ARUSHA TECHNICAL COLLEGE (A T C)

TYPES OF SENSORS USED IN ELECTRONIC 1

APPLICATIONS

TEMPERATURE SENSORS 11/30/2023

OUTLINE

• Temperature sensors
• Motion sensors
• Flow sensors
• Optical sensors
• Electrochemical sensors

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TEMPERATURE SENSORS

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WHAT IS TEMPERATURE SENSOR
◼ A temperature sensor is an electronic device that measures the temperature
of its environment and converts the input data into electronic data to record,
monitor, or signal temperature changes.
◼ A temperature sensor is a device used to measure temperature.
◼ Temperature sensors are devices that provide readable temperature
measurements via an electrical signal. They contain two metals that generate
an electrical voltage or resistance when a temperature change occurs.
Example; Thermocouples, Resistive Temperature detector (RTD), Thermistors,
Thermometer and Thermostat.
Note: Todays electrical signal ranges standards used in industries are 4-20mA,
1-5V, 0-10V etc.

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HOW DO TEMPERATURE SENSORS WORK?

◼ Temperature sensors measure temperature readings via electrical

signals.
◼ They contain two metals that generate an electrical voltage or
resistance when a temperature change occurs.

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HOW DO TEMPERATURE SENSORS WORK?

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TEMPERATURE SENSOR CATEGORIES

◼ There are two main categories when it comes to temperature

sensors, depending on the type of application being used or the
industry you are working in:
i. Contact Temperature Sensors
ii. Non-contact Temperature Sensors

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TEMPERATURE SENSOR CATEGORIES

◼ Contact temperature sensors measure the degree of hotness or coldness of an object

or substance via direct contact.
◼ They are generally used to detect a wide range of temperatures in different solids,
liquids, or gases.
◼ Example thermocouple and thermistor.
◼ Non-contact Temperature Sensors
◼ These temperature meters are never in direct contact with an object or substance,
therefore, they are widely used in hazardous environments such as power plant
industries.
◼ They measure how hot or cold something is via radiation emitted by a heat source.
Example radiation thermometer, fiber optic temperature sensor

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TYPES OF TEMPERATURE SENSORS

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THERMOCOUPLES
◼ Thermocouples measure temperature by making use of a probe
constructed by joining two different metals together to form a junction at
one end and to which a voltmeter is connected at the other end.
◼ The end of the probe called the hot junction (where the metals are
joined) is used to contact the object whose temperature is being
measured, while the other end of the probe called the cold junction is
sitting at a reference temperature.
◼ A potential difference in Volts recorded on the voltmeter will be present
whose value proportionally represents the temperature difference
between the hot and cold junctions of the thermocouple

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THERMOCOUPLES

Thermocouple

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THERMOCOUPLES

◼ Thermocouple consists of two conductors, each made of different

type of metal that are joined at an end to form a junction. When the
junction is exposed to heat a voltage is generated that is
corresponds to temperature input (thermoelectric effect)
Vout = V1-V2

TEMPERATURE SENSORS 11/30/2023

THERMOCOUPLES

◼ Thermocouple consists of two conductors, each made of different

type of metal that are joined at an end to form a junction. When the
junction is exposed to heat a voltage is generated that is
corresponds to temperature input (thermoelectric effect)
Vout = V1-V2

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THERMOCOUPLES

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THERMOCOUPLES

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THERMOCOUPLES

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THERMOCOUPLES

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THERMOCOUPLE TYPES
Type
J Type
K

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THERMOCOUPLE TYPES

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THERMISTORS

◼ Thermistors, a term derived from a concatenation of the

words THERMally sensitive resISTORS, are temperature sensing
devices that make use of the property of the change in electrical
resistance that occurs with temperature as a means of providing a
reading for the temperature value.

TEMPERATURE SENSORS 11/30/2023

THERMISTORS

◼ Thermistors, a term derived from a concatenation of the

words THERMally sensitive resISTORS, are temperature sensing
devices that make use of the property of the change in electrical
resistance that occurs with temperature as a means of providing a
reading for the temperature value.

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THERMISTORS

◼ NOTE:
◼ Thermistors are passive resistive devices which means we need to
pass a current through it to produce a measurable voltage output.
◼ Applications for thermistors
include aerospace, appliances, automotive, communications,
instrumentation, medical, military, and refrigeration.

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TYPES OF THERMISTORS

◼ There are two primary types of thermistors – Negative

Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistors and Positive
Temperature Coefficient (PTC) thermistors.

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TYPES OF THERMISTORS

◼ There are two primary types of thermistors – Negative

Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistors and Positive
Temperature Coefficient (PTC) thermistors.

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TYPES OF THERMISTORS

◼ Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistors are ones

whose resistance decreases with an increase in temperature,
while Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) thermistors exhibit an
increase in electrical resistance with increasing temperature.
◼ The NTC thermistor is most frequently used in temperature sensing
applications, while the PTC thermistor has uses in electrical circuit
protection applications such as limiting the inrush current or surge
protection for a circuit or device.

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RESISTANCE TEMPERATURE DETECTORS
◼ RTDs (Resistance Temperature Detectors)
◼ Resistance Temperature Detectors, abbreviated RTDs, are temperature
sensors that make use of the change in the electrical resistance that
occurs in a conductive material to establish a value for the temperature.
◼ Are precision temperature sensors made from high-purity conducting
metals such as platinum, copper or nickel wound into a coil and whose
electrical resistance changes as function of temperature.
◼ RTDs have PTC
◼ They produce very accurate measurements of temperature than
thermistor.

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RESISTANCE TEMPERATURE DETECTORS
RTDs

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THANKS FOR LISTENING

TEMPERATURE SENSORS 11/30/2023