SENSOR

Definition:
A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a 'signal'
which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury
thermometer converts the measured temperature into the expansion and contraction
of a liquid which can be read on a calibrated glass tube.
There are so many sensors which are used in our daily life some of them are as
follows:
Thermal sensors:
A sensor that detects temperature. Thermal sensors are in many laptops and
computers in order to sound an alarm when a certain temperature has been
exceeded.

temperature sensors: thermometers, thermostats

heat sensors: bolometer, calorimeter

Electromagnetic sensors
An electronic device used to measure a physical quantity such as pressure or
loudness and convert it into an electronic signal of some kind (e.g. a voltage).

electrical resistance sensors: ohmmeter

electrical voltage sensors: voltmeter
electrical power sensors: watt-hour meter
magnetism sensors: magnetic compass
metal detectors

Radar

This is anything that can be used to find things like photons, electrons, etc. It can
be as simple as a white wall, a sheet of white paper, etc., or as new as a chargecoupled device. When a laser is aimed at a detection screen, a bright spot will show
up on the wall or will be picked up on the CCD and can be viewed on an attached
TV screen or something like that. When an electron hits the screen it makes a
phosphor glow there.
Mechanical sensors:
Pressure sensors: barometer
Vibration and shock sensors

Motion sensors:
A motion sensor detects physical movement in a given area.
Radar gun, tachometer
Speedometer
Car sensors: A car sensor can be used for parking.

reversing sensor
rain sensor
Position sensor:
A position sensor is any device that permits position measurement. It can either be
an absolute position sensor or a relative one (displacement sensor). Position
sensors can be linear, angular, or multi-axis.

Some position sensors available today:

Capacitive transducer
Capacitive displacement sensor
Eddy-current sensor
Ultrasonic sensor
Grating sensor
FORCE SENSOR:
A force-sensing resistor is a material whose resistance changes when a force or
pressure is applied. They are also known as "force-sensitive resistor" and are
sometimes referred to by the initialism "FSR".
TRANSDUCER:
A transducer is a device that converts one form of energy to another. Usually a
transducer converts a signal in one form of energy to a signal in another.[1]
Transducers are often employed at the boundaries of automation, measurement,
and control systems, where electrical signals are converted to and from other
physical quantities (energy, force, torque, light, motion, position, etc.). The process
of converting one form of energy to another is known as transduction.
Transducer types
Active
Active sensors require an external power sources to operate, which is called an
excitation signal. The signal is modulated by the sensor to produce the output
signal. For example, a thermistor does not generate any electric signal, but by
passing electric current through it, its resistance can be measured by detecting
variations in current and/or voltage across the thermistor.

Passive
Passive sensors generate electric signals in response to an external stimulus
without the need of an additional energy source. Such examples are a
thermocouple, photodiode, and a piezoelectric sensor.[4]
Sensors
A sensor is a device that receives and responds to a signal or stimulus.[5] Transducer
is the other term that is sometimes interchangeably used instead of the term sensor,
although there are subtle differences. A transducer is a term that can be used for the
definition of many devices such as sensors, actuators, or transistors.[6][2]
Actuators
An actuator is a device that is responsible for moving or controlling a mechanism
or system. It is operated by a source of energy, which can be mechanical force,
electrical current, hydraulic fluid pressure, or pneumatic pressure, and converts that
energy into motion. An actuator is the mechanism by which a control system acts
upon an environment. The control system can be simple (a fixed mechanical or
electronic system), software-based (e.g. a printer driver, robot control system), a
human, or any other input.[2]
Bidirectional
Bidirectional transducers convert physical phenomena to electrical signals and also
convert electrical signals into physical phenomena. Examples of inherently
bidirectional transducers are antennae, which can convert conducted electrical
signals to or from propagating electromagnetic waves, and voice coils, which
convert electrical signals into sound (when used in a loudspeaker) or sound into
electrical signals (when used in a microphone). Likewise, DC electric motors may
be used to generate electrical power if the motor shaft is turned by an external
torque.
Applications
Transducers are used in electronic communications systems to convert signals of
various physical forms to electronic signals, and vice versa. In this example, the

first transducer could be a microphone, and the second transducer could be a

speaker.
Electroacoustic:

Loudspeakers, earphones converts electrical signals into sound (amplified

signal magnetic field motion air pressure)
Microphones converts sound into an electrical signal (air pressure
motion of conductor/coil magnetic field electrical signal)[2]
Pickup (music technology) converts motion of metal strings into an
electrical signal (magnetism electrical signal)
Tactile transducers converts electrical signal into vibration ( electrical
signal vibration)
Piezoelectric crystals converts deformations of solid-state crystals
(vibrations) to and from electrical signals
Geophones converts a ground movement (displacement) into voltage
(vibrations motion of conductor/coil magnetic field signal)
Gramophone pickups (air pressure motion magnetic field
electrical signal)
Hydrophones converts changes in water pressure into an electrical signal
Sonar transponders (water pressure motion of conductor/coil magnetic
field electrical signal)
Ultrasonic transceivers, transmitting ultrasound (transduced from electricity)
as well as receiving it after sound reflection from target objects, availing for
imaging of those objects.
Electro-optical (Photoelectric):
Fluorescent lamps converts electrical power into incoherent light
Incandescent lamps converts electrical power into incoherent light

 Light-emitting diodes converts electrical power into incoherent light

Laser diodes converts electrical power into coherent light
Photodiodes, photo resistors, phototransistors, photomultipliers converts
changing light levels into electrical signals
Photodetector or photoresist or light dependent resistor (LDR) converts
changes in light levels into changes in electrical resistance
Cathode-ray tubes (CRT) converts electrical signals into visual signals