INTRODUCTION ON SENSOR

• Is a mechanism that receives a input signal or stimulus and responds with

an electronic signal bearing a known relationship with the input.
• Responds to a type of energy by producing another type of energy signal,
usually electrical.
• Are either direct indicating (an electrical meter) or are paired with an
indicator (perhaps indirectly through an analog to digital converter, a
computer and a display) so that the value sensed is translated for human
understanding.
• Types of sensors include electromagnetic, chemical, biological and
acoustic.
• Aside from other applications, sensors are heavily used in medicine,
industry and robotics.
GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTUAL SENSORS
• sensitive to the measured property
• insensitive to any other property
• should not influence the measured property
When sensor is working perfectly, the output signal of a sensor
is exactly proportional to the value of the property it is meant
to measure. The gain is then defined as the ratio between
output signal and measured property.
For example, if a sensor measures temperature and has an
actual voltage output, the gain is a constant with the unit.
 PASSIVE SENSORS
• Passive sensors directly generate an electric signal in response
to a stimulus.
• The input stimulus is converted by the sensor into output
energy without the need for an additional source of power to
illuminate the environment.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF MOST PASSIVE
SENSORS
• Do not emit radiation (or an excitation signal) as part of the
measurement process.
• Rely on a locally generated or natural source of radiation (light
from the sun) or an available energy field (gravity).
• Passive sensors can exploit EM radiation of any frequency in
which some natural phenomenon radiates. This can extend
from ELF (below 3 ×10 3 Hz) upto gamma rays (above 3 ×10 19
Hz).
• They can exploit acoustic energy (vibration) from infrasound
frequencies<1Hz from earthquakes or explosions up to the
ultrasound
 ACTIVE SENSORS
• Active sensors require the application of external power for
their operation. This excitation signal is modified by the
sensor to produce an output signal
• Active sensors are restricted to frequencies that can be
generated and radiated fairly easily. This excludes part of the
far infrared (above 3 ×10 12 Hz), parts of the ultravioletband
and the gamma ray region.
 ADVANTAGES OF ACTIVE AND PASSIVE
SENSORS
PASSIVE ACTIVE
• Low power requirement (long • Measurement requirements
life)
• Cannot be detected (covert) matched to
• Simple principles (sometimes) • transmitter characteristics
• Good reliability due to simplicity • Range measurement by
• Field of view constrains temporal correlation
observation
• High angular resolution possible • Radiation pattern constrains
• Large variety observation
• High range and angle
resolutions possible
• Long range operation
possible
DISADVANTAGES OF ACTIVE AND PASSIVE
SENSORS
PASSIVE ACTIVE
• Targets of interest must • Large power requirement
radiate or modify the field • Easy to detect (not covert)
(electrical, gravity) • Complex Rx and Tx
• Prone to feature ambiguity processes
and errors of scale(eg angle • Reliability determined by
only) two elements, Rx and Tx
• Typically short range,
though not always
(astronomy etc)
• Availability not guaranteed
(no light, contrastetc)
 OPTO SENSORS
• Opto sensor consists of a light emitting element which
transforms an electrical signal to an optical signal, and a light
receiving element which transforms the optical signal to an
electrical signal.
• Both of these elements are housed in one package, making
the opto sensor essentially a non- contact switch.
• Opto sensors detect presence, length, number, etc., of
objects, using visible or infrared light which is blocked or
reflected by the object.
 INTERRUPTER TYPE OPTO SENSORS

• Emitting and receiving elements are housed in one package

and face each other.
• They sense presence of objects in the sensing slot, without
physical contact.
 REFLECTIVE TYPE OPTO SENSORS.
• Emitting and receiving elements are mounted on the same
surface at a fixed angle to each other. They detect presence or
position of an object through light reflection. Use of high
contrast materials (e.g. white and black) is recommended to
achieve high sensing resolution.
 ACTUATOR TYPE OPTO SENSORS
• This sensor is a combination of the interrupter opto sensor
with a mechanical actuator, which physically blocks the light
path between emitting and receiving elements. Normally the
actuator blocks the beam path and opens it only when it is
mechanically actuated by the sensed object.
 MAGNETIC POSITION SENSORS

• These sensors respond to the presence or the interruption of

a magnetic field by producing either a digital or an analog
output proportional to the magnetic field strength.
• Digital and analog "sensor-only" devices are operated by the
magnetic field from a permanent magnet or electromagnet.
Actuation mode depends on the type of magnets used.
• Integral magnet position sensors are operated by either a
vane passing through a gap or a magnet mounted on a plastic
plunger.
 Contd…
• Magnetic Position Sensors are reliable, high speed, long life,
sensors and are directly compatible with other electronic
circuits.
 BEST USED FOR:

Applications that require accurate, reliable outputs. Found in

brushless DC motors, utility meters, welding equipment,
vending machines, home appliances, computers and so on.
 FREQUENCY BAND
• Sensors can be made to operate over a very broad band of
frequencies for both
electromagnetic (EM) and acoustic applications.
 FREQUENCY BANDS AND TYPICAL
APPLICATIONS FOR ACOUSTIC SYSTEMS
 SENSORS IN INDUSTRIES
• Sensors have been developed for industrial process, military
uses, medicine, automotive applications and etc.
• The main parameters to be measured and controlled in
industrial plants are temperature, displacement, force,
pressure, fluid level, and flow.
• Also, detectors for leakage of explosives or combustible gases
and oils are important for accident prevention.
 PHOTOSENSORS
• Photoelectric controls use light to detect the presence or
absence of an object.
• Consists of a sensor, a control unit, and an output device.
• Sensor consists of a source and a detector
• Source is a LED that emits a powerful beam of light either in a
infrared or visible light spectrum
• Detector is typically a photodiode that senses the presence or
absence of light
 MANUFACTURING APPLICATIONS OF
PHOTODETECTORS
• Jam detection
• Stack height measurement
• Batch counting and diverting measuring cartoon fill with
photoelectric sensors
• Box counting
• Detecting proper cookie arrangement
• Saw tooth inspection
• Toll-booth control
• Garage door control
• Broken thread detection
 PROXIMITY SENSORS
• Proximity sensing is a technique of detecting the presence or
absence with an electric non-contact sensor.
 APPLICATION OF PROXIMITY SENSORS
• Motion position detection
Detection of rotating motion
Zero-speed indication
speed regulation
• Motion control
Shaft travelling limiting
Valve open/closed
• Conveyor system control
Assembly line control
Packaging machine control
 Contd…
• Process control
Product control
Automatic filling
Product selection
– Other applications are:
Liquid level detection
Machine control
Bulk material material level control
 INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION OF LASER
SENSORS
1. Warpage and pitch of IC leads
2. Measurement of lead pitch of electric components
3. Measurement of disk head movement
4. Detection of presence/absence of resin coating
5. Measurement of thickness of connecting rod
 Cont….
1. Measurement of depth of valve recesses in piston head
2. Measurement of height of radiator fin
3. Measurement of outer diameter of engine valve
4. Positioning of robot arm
5. Detection of damage on microdiameter tool
6. Confirmation of roller centering
 TEMPERATURE SENSORS
• Are used in almost all industrial plants.
• Are classified as
1. Low – temperature sensors with range of -100 to 400° C
using specific sensing materials such as phosphors,
semiconductor, and liquid crystals.
2. High – temperature sensors with a range of 500 to 2000° C
based on blackbody radiation.
 OPTICAL FIBER SENSORS
Utilized in industry in many ways, such as:
1. Detection of lot number and expiration dates.
2. Color difference recognition .
3. Defect detection.
4. Counting discrete components.
5. Detecting absence or presence of labels.
 OPTICAL FIBER SENSORS IN THE FIELD OF
PROCESS CONTROL IN MANUFACTURING.

1. Casting and rolling lines in steel and other metal plants.

2. Electric welding and annealing.
3. Furnaces in chemical and metal plants.
4. Food processing, paper manufacturing, and plastic
processing.
 MICROWAVE SENSORS
• Are valuable tool in industrial environment for measuring
motion, velocity, direction of movement, and range.
• Are intrinsically safe, since they have no moving parts, and
require low power.
• Will not cause any harm to operators and function effectively
in explosive environments.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROWAVE
SENSORS
1. No contact
2. Rugged
3. Environmental reliability
4. Intrinsically safe
5. Long range.
6. Target size.
 USES
• for measuring motion, velocity, direction of movement, and
range in industrial application.
• Function effectively in explosive environment.
• Can successfully measure object over a large distance.
• Used in radar system which define the existence, direction
and location of motion.
 OTHER SENSORS
• Flow sensors detecting small air bubbles for process control in
manufacturing.
• Liquid level sensors in manufacturing process control for
petroleum and chemical plants.
• Crack detection sensors for commercial and industrial
purposes
 Contd….
• Displacement sensor
• Pressure sensor
• Humidity sensor
• Oxygen sensor
• Moisture
• Torque
• Position
• Biosensor