UNIT-II

Sensors
• Sensor is a device which detects or measures
a physical property and records or responds to
it.
• They perform some input functions by sensing
or feeling the physical changes in
characteristics of a system in response to
input stimuli.
• Ex: Heat is converted to a electrical signals in a
temperature sensor.
 Sensor Features
• It is only sensitive to the measured property.
( For ex temperature sensor senses the room
temperature)
• It is insensitive to any other property .( For ex
temperature sensor does not bother about light
or pressure while sensing the temperature)
• It does not influence the measured property( for
ex measuring the temperature does not reduce
or increase the temperature).
 Types of Sensors
• Based on OUTPUT:
Analog Digital

• Based on DATA TYPE:

Scalar Vector
• Analog sensors produce a continuous output
signal or voltage which is proportional to the
quantity being measured.
• Digital sensors produce a binary output signal
or voltage of the quantity being measured.
• Scalar sensors produce output signal or
voltage which is generally proportional to the
magnitude of the quantity being measured.
• For example , temperature of a room can be
measured by a using a sensor , it responds to
temperature changes irrespective of the its
direction.
• Vector sensor produce output signal or
voltage which is generally proportional to the
magnitude, direction, as well as the
orientation of the quantity being measured.
• Sensors which measure physical quantities
such as sound, velocity, acceleration,
orientation are vector sensors.