What is a Sensor?

A sensor as an input device which provides an output (signal)

with respect to a specific physical quantity (input).
It is a device that converts signals from one energy domain to
electrical domain.

Classification of Sensors
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.

Active Sensors
RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging): This sensor emits
radio waves that are reflected back by an object, allowing it
to determine the distance, speed, and direction of the object.
Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging): This sensor emits pulses
of laser light and measures the time it takes for the light to
reflect back from an object. This allows it to determine the
object's distance and shape.
Ultrasonic Sensor: This sensor emits high-frequency sound
waves that bounce off an object and return to the sensor.
By measuring the time it takes for the sound waves to return,
the sensor can determine the object's distance and position.
Infrared Sensor: This sensor emits infrared radiation and
measures the reflection or absorption of the radiation by an
object. It is often used in temperature sensors and motion
detectors.

Passive Sensors
Temperature Sensor: This sensor measures the temperature
of its surroundings without emitting any energy. Examples
include a thermometer or a thermocouple.
Light Sensor: This sensor measures the amount of light in its
surroundings without emitting any light of its own. Examples
include a photodiode or a photoresistor.
Strain Gauge: This sensor measures the amount of strain or
deformation in an object without applying any external force.
Humidity Sensor: This sensor measures the amount of water
vapor in the air without emitting any energy.

Classification of Sensors (Detection)

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, Radioactive etc.
Classification of Sensors (Conversion phenomenon i.e., the
input and the output.)
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, Thermo-optic, etc.

Temperature Sensor
A temperature sensor is a device or instrument that is
designed to measure and detect temperature changes in its
surroundings and convert those changes into an electrical
signal.
Temperature sensors are used in a wide range of applications
across various industries, including electronics, automotive,
aerospace, environmental monitoring, and more.
They play a crucial role in maintaining optimal conditions,
ensuring safety, and providing control in many systems.

Types of Temperature Sensors

1. Thermocouples:
These are made from two different metals joined together at
one end. When the junction is exposed to a temperature
gradient, it generates a voltage that is proportional to the
temperature difference. Thermocouples are durable,
versatile, and can measure a wide range of temperatures.

2. Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTDs):

RTDs are made from materials that exhibit a predictable
change in resistance with temperature.
Platinum is commonly used due to its stable and repeatable
characteristics.
As the temperature changes, the resistance of the RTD
changes, allowing temperature measurement.

3. Thermistors:
Thermistors are temperature-sensitive resistors that exhibit a
significant change in resistance with temperature.
They can be classified as either negative temperature
coefficient (NTC) or positive temperature coefficient (PTC)
thermistors.
NTC thermistors' resistance decreases as temperature
increases, while PTC thermistors' resistance increases with
temperature.
A thermistor is a type of temperature sensor that exhibits a
change in electrical resistance with changes in temperature.
The word "thermistor" is a combination of "thermal" and
"resistor."
 4. Infrared (IR) Temperature Sensors:
This sensor emits infrared radiation and measures the
reflection or absorption of the radiation by an object.
These sensors detect the infrared radiation emitted by an
object and use this information to calculate its temperature.
They are non-contact sensors and are commonly used in
applications where direct contact with the object is not
possible or desirable.

5. Bimetallic Temperature Sensors:

These sensors consist of two different metals bonded
together, which expand at different rates when exposed to
temperature changes.
This differential expansion causes the sensor to bend, which
can be mechanically coupled to a measurement device.

6. Integrated Circuit (IC) Temperature Sensors:

These sensors are often built into microchips and integrated
circuits.
They rely on the temperature-dependent properties of
semiconductors to provide temperature measurements.

7. Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers:
 These are traditional glass tubes filled with a liquid (usually
mercury or alcohol) that expands or contracts with
temperature changes.
The height of the liquid column corresponds to the
temperature.

Arduino LM35 Temperature Sensor

The Temperature Sensor LM35 series are precision
integrated-circuit temperature devices with an output voltage
linearly proportional to the Centigrade temperature.
The LM35 device has an advantage over linear temperature
sensors calibrated in Kelvin, as the user is not required to
subtract a large constant voltage from the output to obtain
convenient Centigrade scaling.
The LM35 device does not require any external calibration or
trimming to provide typical accuracies of ±¼°C at room
temperature and ±¾°C over a full −55°C to 150°C
temperature range.

LM35 Temperature Sensor Pin Configuration

Pin1 (Vcc): It is a voltage supply pin and it uses +5V input
voltage.
Pin2 (Analog Out): This pin provides an analog output voltage
that is proportional to the temperature in degrees Celsius.
Pin3 (GND): It is a GND pin, connected to the GND of the
circuit.

Temperature Sensor Working

The LM35 temperature sensor provides the output voltage
that is linearly proportional to the Celsius temperature.
This sensor’s output scale factor is 10 mV/ degree Celsius. By
measuring the voltage on the o/p pin of this IC, we can
measure the temperature value.
If the temperature of the IC is 0°C, then the o/p voltage of
this IC can also be 0V. For every degree Celsius increase in
temperature, there will be an increase of 0.01V or 10mV. By
using Vout = 10mV°C *T formulae, the voltage can be
changed into temperature.
In this formula, the ‘Vout’ is the output voltage of IC, and ‘T’
is the temperature within °C.

Analog and Digital value

The LM35 temperature sensor provides an analog output
voltage range that is typically 0V to 1.5V when the
temperature range is within the sensor’s specified limits.
When this analog voltage is connected to an ADC input on a
microcontroller (such as the Arduino), the ADC converts this
voltage into a digital value. In the case of a 10-bit ADC, like
the one on Arduino, the range of digital values is from 0 to
1023.
To convert this digital value back into a temperature in
degrees Celsius, you need to reverse the formula provided by
the LM35 datasheet.
The LM35 has a sensitivity of 10 mV per degree Celsius,
which means that for every 1°C change in temperature, the
output voltage changes by 10 mV.
Applications
1. This sensor is used for measuring battery temperature.
2. This sensor gives protection to a battery from
overheating.
3. This sensor is used to measure temperatures in HVAC
applications.
4. This temperature sensor is used to measure an object’s
body temperature & also measures ambient
temperature.
5. This IC is used to measure the soil temperature.
6. This sensor is used in various weather detection
applications for monitoring weather or home
automation.
 Humidity Sensor
The humidity sensor is also known as a hygrometer, that is
used to measure the moisture content or humidity present in
the air.
Generally, both the humidity sensor and temperature sensor
are used to detect humidity. Humidity is defined as the
amount of moisture or water content present in the air.
This water is present in gaseous form in the air.
A less humid air indicates that the air is dry, which generally
happens for dry areas.
And high humidity means a lot of water is present in the air,
which is the general case in coastal areas.
It is an important parameter for various applications,
including weather monitoring, industrial processes, indoor
climate control, agriculture, and more.