Sensors are at the core of every modern invention.
In these couple of slides I describe a couple of them and how they are connected to microcontroller pins.
5. Sensors
Force Sensors
How it works
Changes resistance when a force or
pressure is applied.
Resistance is inversely proportional
to the force applied.
Applications
• Pressure sensor (someone standing/
sitting)
• Impact testing
6. Sensors
Flex Sensor
How it works
Detects when something is bent and
measure the degree of bend.
Resistance is increase proportional
to the degree of bend.
Application
• Sign language translator.
7. Sensors
Current Sensor
How it works
Detects the amount of current
passing through a conductor by
measuring the magnetic field
generated around it.
Applications
• Battery supplied applications.
• Circuit protection and control.
• For metering.
8. Sensors
IR Range Finder
How it works
Uses how long it takes transmitted IR
to be reflected back into the receiver
to approximate its distance from an
obstacle.
Has detection range of 20 cm to 150 cm.
Applications
• Measure presence or absence of
an obstacle.
• Measure how far an object is.
9. Sensors
Ultrasonic Range Finders
How it works
Uses how long it takes sound to be
reflected back to approximate its distance
from an obstacle.
Very accurate and quite expensive.
Has detection range of 2 cm to 400 cm.
Applications
• Measure presence or absence of
an obstacle.
• Measure how further away an
object is.
10. Sensors
Passive IR Sensor
How it works
Used to detect whether a
human has moved in or out of the
sensor’s range. Senses motion
Response time and sensitivity van be
tuned.
Applications
• Engaging and disengaging door
locks.
• Implement power management
strategy by putting of lights when
room is no longer in use.
11. Sensors
Humidity Sensor
Temperature Sensors
How it works
Measures atmospheric conditions.
Application
• Used in home heating, ventilating,
and air conditioning systems,
offices, cars, industrial spaces and
greenhouses.
12. Barometric Sensor
Sensors
How it works
Conducts electricity at a certain rate
therefore leading to a specific level of
charge flow that is associated with a
specific level of pressure.
Applications
• Used in aircrafts, rockets, satellites
and weather balloons to measure
altitude.
22. 3-pin Sensors
• Vin, Vout, GND
• +, Vout, -
Sensors that have 3 pinouts by which one can
connect them to any circuit or to the micro
controller.
Pinout Labelling
Vin +
GND -
30. Good Sensors
• Sensitive to only the measured property.
• The sensor itself doesn’t influence the
measured property.
• The output should a simple function of the
measured value.