Sensors
Electronics
Resistive Sensors
Terry Sturtevant
Wilfrid Laurier University
May 31, 2017
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Introduction to transducers
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Introduction to transducers
convert one form of energy to another
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Introduction to transducers
convert one form of energy to another
electrical input transducer;
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Introduction to transducers
convert one form of energy to another
electrical input transducer;
output is some form of electrical property
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Introduction to transducers
convert one form of energy to another
electrical input transducer;
output is some form of electrical property
(i,v,r,c,l,nu, etc.)
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Introduction to transducers
convert one form of energy to another
electrical input transducer;
output is some form of electrical property
(i,v,r,c,l,nu, etc.)
input transducer = sensor
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Introduction to transducers
convert one form of energy to another
electrical input transducer;
output is some form of electrical property
(i,v,r,c,l,nu, etc.)
input transducer = sensor
output transducer = actuator
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistive sensors
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistive sensors
A resistive sensor is a resistor which changes according to some
physical change in its environment.
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistive sensors
A resistive sensor is a resistor which changes according to some
physical change in its environment. Some examples would be:
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistive sensors
A resistive sensor is a resistor which changes according to some
physical change in its environment. Some examples would be:
Potentiometer;
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistive sensors
A resistive sensor is a resistor which changes according to some
physical change in its environment. Some examples would be:
Potentiometer; the resistance varies with physical movement
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistive sensors
A resistive sensor is a resistor which changes according to some
physical change in its environment. Some examples would be:
Potentiometer; the resistance varies with physical movement
Photoresistor;
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistive sensors
A resistive sensor is a resistor which changes according to some
physical change in its environment. Some examples would be:
Potentiometer; the resistance varies with physical movement
Photoresistor; the resistance varies with light
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistive sensors
A resistive sensor is a resistor which changes according to some
physical change in its environment. Some examples would be:
Potentiometer; the resistance varies with physical movement
Photoresistor; the resistance varies with light
Thermistor;
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistive sensors
A resistive sensor is a resistor which changes according to some
physical change in its environment. Some examples would be:
Potentiometer; the resistance varies with physical movement
Photoresistor; the resistance varies with light
Thermistor; the resistance varies with heat
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistive sensors
A resistive sensor is a resistor which changes according to some
physical change in its environment. Some examples would be:
Potentiometer; the resistance varies with physical movement
Photoresistor; the resistance varies with light
Thermistor; the resistance varies with heat
Strain gauge (or gage);
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistive sensors
A resistive sensor is a resistor which changes according to some
physical change in its environment. Some examples would be:
Potentiometer; the resistance varies with physical movement
Photoresistor; the resistance varies with light
Thermistor; the resistance varies with heat
Strain gauge (or gage); the resistance varies with stress or
compression
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistive sensors
A resistive sensor is a resistor which changes according to some
physical change in its environment. Some examples would be:
Potentiometer; the resistance varies with physical movement
Photoresistor; the resistance varies with light
Thermistor; the resistance varies with heat
Strain gauge (or gage); the resistance varies with stress or
compression
Force-dependent resistor;
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistive sensors
A resistive sensor is a resistor which changes according to some
physical change in its environment. Some examples would be:
Potentiometer; the resistance varies with physical movement
Photoresistor; the resistance varies with light
Thermistor; the resistance varies with heat
Strain gauge (or gage); the resistance varies with stress or
compression
Force-dependent resistor; the resistance varies with applied
pressure
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Here’s an example of how a strain gauge works.
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistance
R = ρ AL
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
6
Resistance
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
6
Resistance
(L−∆L)
R 0 = ρ (A+∆A) <R
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistance
R = ρ AL
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistance ? -
6
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistance ? -
6
(L+∆L)
R 0 = ρ (A−∆A) >R
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Thermistors
Resistance
(Ω)
Temperature (◦ C)
This is the resistance/temperature curve for a thermistor.
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Thermistors
Resistance
(High temperature; Rmin )
(Ω)
Temperature (◦ C)
This is the resistance/temperature curve for a thermistor.
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Thermistors
(Low temperature; Rmax )
Resistance
(High temperature; Rmin )
(Ω)
Temperature (◦ C)
This is the resistance/temperature curve for a thermistor.
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
Vin
R1 I
R2
Vout = Vin R1 +R2
R2 I
True if Iout ≡ 0
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
If we want to put a variable resistor in a voltage divider, then
we need to choose the other resistor.
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
If we want to put a variable resistor in a voltage divider, then
we need to choose the other resistor.
To make the output vary over as large a range as possible as
the variable resistor goes from Rmin to Rmax , it turns out we
want to choose the other resistor, R so that
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
Resistive sensors
Sensors
Resistive sensors in voltage dividers
If we want to put a variable resistor in a voltage divider, then
we need to choose the other resistor.
To make the output vary over as large a range as possible as
the variable resistor goes from Rmin to Rmax , it turns out we
want to choose the other resistor, R so that
√
R = Rmin × Rmax
Terry Sturtevant Electronics Resistive Sensors
