Sensors
Sensors
Sensors (/ˈsɛnsɔːrz/) are devices or modules that detect and respond to some type of input from the physical environment. The specific input could be light, heat, motion, moisture, pressure, or any one of a great number of other environmental phenomena. The output is generally a signal that is converted to human-readable display at the sensor location or transmitted electronically over a network for reading or further processing.
Etymology
The term "sensor" comes from the Latin word "sensus", which means "feeling" or "perception". It was first used in the context of technology in the late 19th century to describe devices that detect changes in physical phenomena and convert them into a readable format.
Types of Sensors
There are many types of sensors, each designed to detect specific types of data. Some of the most common types include:
- Temperature Sensors: These sensors measure the amount of heat energy or coldness that is generated by an object or system.
- Pressure Sensors: These sensors are used to measure pressure of gases or liquids.
- Proximity Sensors: These sensors detect the presence or absence of objects using electromagnetic fields, light, and other phenomena.
- Optical Sensors: These sensors convert light rays into electronic signals for measuring the physical quantity of light.
- Motion Sensors: These sensors are used to detect physical movement in a given area.
- Gas Sensors: These sensors interact with a gas to measure its concentration.
Related Terms
- Actuator: A device that moves or controls a mechanism or system by acting upon an input.
- Transducer: A device that converts one form of energy to another.
- Signal Processing: The analysis, interpretation, and manipulation of signals.
- Data Acquisition: The process of sampling signals that measure real world physical conditions and converting the resulting samples into digital numeric values.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sensors
- Wikipedia's article - Sensors
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