Helwan University

Faculty of Engineering
Mechanical Power Eng. Dep.
Mataria

Sensors Types

Submitted by:

Amr Mohamed Ahmed Mansour

Sec: 7

Supervised by:

Prof. Dr. Hany Mounib

Cairo 2017
Types of sensors :

 Optical Sensors :
An optical sensor converts light rays into an electronic signal. The
purpose of an optical sensor is to measure a physical quantity of light
and, depending on the type of sensor, then translates it into a form that
is readable by an integrated measuring device. Optical Sensors are
used for contact-less detection, counting or positioning of parts. Optical
sensors can be either internal or external. External sensors gather and
transmit a required quantity of light, while internal sensors are most often
used to measure the bends and other small changes in direction

Different kinds of optical sensors :

Different Types of Optical Sensors

 1- Through-Beam Sensors
The system consists of two separate components the transmitter and the
receiver are placed opposite to each other. The transmitter projects a light
beam onto the receiver. An interruption of the light beam is interpreted as
a switch signal by the receiver. It is irrelevant where the interruption
occurs.

Advantage: Large operating distances can be achieved and the

recognition is independent of the object’s surface structure, color or
reflectivity.
To guarantee a high operational dependability it must be assured that the
object is sufficiently large to interrupt the light beam completely.

2- Retro-Reflective Sensors
Transmitter and receiver are both in the same house, through a reflector
the emitted light beam is directed back to the receiver. An interruption of
the light beam initiates a switching operation. Where the interruption
occurs is of no importance.
Advantage: Retro-reflective sensors enable large operating distances with
switching points, which are exactly reproducible requiring little mounting
effort. All objects interrupting the light beam are accurately detected
independently of their surface structure or color.

3- Diffuse Reflection Sensors

Both transmitter and receiver are in one housing. The transmitted light is
reflected by the object to be detected.

Advantage: The diffused light intensity at the receiver serves as the

switching condition. Regardless of the sensitivity setting the rear part
always reflects better than the front part. This leads to the consequence
to erroneous switching operations.
 4- Fiber Optics
Fiber optics have advantages over standard electrical cabling for some
environments. The fibers carry no current, so they're immune to electrical
interference. They pose no sparking or shock hazard if the cable is damaged.
Depending on the design, the light in the fiber may be used as a sensor itself, or it
may serve as a signal path for a separate sensor package.

Less expensive - Several miles of optical cable can be made cheaper than
equivalent lengths of copper wire. This saves your provider (cable TV,
Internet) and you money. Thinner - Optical fibers can be drawn to smaller
diameters than copper wire. Higher carrying capacity - Because optical
fibers are thinner than copper wires, more fibers can be bundled into a
given-diameter cable than copper wires. This allows more phone lines to
go over the same cable or more channels to come through the cable into
your cable TV box. Less signal degradation - The loss of signal in optical
fiber is less than in copper wire.
 5- Infrared
Infrared sensors are used in situations where visible light would be inconvenient or
counterproductive. They can be used to tell if someone's in a room, by the heat given
off by a person's body. Infrared is also useful for signaling, forming the basis of
remote controls for video and audio.
Applications of Optical Sensors :
Application of these optical sensors ranges from computers to motion detectors. For
optical sensors to work effectively, they must be the correct type for the application,
so that they maintain their sensitivity to the property they measure. Optical sensors
are integral parts of many common devices, including computers, copy machines
(xerox) and light fixtures that turn on automatically in the dark. And some of the
common applications include alarm systems, synchros for photographic flashes and
systems that can detect the presence of objects.

Ambient Light Sensors

mostly we have seen this sensor on our mobile handsets. It will extend the battery life
and enables easy-to-view displays that are optimized for the environment.