BY BALRAM JHA

A sensor is a device that measures a particular characteristic of an object such as temperature or thermal conductivity. Some sensors are purely mechanical, but most sensors are electronic, returning a voltage signal that can be converted into a useful engineering unit. Engineers use sensors in test and monitoring applications, but homeowners interact with sensors every day. Automobiles are filled with sensors, from the engine to the airbag

Sensor Developments Inc. (SDI) was formed in 1976 as an engineering consulting firm specializing in the science of force measurement and sensor design. Since then, we have expanded by adding highly skilled people with diverse backgrounds and manufacturing facilities for specialized force and torque sensors.
We have engineered force measurement solutions for many industries and applications, including: automotive, aerospace, OEM, medical, nuclear, and textile. SDI enjoys worldwide recognition for our expertise in designing specialized strain gage based sensors for force and torque applications.

Sensors are electrical or mechanical components that are used to measure a property or behavior of an object or system. Some sensors measure properties directly, other sensors measure properties indirectly, using conversions or calculations to determine results. Sensors are used by scientists and engineers during research and testing activities, but they can also be found in many household objects, such as temperature sensors in an oven to accelerometers in an automobile airbag system.

NASA scientists say they have developed a wireless sensor technology that can give operators of cars, planes, boats and trains more accurate fuel readings. "This fundamental technology could be used to design an unlimited number of sensors for a variety of measurements," Woodard said. "Just think about anything that you would want to measure. Don't be surprised when you see this technology commercially available in your home or cars."

SENSOR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED BY NASA

1.Mechanical Sensors 2.Electrical SENSOR 3.Thermal SENSOR 4.Chemical SENSOR 5.Optical SENSOR 6.Temperature Sensors 7.Colour sensor

Mechanical sensors measure a property through mechanical means, although the measurement itself may be collected electronically. An example of a mechanical sensor is a strain gauge. The strain gauge measures the physical deformation of a component by experiencing the same strain as the component, yet the change in resistance of the strain gauge is measured electrically. Other types of mechanical sensors include: Pressure sensors Accelerometers

Electrical sensors measure electric and magnetic properties. An example of an electrical sensor is an ohmmeter, which is used to measure electrical resistance between two points in a circuit. An ohmmeter sends a fixed voltage through one probe, and measures the returning voltage through a second probe. The drop in voltage is proportional to the resistance, as dictated by Ohm's Law. Other electrical sensors include: Voltmeter/Ammeter Metal detector

A metal detector is a device which responds to metal that may not be readily apparent. The simplest form of a metal detector consists of an oscillator producing an alternating current that passes through a coil producing an alternating magnetic field. If a piece of electrically conductive metal is close to the coil, eddy currents will be induced in the metal, and this produces an alternating magnetic field of its own

Although all thermal sensors measure changes in temperature, there are a variety of types of thermal sensors, each with specific uses, temperature ranges, and accuracies. Some types of thermal sensors include: Thermometers, Thermocouples

Chemical sensors generally detect the concentration of a substance in the air or in a liquid. Some chemical sensors, such as pH glass electrodes are designed to be sensitive to a certain ion. Some other types of chemical sensors include: Oxygen sensors, Carbon monoxide detectors

Optical sensors detect the presence of light waves. This could include light in the visible spectrum, or outside the visible spectrum, in the case of infrared sensors. Some types of optical sensors include: Photo detectors Infrared sensors Fiber optic sensors Interferometers

Temperature sensors simply report the temperature of a part or environment. The most common type of temperature sensor is the thermocouple, which relies on voltage changes based on dissimilar metal junctions. Thermocouples are available for a wide range of temperatures, from ambient environmental temperatures through high temperature environments, such as jet engines.

The color sensor cir- cuit can sense eight colours, i.e. blue, green and red (primary colours); magenta, yellow and cyan (secondary colours); and black and white. The circuit is based on the fundamentals of optics and digital electronics. The object whose colour is required to be detected should be placed in front of the system.

Describing Sensor Performance

3.2

Range maximum and minimum values that can be measured Resolution or discrimination smallest discernible change in the measured value Error difference between the measured and actual values

random errors systematic errors

Accuracy, inaccuracy, uncertainty accuracy is a measure of the maximum expected error Sensitivity a measure of the change produced at the output for a given change in the quantity being measured

Sensor characteristics
Static characteristics
The properties of the system after all transient effects

have settled to their final or steady state Dynamic characteristics The properties of the system transient response to an input

Applications
1. Antenna 2. Fluorescent lamp 3. Photo detector 4. Potentiometer 5. Loudspeaker, earphone 6. Microphone 7. Photodiode 8. light-emitting diode 9. lamps which dim or brighten by touching the base.

http://www.sendev.com/history.html http://engineering.suite101.com/article.cfm/an_introduction_to_s ensors http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensor http://electricalsensor.com/tech/715541.jpg