Sensors Technology

BTE4733
 Sensors

Definition: a device for sensing a physical variable of a

physical system or an environment

Classification of Sensors
• Mechanical quantities: displacement, Strain, rotation
velocity, acceleration, pressure, force/torque, twisting,
weight, flow
• Thermal quantities: temperature, heat.
• Electromagnetic/optical quantities: voltage, current,
frequency phase; visual/images, light; magnetism.
• Chemical quantities: moisture, pH value
Sensors
 Transducers
• Transducer
– a device that converts a primary form of energy into a
corresponding signal with a different energy form
• Primary Energy Forms: mechanical, thermal, electromagnetic,
optical, chemical, etc.
– take form of a sensor or an actuator
• Sensor (e.g., thermometer)
– a device that detects/measures a signal or stimulus
– acquires information from the “real world”
• Actuator (e.g., heater)
– a device that generates a signal or stimulus

sensor intelligent
real
feedback
world
actuator system
Different Between SENSOR and TRANSDUCER
• Now why there is confusion is that,
A Sensor can sense in any form i.e due to some mechanical
change, it can react in electrical form. Thus there is a
conversion, similar to that of a transducer.
A classic example would be a thermocouple. Or a pressure sensor
which might detect pressure and convert it into electric current (3-
15psi to 4-20ma)

A Transducer is more than a sensor. It consists of a

sensor/actuator along with signal conditioning circuits.
A signal conditioning circuit, by the name is a circuit which
conditions the signal so that it is strong enough for further
processing. A system might contain many stages before the signal
finally reaches its destination to derive meaningful information.
Different Between SENSOR and TRANSDUCER
 Sensor Systems Introduction
Typically in electronic sensor
– convert desired parameter into electrically measurable signal
• General Electronic Sensor
– primary transducer: changes “real world” parameter into electrical
signal
– secondary transducer: converts electrical signal into analog or digital
values
real primary analog secondary usable
world
transducer signal transducer values

sensor
• Typical Electronic Sensor System
input
signal sensor data microcontroller network
(measurand)
sensor signal processing display
analog/digital
communication

ECE 480, Prof. A.

Mason
 Sensor Structure & Parameters

Physical Measurement
quantity Output

Measurement output:
• signal can be in different types:
- Electrical – voltage, conductance, current, capacitance, etc.
- Optical – Intensity, wavelength, frequency, etc.
- Chemical – pH, color, viscosity, etc.

Important criteria:
• One important properties of the sensor system is the ability for the
sensor parameter to transform to another form of physical
parameters and can be quantified.
 Types of Sensor

• Classification based on physical phenomena

– Mechanical: strain gage, displacement (LVDT), velocity (laser
vibrometer), accelerometer, tilt meter, viscometer, pressure, etc.
– Thermal: thermal couple
– Optical: camera, infrared sensor
– Others …
• Classification based on measuring mechanism
– Resistance sensing, capacitance sensing, inductance sensing,
piezoelectricity, etc.
• Materials capable of converting of one form of energy to
another are at the heart of many sensors.
– Invention of new materials, e.g., “smart” materials, would permit
the design of new types of sensors.
 Sensor Characteristic
• Accuracy: error between the result of a
measurement and the true value being
measured.
• Resolution: the smallest increment of measure
that a device can make.
• Sensitivity: the ratio between the change in the
output signal to a small change in input physical
signal. Slope of the input-output fit line.
• Repeatability/Precision: the ability of the
sensor to output the same value for the same
input over a number of trials
Accuracy vs. Resolution

True value

measurement
 Accuracy vs. Precision

Precision without Accuracy without Precision and

accuracy precision accuracy
 Other Sensor Characteristics
• Dynamic Range: the ratio of maximum recordable input
amplitude to minimum input amplitude, i.e. D.R. = 20 log
(Max. Input Ampl./Min. Input Ampl.) dB
• Linearity: the deviation of the output from a best-fit straight
line for a given range of the sensor
• Transfer Function (Frequency Response): The
relationship between physical input signal and electrical
output signal, which may constitute a complete description
of the sensor characteristics.
• Bandwidth: the frequency range between the lower and
upper cutoff frequencies, within which the sensor transfer
function is constant gain or linear.
• Noise: random fluctuation in the value of input that causes
random fluctuation in the output value
 Attributes of Sensors

• Operating Principle: Embedded technologies that make sensors

function, such as electro-optics, electromagnetic, piezoelectricity,
active and passive ultraviolet.
• Dimension of Variables: The number of dimensions of physical
variables.
• Size: The physical volume of sensors.
• Data Format: The measuring feature of data in time; continuous or
discrete/analog or digital.
• Intelligence: Capabilities of on-board data processing and decision-
making.
• Active versus Passive Sensors: Capability of generating vs. just
receiving signals.
• Physical Contact: The way sensors observe the disturbance in
environment.
• Environmental durability: will the sensor robust enough for its
operation conditions
 Sensing System

Reference
Zhang, R. and Aktan, E., “Design consideration for sensing
systems to ensure data quality”, Sensing issues in Civil
Structural Health Monitoring, Eded by Ansari, F., Springer,
2005, P281-290