TECHNOGADGET SESSION 2

Assignment 3: Light sensors

Understand the basic operating principles of light sensors.

Light sensors

Light sensors detect the amount of light and vary its electrical properties based on the
amount of illumination. One type of light sensor is the photo resistor or photocell. Photo
resistors are light sensitive devices that detect presence and absence of light or measures
light intensity. The photocell changes its resistance depending on the amount of light it
receives. If there is darkness or absence of light, the resistance is very high and decreases
with the increase of light intensity.

Figure 21: Photocell and schematic

Applications

Photo resistors are inexpensive and can be found in a lot of consumer items. Streetlights and
solar street lamps use photo resistors to detect the presence of light turning on the lamps
whenever it is necessary. Camera light meters and night lamps also use photo resistors. Due
to its inferior sensitivity compared to photo diodes and photo transistors, photo transistors are
not used for light intensity measuring devices. You will be designing an automatic street lamp
in one of the activities in Session 3.

Figure 22: Automatic street lamp (source:wikipedia)

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Using online resources, research on the following and answer the following questions.

1. What are the differences between a photo resistor, photo diode and photo transistor?
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2. Explain the principle behind the use of photo resistors in audio compressors.
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3. Using a multi-meter, breadboard, flashlight and your photocell, measure the resistance
across your photocell with varying light conditions. Please note your observations when you
turn on and off your flashlight. Would the resistance change?

+ -

Ω
Multi-meter

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Assignment 4: Pressure sensors

Learn the operating principles of pressure sensors and its other applications.

Pressure sensors
Pressure sensors measure pressure in fluids (liquids and gases). Pressure is defined as force per unit
area and is present in all fluids. It is present in the atmosphere due to the air’s weight and in
bodies of water. Pressure sensors come in many types. It can be mechanical, strain gauge,
inductive, piezo-electric, and piezo-resistive in nature. These types of pressure sensors generally
use a force collector (such a diaphragm, piston and others) to measure strain due to applied
force over an area.

Figure 23: Barometric pressure sensor – measures atmospheric pressure

Applications

As mentioned, pressure sensors just measure the magnitude of pressure so it depends on the need for
pressure measurement. Some typical applications are flow measurement, leak detection, weather
instrumentation, vehicle engines and others. One popular application for pressure sensors is altitude
measurement. Pressure varies with the height or depth. For example, once you go higher in the
atmosphere, pressure is reduced as air becomes thinner. If you go deeper in the ocean, pressure
increases tremendously due to the weight of the water. With that, the altimeter of an aircraft just
measures atmospheric pressure to be able to measure its height or altitude.

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Figure 23: Aircraft altimeter – upon determination of the atmospheric pressure, the height is
determined using a formula

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Using online resources, research on the following and answer the following questions.

1. What is the relationship among pressure, density and height? Give the formula.

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2. What is the basic unit of pressure in English and metric units?

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3. What is the difference of piezo-electric and piezo-resistive pressure sensors? How do they
operate?

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4. Describe some applications of pressure sensors.

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