Sensors

●​ Definition: Input devices that detect environmental changes.

●​ Variety: Numerous types, each recording different environmental data.

Advantages of Computer Sensors

●​ Reliability: Consistently perform tasks without errors.

●​ Accuracy: Provide precise data measurements.
●​ Endurance: Do not experience fatigue.
●​ Safety: Operate in environments unsuitable for humans.

Light Sensors

●​ Definition: Devices that detect light and measure ambient brightness.

●​ Function: Similar to human eyes, they detect light levels and respond accordingly.

Uses of Light Sensors

●​ Street Lights: Automatically turn on/off at specific times to save electricity.

●​ Security Systems: Beam light between sensors to detect intrusions and trigger alarms.
●​ Garage Doors: Prevent accidental damage by stopping the door if an object interrupts the
light beam.
●​ Mobile Phones: Adjust screen brightness based on surrounding light levels.
●​ Barcode and QR Code Scanners: Reflect light off codes to generate binary data.
●​ Robotics: Enable robots to "see" and navigate by detecting light reflections.

Temperature Sensors

●​ Definition: Devices that measure heat generated by an object or system.

●​ Function: Detects changes in temperature.
●​ Types:
○​ Contact Sensors: Require physical contact with an object to measure temperature
(solid, liquid, or gas).
○​ Non-Contact Sensors: Measure energy transmitted or radiated from an object.

Uses of Temperature Sensors

●​ Household Items:
○​ Refrigerators: Regulate and maintain constant temperature.
○​ Ovens: Maintain desired cooking temperature.
○​ Heating Systems (Thermostats): Use metal pieces to create or break circuits based
on temperature.
Motion Sensors

●​ Definition: Devices that detect motion.

●​ Common Use: Primarily used in security systems.
●​ Detection Methods:
○​ Detecting heat
○​ Sending out microwaves that bounce off objects and detect changes in patterns.

Uses of Motion Sensors

●​ Lighting:
○​ Turn lights on/off when motion is detected in a room.
○​ Saves energy and reduces costs.
●​ Automatic Doors:
○​ Open doors for approaching individuals.
○​ Benefits people with disabilities.
●​ Gaming:
○​ Enable body movement-based gaming interactions.
○​ Examples: Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Kinect, Sony Move.
○​ Accelerometers: Detect rotation, tilting, and direction in gaming controllers.
●​ Mobile Devices:
○​ Rotate screens based on the angle at which the device is held.
●​ Other Applications:
○​ Control windscreen wipers in cars.
○​ Monitor intruders in burglar alarm systems.
○​ Control doors in shopping malls.

Magnetic Field Sensors

●​ Definition: Devices that detect changes in magnetic fields.

●​ Function: Measure the strength and direction of magnetic fields and respond to changes.

Uses of Magnetic Field Sensors

●​ Navigation:
○​ Used in mobile phones as magnetometers to act as a compass, indicating
directions (north, south, east, west).
○​ Can also be used to 'wake up' phones by turning the screen on.
●​ Automotive:
○​ Control anti-lock braking systems (ABS) in cars, ensuring safety by preventing
wheel lockup.

Gas Sensors
 ●​ Definition: Devices that detect the presence of gas in a specific area and can trigger a
response if levels are too high or too low.
●​ Function: Measure gas levels and respond to dangerous concentrations.

Uses of Gas Sensors

●​ Household and Commercial:

○​ Carbon Monoxide Detection: Used in homes, businesses, gas central-heating
systems, and gas fireplaces to monitor CO levels and trigger alarms if levels are
too high.
●​ Industrial:
○​ Pollution Monitoring: Monitor pollution levels in water or air.
○​ Greenhouses: Monitor O2 and CO2 levels to ensure optimal growing conditions.
○​ Power Stations: Monitor CO2 leaks to maintain safety and efficiency.

Pressure Sensors

●​ Definition: Devices that measure the pressure of a liquid or gas.

●​ Function:
○​ Measure the pressure of liquid flowing through pipes to prevent bursts.
○​ Monitor pressure levels by conducting electricity at a specific rate.

Uses of Pressure Sensors

●​ Pipe Flow:
○​ Measure liquid pressure in pipes.
○​ Trigger warnings when too much liquid flows through and causes high pressure.

Moisture and Humidity Sensors

●​ Moisture Sensors: Measure the amount of moisture in a specific material.

●​ Humidity Sensors (Hygrometers): Measure the amount of moisture (water vapor) in the air
and the current air temperature. Together, these measurements are known as humidity.

Uses of Moisture and Humidity Sensors

●​ Agriculture:
○​ Detect moisture levels in soil.
○​ Ensure optimal moisture for high-quality crop production.
○​ Automate crop watering systems.
●​ Health Monitoring:
○​ Detect humidity levels affecting health, especially during illnesses.
○​ High humidity can foster bacterial growth, while low humidity can cause breathing
issues.
●​ Cultural Preservation:
 ○​ Used in museums and art galleries to prevent damage to artifacts and paintings
due to improper humidity levels.

pH Sensors

●​ Definition: Devices that measure how acidic or alkaline a material is.

●​ Function: Measure pH levels on a scale.

Uses of pH Sensors

●​ Water Quality:
○​ Ensure the water we drink is neither too acidic nor too alkaline for health.
○​ Water treatment plants monitor and adjust pH levels.
●​ Aquariums:
○​ Monitor and maintain the correct pH levels for different types of fish.

Infrared Sensors

●​ Active Infrared Sensors:

○​ Use an invisible beam of infrared radiation picked up by a detector.
○​ If the beam is broken, there will be a change in the amount of infrared radiation
reaching the detector.
●​ Uses:
○​ Car Windscreen Wipers: Automatically turn on when detecting rain.
○​ Security Alarm Systems: Trigger an alarm when an intruder breaks the infrared
beam.
●​ Passive Infrared Sensors:
○​ Measure the heat radiation given off by an object (e.g., temperature of an intruder
or fridge).
●​ Uses:
○​ Security Alarm Systems: Detect body heat to trigger alarms.
○​ Industrial Freezers/Chiller Units: Monitor temperature inside.

Acoustic/Sound Sensors

●​ Definition: Devices, essentially microphones, that convert detected sound into electric
signals or pulses.

Uses of Acoustic/Sound Sensors

●​ Security Systems:
○​ Pick up the noise of footsteps to detect intruders.
●​ Leak Detection:
○​ Detects the sound of liquids dripping at faulty pipe joints.
Accelerometers

●​ Definition: Sensors that measure acceleration and motion of an application, i.e., the
change in velocity.
●​ Function: Use a piezoelectric cell whose output varies according to the change in velocity.

Uses of Accelerometers

●​ Measuring Acceleration and Motion: Detects changes in velocity for various applications.

Proximity Sensors

●​ Definition: Devices that detect the presence of a nearby object.

Uses of Proximity Sensors

●​ Mobile Phones:
○​ Detect when a face is close to the screen and switch off the display when held to
the ear.
●​ Robotics:
○​ Measure the distance between the robot and nearby objects to navigate and avoid
collisions.

Flow (Rate) Sensors

●​ Definition: Devices that measure the flow rate of a moving liquid or gas and produce an
output based on the amount passing over the sensor.

Uses of Flow (Rate) Sensors

●​ Medical:
○​ Used in respiratory devices and inhalers in hospitals to monitor and control the flow
rate of gases.
●​ Industrial:
○​ Measure gas flows in pipes (e.g., natural gas) to ensure safe and efficient operation.

Level Sensors

●​ Definition: Devices that use various methods (ultrasonics, capacitance/conductivity,

optical, or mechanical) to detect and measure liquid levels.

Methods

●​ Ultrasonics: Detect changing liquid levels (e.g., in a tank).

●​ Capacitance/Conductivity: Measure static levels (e.g., height of water in a river).
Uses of Level Sensors

●​ Automotive:
○​ Monitor fuel levels in a petrol tank.
●​ Pharmaceutical Industry:
○​ Monitor powder levels in tablet production.
●​ HVAC Systems:
○​ Detects leaks in refrigerant (air conditioning) systems.

Monitoring and Control Systems Using Sensors

1.​ Sensors send signals to the microprocessor or computer.

2.​ The signals are converted to digital (if necessary) using an analogue-to-digital converter
(ADC).
3.​ The computer or microprocessor analyzes the received data by comparing it against stored
values.
●​ If the new data is outside the acceptable range:
○​ In a monitoring system, a warning message is sent to a screen, or an alarm is
activated.
○​ The microprocessor or computer does not influence what is being monitored; it
simply "watches" the process.
●​ In a control system, if the new data is outside the acceptable range:
○​ The computer or microprocessor sends signals to control components like valves
and motors.
○​ The system's output affects the next set of sensor inputs, creating a feedback
loop.

Monitoring Systems

●​ Purpose: Observe and record data about an environment using sensors.

Examples of Monitoring

●​ Healthcare: Monitoring patient vital signs (heart rate, temperature, etc.).

●​ Security: Monitoring intruders with burglar alarm systems.
●​ Automotive: Checking temperature levels in car engines.
●​ Environmental: Monitoring pollution levels in rivers.

Controlling Systems

●​ Purpose: Actively maintain or change the state of a system using actuators, with
continuous monitoring and adjustments through a feedback loop.

Examples of Controlling Systems

 ●​ Lighting: Turning street lights on at night and off during daylight.
●​ HVAC: Controlling temperature in central heating/air conditioning systems.
●​ Chemical Processes: Maintaining temperature and pH levels.
●​ Automotive: Operating anti-lock brakes when necessary.
●​ Agriculture: Controlling the environment in a greenhouse.

Security Systems

●​ Activation: By keying in a password on a keypad.

●​ Sensors:
○​ Infrared: Detects movement of an intruder.
○​ Acoustic: Picks up sounds such as footsteps or breaking glass.
○​ Pressure: Detects weight of an intruder coming through a door or window.
●​ Process:
○​ Sensor data is converted from analogue to digital (ADC).
○​ Microprocessor samples digital data at set intervals and compares them with
stored values.
○​ If data is outside acceptable range, signals are sent to sound alarms or flash lights.
○​ DAC converts digital signals to analogue if needed.
○​ Alarm continues until reset with a password.

Patient Monitoring in Hospitals

●​ Sensors: Measure vital signs (temperature, heart rate, breathing rate).

●​ Process:
○​ Sensors send data to a computer system.
○​ Computer samples data frequently and compares it with acceptable ranges.
○​ Alarm sounds if data is outside acceptable range.
○​ Values displayed graphically or as digital readouts until sensors are disconnected.

Street Lighting Control

●​ Light Sensor: Sends data to ADC, converting it to digital form.

●​ Process:
○​ Microprocessor samples data every minute.
○​ If data < stored value, street lamp is switched on; if >= stored value, lamp is
switched off.
○​ Lamp remains in its current state for 30 minutes before resampling to prevent
flickering.

Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) in Cars

●​ Magnetic Field Sensors: Monitor wheel rotation speed.

●​ Process:
 ○​ Sensors send data to the microprocessor.
○​ Microprocessor compares wheel speeds.
○​ Adjusts braking pressure to match wheel speeds, preventing lockup.
○​ System constantly adjusts braking pressure, felt as a 'judder' on the brake pedal.

Central Heating Systems

●​ Temperature Sensor: Continuously sends data to the microprocessor.

●​ Process:
○​ Sensor data converted from analogue to digital (ADC).
○​ Microprocessor compares data with a pre-set temperature.
○​ If temperature < pre-set value, signals sent to open the gas valve or turn on the
water pump (via DAC).

Chemical Process Control

●​ Sensors: Monitor temperature and pH levels.

●​ Process:
○​ Sensor data converted to digital (ADC) and sent to the computer.
○​ Computer compares data with pre-set values.
○​ Signals sent to control heaters and valves to maintain temperature and pH within
required range.

Greenhouse Environment Control

●​ Humidity Sensor: Sends data to ADC, converting it to digital form.

●​ Process:
○​ Computer compares input with pre-set values.
○​ If humidity > pre-set value, windows are opened to reduce humidity.
○​ If humidity < pre-set value, valves are opened to spray water into the air.
○​ Process continues as long as the system is active.