Classification of sensors. Scheme, description

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RADIO ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Free library / Electrician

Sensors. Classification of sensors. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

Free technical library

Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering / Electrician's Handbook

Sensor - this is an element of a measuring, signaling, regulating or controlling device that converts a controlled value (temperature, pressure, frequency, luminous intensity, electrical voltage, current, etc.) into a signal convenient for measurement, transmission, storage, processing, registration, and sometimes to influence them on controlled processes; This is a device that converts the input action of any physical quantity into a signal that is convenient for further use.

Sensor classification

Automation of various technological processes, effective control of various units, machines, mechanisms require numerous measurements of various physical quantities.

Sensors (in the literature often also called measuring transducers), or in other words, sensors are elements of many automation systems - with their help they receive information about the parameters of the controlled system or device.

The sensors used are very diverse and can be classified according to various criteria.

Depending on the type of input (measured) quantity, there are:

mechanical displacement sensors (linear and angular);
pneumatic;
electrical;
flow meters;
sensors for speed, acceleration, force, temperature, pressure, etc.

Currently, there is approximately the following distribution of the proportion of measurements of various physical quantities in industry:

temperature - 50%;
consumption (mass and volume) - 20%;
pressure -10%;
level - 5%;
quantity (mass, volume) - 5%;
time - 5%;
electrical and magnetic values - less than 5%.

On kind of output value, into which the input value is converted, there are non-electric and electrical:

direct current sensors (EMF or voltage);
alternating current amplitude sensors (EMF or voltage);
alternating current frequency sensors (EMF or voltage);
resistance sensors (active, inductive or capacitive), etc.

Most sensors are electrical. This is due to the following advantages of electrical measurements:

electrical quantities are conveniently transmitted over a distance, and the transmission is carried out at high speed;
electrical quantities are universal in the sense that any other quantities can be converted into electrical quantities and vice versa;
they are accurately converted into a digital code and make it possible to achieve high accuracy, sensitivity and speed of measuring instruments.

According to the principle of operation, sensors can be divided into two classes:

generators, which directly convert the input value into an electrical signal;
parametric (sensor-modulators), which convert the input value into a change in some electrical parameter (R, L or C) of the sensor.

According to the principle of operation, sensors can also be divided into the following categories:

ohmic;
rheostatic;
photoelectric (opto-electronic);
inductive;
capacitive, etc.

There are three classes of sensors according to the physical structure of the signal:

analog sensors, i.e. sensors that produce an analog signal in proportion to the change in the input value;
digital sensors generating a sequence of pulses or a binary word;
binary (binary) sensors that produce a signal of only two levels: "on / off" (in other words, 0 or 1).

The latter are widely used due to their simplicity.

Basic requirements for sensors

Consider requirementsfor sensors:

unambiguous dependence of the output value on the input;
stability of characteristics over time;
high sensitivity;
small size and weight;
lack of feedback on the controlled process and on the controlled parameter;
work under various operating conditions;
various mounting options.

Author: Koryakin-Chernyak S.L.

See other articles Section Electrician's Handbook.

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