Sensors and Transducers #
Sensors detect physical quantities. Transducers convert one energy form to another (typically physical quantity → electrical signal).
By Measured Quantity #
| Quantity | Common Sensors |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Thermocouple, RTD (PT100), Thermistor (NTC/PTC) |
| Pressure | Strain gauge, piezoelectric |
| Position | Potentiometer, encoder, LVDT |
| Light | LDR, photodiode, phototransistor |
| Proximity | Inductive, capacitive, ultrasonic, infrared |
Key Characteristics #
Sensitivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, response time, range.
Temperature Sensors #
- Thermocouple: two metals, wide range (-200 to +2000°C), cheap but less precise
- RTD (PT100): platinum resistance, very precise (-200 to +850°C)
- NTC thermistor: resistance decreases with temperature, high sensitivity
Proximity Sensors #
- Inductive: detects metals only (electromagnetic field)
- Capacitive: detects any material (electric field)
- Ultrasonic: emits sound waves, measures echo time
Applications #
Industrial automation, automotive, smart homes, smartphones, medicine.
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