Uses of Sensors and Other Measurement Devices

Types of Sensors and Measurement Devices

Thermometers: Temperature-measuring devices that can be digital or analogue.
Strain Gauges: Measures how much a material changes shape under pressure.
Light Sensors (Phototransistors): Sensitive to different wavelengths of light and their intensity, used for light detection.
Microphones: Transforms sound vibrations into an electrical signal.
Humidity Sensors: Monitor and measure the moisture and air temperature variations.
Proximity Sensors: Detects the presence or absence of objects using electromagnetic fields, light, and sound.

Weather Stations: Use humidity sensors, temperature sensors and barometric pressure sensors to track changes in weather conditions.
Medical Devices: Thermometers are crucial in monitoring body temperature, and strain gauges are used to measure blood pressure.
Home Security Systems: employ Proximity and light sensors for intruder detection.
Voice Recognition Systems: Utilise microphones to capture sound waves which are then transformed into digital signals.
Automatic Lights: Use light sensors to turn on and off based on the light intensity detected.
Touchscreen Devices: Use pressure sensors to interact with the interface.

Sensitivity: The sensor’s ability to detect small changes, denoted by the change in output per unit change in meaureand.
Range: The minimum and maximum values of physical parameters a sensor can effectively measure.
Resolution: The smallest detectable incremental change of input parameter that can be detected in the output signal.
Linearity: The degree to which the output of a sensor changes linearly with changes in the input.
Hysteresis: The difference in output when the same input parameter is increasing and then decreasing.
Response Time: The time a sensor takes to respond to a change in the measurand.