L3 - Introduction To Sensors
L3 - Introduction To Sensors
L3 - Introduction To Sensors
Introduction to Sensors
Lecture - 1
Introduction to sensors & transducers
Sensor classification
Sensor Selection
Performance characteristics
In industrial automation extraction of
information/data plays a major role in
monitoring and controlling the pant
This is accomplished by the
instrumentation/measuring/data acquisition
system of the plant
A typical measuring/data acquisition device
Measuring Device
Measurand
o The quantity/parameter being measured
A typical measuring/data acquisition system
Signal To
From plant conditioning controller/
Sensor Transducer
& display
modification
Measuring System
A typical measuring/data acquisition system for
controlling
Input
Outputs
signal
Signal Control
Hardware Actuator Plant
conditioning
Signal
Transducer Sensor
conditioning
Measuring System
Sensor
o A device that sense the measurand
o Acquires information from the real world
Transducer
o A device that converts a primary form of energy into
a corresponding signal with a different form of
energy
o In other words, in a measuring device, a transducer
converts information supplied by a sensor into a
standardized signal which can be processed
o Primary forms of energy
• Mechanical
• Thermal
• Electro‐magnetic
• Chemical
• Optical
Strain Gauge
SENSORS
o Examples
• Ultra‐sonic sensors
• Radar
Passive
o In passive sensors the output is generated only from
the input parameter (input energy) they are sensing
o That is, no additional power source is not required
to generate an output signal
o However, the generated output signal can be very
small or weak, hence it may be necessary to amplify
the output signals by using active devices such as
OP amps
Passive
o Examples
• Strain gauges
• LVDT’s
• Thermo‐couples
• Piezoelectric sensors
Deflection type
o These sensors are used in a physical setup where
the output is proportional to the measurand
• Sensitivity =
Sensitivity
o In the case of vectorial or tensorial signals
(displacement, velocity etc.,) the direction of the
sensitivity should be specified
o Cross‐sensitivity is the sensitivity along directions
that are orthogonal to the direction of sensitivity
and often expressed as a percentage of direct
sensitivity
UFR
Classification of sensors