Sensors

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Sensors

• Electronics

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What is a sensor?

• A sensor is a type of transducer.
  Direct-indicating sensors, for example, a mercury
  thermometer, are human-readable. Other sensors
  must be paired with an indicator or display, for
  instance a thermocouple. Most sensors are
  electrical or electronic, although other types
  exist.
• Sensors are used in everyday life. Applications
  include automobiles, machines, aerospace,
  medicine, industry and robotics.
• Technological progress allows more and more
  sensors to be manufactured on the microscopic
  scale as micro sensors using MEMS technology. In
  most cases a micro sensor reaches a significantly
  higher speed and sensitivity compared with
  macroscopic approaches.

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What types of sensors are available?

• Thermal
• Electromagnetic
• Mechanical
• Optical
• Chemical
• Acoustic

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Thermal Sensors

• React to changes in temperature.

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Electromagnetic Sensors

• React to changes in electron flow or electrical
  current.

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Mechanical Sensors

• React to changes in physical position or contact
  with another surface.

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Optical Sensors

• React to changes in lighting conditions in a
  particular environment.

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Chemical Sensors

• React to changes in the chemical composition of a
  liquid or gas.

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Acoustic Sensors

• React to changes in a particular sound, echo or
  tone.

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Electromagnetic Spectrum
                                                
                                                  
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