Assignment-1

Of
Digital Signal Processing

Submitted To: Mr. Vikram Mutneja

Submitted By: Alisha
BTech.(ECE) 5th Sem.
160390128
Discuss at least 20 types of sensors and their working in different field
and circuit description.

Answer: A Sensor is an input device which provides an output (signal) with respect to a specific
physical quantity (input).

The term “input device” in the definition of a Sensor means that it is part of a bigger system
which provides input to a main control system (like a Processor or a Microcontroller).

Another unique definition of a Sensor is as follows: It is a device that converts signals from one
energy domain to electrical domain.

In the first classification of the sensors, they are divided in to Active and Passive.

 Active Sensors are those which require an external excitation signal or a power signal.

 Passive Sensors, on the other hand, do not require any external power signal and directly
generates output response.

The other type of classification is based on the means of detection used in the sensor. Some of
the means of detection are Electric, Biological, Chemical and Radioactive etc.
The next classification is based on conversion phenomenon i.e. the input and the output. Some of
the common conversion phenomena are Photoelectric, Thermoelectric, Electrochemical,
Electromagnetic and Thermo optic etc.

The final classification of the sensors is Analog and Digital Sensors.

 Analog Sensors produce an analog output i.e. a continuous output signal with respect to
the quantity being measured.

 Digital Sensors, in contrast to Analog Sensors, work with discrete or digital data. The
data in digital sensors, which is used for conversion and transmission, is digital in nature.

 Different Types of Sensors

The following is a list of different types of sensors that are commonly used in various
applications. All these sensors are used for measuring one of the physical properties like
Temperature, Resistance, Capacitance, Conduction, Heat Transfer etc.

 Temperature Sensor
 Proximity Sensor
 Accelerometer
 IR Sensor (Infrared Sensor)
 Pressure Sensor
 Light Sensor
 Ultrasonic Sensor
 Smoke, Gas and Alcohol Sensor
 Touch Sensor
 Color Sensor
 Humidity Sensor
 Tilt Sensor
 Flow and Level Sensor
 1. Temperature Sensor

One of the most common and most popular sensors is the Temperature Sensor. A Temperature
Sensor, as the name suggests, senses the temperature i.e. it measures the changes in the
temperature.

In a Temperature Sensor, the changes in the Temperature correspond to change in its physical
property like resistance or voltage.

There are different types of Temperature Sensors like Temperature Sensor ICs (like LM35),
Thermistors, Thermocouples, RTD (Resistive Temperature Devices), etc.

Temperature Sensors are used everywhere like computers, mobile phones, automobiles, air
conditioning systems, industries etc.

Application: A simple project using LM35 (Celsius Scale Temperature Sensor) is

implemented in project: TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED SYSTEM.

2. Proximity Sensors

A Proximity Sensor is a non-contact type sensor that detects the presence of an object. Proximity
Sensors can be implemented using different techniques like Optical (like Infrared or Laser),
Ultrasonic, Hall Effect, Capacitive, etc.
Some of the applications of Proximity Sensors are Mobile Phones, Cars (Parking Sensors),
industries (object alignment), Ground Proximity in Aircrafts, etc.

Application: Proximity Sensor in Reverse Parking is implemented in Project: REVERSE

PARKING SENSOR CIRCUIT.

3. Infrared Sensor (IR Sensor)

IR Sensors or Infrared Sensors are light based sensors that are used in various applications like
Proximity and Object Detection. IR Sensors are used as proximity sensors in almost all mobile
phones.
There are two types of Infrared or IR Sensors: Transmissive Type and Reflective Type. In
Transmissive Type IR Sensor, the IR Transmitter (usually an IR LED) and the IR Detector
(usually a Photo Diode) are positioned facing each other so that when an object passes between
them, the sensor detects the object.

The other type of IR Sensor is a Reflective Type IR Sensor. In this, the transmitter and the
detector are positioned adjacent to each other facing the object. When an object comes in front of
the sensor, the sensor detects the object.

Different applications where IR Sensor is implemented are Mobile Phones, Robots, Industrial
assembly, automobiles etc.

Application: A small project, where IR Sensors are used to turn on street lights: STREET
LIGHTS USING IR SENSORS.

4. Ultrasonic Sensor

An Ultrasonic Sensor is a non-contact type device that can be used to measure distance as well
as velocity of an object. An Ultrasonic Sensor works on the basis of properties of the sound
waves with frequency greater than that of the human audible range.
Using the time of flight of the sound wave, an Ultrasonic Sensor can measure the distance of the
object (similar to SONAR). The Doppler Shift property of the sound wave is used to measure
the velocity of an object.

Application: Arduino based Range Finder is a simple project using Ultrasonic

Sensor: PORTABLE ULTRASONIC RANGE METER.

5. Light Detector or a Light Sensor:

It is a device or circuit that detects the intensity of the light incident on it. Different
types of light detectors are LDRs (or Light Dependent Resistors), Photo Diodes, Photo
Transistors, etc.

All these devices are called as Photoelectric Devices as they convert light energy to electric
energy. These Light Detectors or Sensors can detect different types of light like visible light,
ultraviolet light, infrared light etc.

Application: Light Detector in LDR Circuit.

 6. Smoke Detector :

It is a smoke sensing device that indicates fire. Smoke Detectors are very common in
homes offices, schools and industries. Smoke Detectors are very useful devices as the
damage caused by fire accidents is catastrophic.

Now a days, smoke detectors and smoke alarms are very cheap as its usage is increasing and cost
of manufacturing is decreasing. In this project, we are implementing a simple Smoke Detector
Circuit using simple hardware.

There are two types of smoke detectors.

 Optical or Photoelectric smoke detectors and Ionization smoke detectors.

 Optical smoke detectors consist of a light source like LED and a light detector like
photocell.

The photocell conducts as long as the light falls on it. When there is smoke, the light from the
source is interrupted and the photocell doesn’t conduct.

Breath Alcohol Tester is a device that is used to indicate or estimate the blood alcohol content of
a person. The general term for this device is Breathalyzer or Breath Analyzer.

Law Enforcement Organizations often use breath alcohol testers to find consumption levels of
alcohol by drivers.

Application: A simple DIY breath alcohol tester can be designed. It can be used for the levels
of alcohol consumption with the help of LEDs from very less consumption to intoxicated.
 7. Touch Sensor: A Touch Sensor is a type of sensor that detects physical touch or
proximity. They are input devices like buttons and switches but are more sensitive than
those two. Hence, touch sensors are replacing buttons in devices like mobile phones and
laptops.

There are different types of touch sensors like resistive touch sensors, capacitive touch sensors,
piezo touch sensors etc. The most common one is the capacitive type touch sensor.

The advantage of touch sensors is that with a single sensor, we can get multiple operations like
swipe, tap and pinch. The working of a touch sensor (Capacitive type to be specific) is simple.

Basically, it detects the change in capacitance of the sensor when we touch it. Additionally, some
sensors can detect these changes in capacitance without the physical contact but when the finger
is placed slightly near to the sensor.
Application: A Touch Dimmer Switch Circuit is a simple project, where the dimmer action is
achieved with the help of a Touch Sensor.

8. Tilt Sensor or a Tilt Switch: It is a component that detects orientation of an object. One
of the best examples for the application of a tilt sensor is its use in aircrafts. The
horizontal and vertical orientation or inclination of the airplane will be provided by the
tilt sensor to on board computers. This information is provided to the pilot for safe
travelling. There are different types of tilt sensors based on the axes it can measure.

A simple tilt sensor is basically a switch that will turn ON or OFF based angle or orientation of
the sensor. Such sensor is useful for single axis tilt detection.

Application: In determining the orientation.

9. Humidity and Temperature Sensor: It is a sensor which generates calibrated digital

output. DHT11, a humidity sensor can be interfaced with any microcontroller like
Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc. to get instantaneous results. DHT11 is a low cost humidity
and temperature sensor which provides high reliability and long term stability.
 10. Color Sensor: This sensor as the name suggests, is a device that senses or detects
colors. A color sensor will use an external means of emitting light (like an array of
white LEDs) and then analyses the reflected light from the object in order to determine
its color.

Color sensors will give an accurate color of the object. There are a wide range of applications of
color sensors like sorting objects by color, quality control systems, printer color enhancement
etc.

Application: In simple Arduino Color Sensor application, that has an ability to detect different
colors.