sensors are used :-
- Motion sensors are mostly used for security purpose in home and offices . When some unidentified person is detected it triggered alarm automatically.
- Another application where motion sensors are used is in malls door opener, when someone came close to the door then door opens automatically.
Ultrasonic sensor
Ultrasonic sensor are those sensor which are used to detect or measure the distance between sensor and the object using the ultrasonic waves. Ultrasonic waves are the waves those frequency are above the human audible range.
There are 4 types of ultrasonic sensors :-
- Ultrasonic proximity sensor
- Ultrasonic retro-reflective sensor
- Ultrasonic through beam sensor
- Ultrasonic two point proximity switches
Application where ultrasonic sensors are used :-
- Ultrasonic sensors are used in cars to measure the distance between the car and are also used in airplane.
- It is also used to control liquid level by measuring the distance.
Humidity sensor
Humidity refers to the amount of water vapour present in the atmosphere . So, humidity sensor refers to the electronic device which is used to measure the amount of water vapour present in the atmosphere.
There are types of humidity sensors :-
- Resistive humidity sensor
- Thermal conductivity humidity sensor
- Capacitive humidity sensor
Application where humidity sensors are used :-
- Humidity sensors are used in many types of industries like textiles industries which requires particular amount of humidity in order to work properly. Humidity sensors helps not only to detect humidity level but to control it.
Pressure sensor
Pressure sensor refers to the sensor which are used to measured the pressure by converting the pressure into an electrical signal.
There are 3 types of pressure sensors like :-
- Gauge pressure sensor
- Absolute pressure sensor
- Differential pressure sensor
Application where pressure sensors are used :-
- Pressure sensors are used in tires to measures the pressure of the tiers. As the air inside the tire increases, the forces is exerts on the tire also increases which cause the tier to inflate which is monitored with the help of pressure sensors.
- Pressure sensors are also used in satellite, rockets and so on.
Light sensor
Light sensor refers to an electronic device which is used to convert light energy into electrical signal indicating the intensity of light.
There are 3 types of light sensor :-
- Photoresistor light sensor
- Phototransistor light sensor
- Photodiode ligh sensor
Application where light sensors are used :-
- Light sensors are mainly used many laptops and mobile phone to detect the the environment lighting conditions , allowing for adjusting the brightness of the screen.
Image sensor
Image sensor refers to the sensor which is used to convert the color and light spectrum into a electronic signal by converting them into a digital code which is understand by machines.
- Charge coupled device (CCD image sensor)
- Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS image sensor)
Application where image sensors are used :-
- Image sensors are used in every cameras . All the cameras must contains an image sensors. It is not possible to have cameras without image sensors.
Touch sensor
Touch sensor refer to an electronic device which is used to detect or sense the touch and to some specific task . If there is contact on the surface of touch sensor then, there is a flow of current through it , if there is no contact with the surface of touch sensor then their is no flow of current through it.
There are 2 types of touch sensors :-
- Capacitive touch sensor
- Resistive touch sensor
Application where touch sensors is used :-
- Capacitive touch sensors are highly used in mobile phone, watches, ipods, home appliances, etc. because they are easy to use.
- Resistive touch sensor are highly used in musical instruments, resistive touch pads and so on , because they requires amounts of force to operates.
Conclusion
I hope you like this article and know you now what is sensor, different types of sensor and their applications.
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