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Sensor concepts and working principles are explained in detail

  • PublishDate 2025-07-24 19:15

The existence and development of sensors give objects senses such as touch, taste and smell, making objects come alive, and sensors are an extension of human facial senses. Sensors have the characteristics of miniaturization, digitalization, intelligence, multi-functionalization, systematization, and networking, and are the primary link in realizing automatic detection and automatic control.   A sensor is a device or device that can sense a specified measurement and convert it into a usable output signal according to a certain rule. There are many kinds of sensors, in the course of advanced measurement technology, many sensors are mentioned, in modern industrial production, especially in the process of automated production, to use various sensors to monitor and control various parameters in the production process, so that the equipment works in the normal state or the best state, and the product reaches the best quality. Therefore, it can be said that without many excellent sensors, modern production will lose its foundation. The first obstacle to many basic scientific research lies in the difficulty of obtaining object information, and the emergence of some new mechanisms and high-sensitivity detection sensors often leads to breakthroughs in this field.   Sensors are ubiquitous in our lives, and they are able to keenly capture various physical changes and convert them into electrical signals or other forms of output, providing us with a rich source of information. This article will take you into the world of sensors, explore their types and principles, and let us better understand and understand the world around us.   What is a sensor?   A sensor is a device that detects and responds to some type of input from the physical environment. The input can be light, heat, motion, humidity, pressure, or any other environmental phenomenon. The output is typically a signal that is converted to a human-readable display at the sensor location or transmitted electronically over a network for reading or further processing.   Sensors play a pivotal role in the Internet of Things. They can create an ecosystem to collect and process data about a particular environment, making it easier and more efficient to monitor, manage, and control. IoT sensors are used in homes, fields, automobiles, aircraft, industrial settings, and other environments. Sensors bridge the gap between the physical and logical worlds, acting as the eyes and ears of the computing infrastructure, analyzing the data collected from the sensors and taking the line Sensor Classification 1. Classification of Sensitive Components: Physical class, based on physical effects such as force, heat, light, electricity, magnetism, and sound.   Chemistry, based on the principles of chemical reactions.   Biological classes, based on molecular recognition functions such as enzymes, antibodies, and hormones.   It can usually be divided into ten categories according to its basic sensing functions, such as thermal components, photosensitive components, air-sensitive components, force-sensitive components, magnetic components, moisture-sensitive components, acoustic components, radioactive sensitive components, color-sensitive components, and taste-sensitive components.  2. By application: pressure and force sensitive sensors, position sensors, liquid level sensors, energy consumption sensors, speed sensors, acceleration sensors, radiation radiation sensors, thermal sensors.   3. Analog sensor according to the output signal: Converts the measured non-electrical quantity into an analog electrical signal.   Digital sensor: converts the measured non-electrical quantity into a digital output signal (including direct and indirect conversion).   Switching sensor: When a measured signal reaches a certain threshold, the sensor outputs a set low or high signal accordingly.   4. According to its composition Basic sensor: It is the most basic single conversion device.   Combined sensor: It is a sensor composed of a combination of different individual conversion devices.   Applied sensor: It is a sensor composed of a basic sensor or a combination of a sensor and other mechanisms.   Proximity sensor is also known as proximity switch is a position switch that can be operated without direct mechanical contact with moving parts, when the object approaches the induction surface of the switch to the action distance, no mechanical contact and any pressure is applied to make the switch operate, so as to drive DC or provide control instructions to the computer (PLC) device.   Proximity switch is a kind of switching sensor (i.e., contactless switch), which has the characteristics of stroke switch and micro switch, and has sensing performance, and has reliable action, stable performance, fast frequency response, long application life, strong anti-interference ability, etc., and has the characteristics of waterproof, shockproof, corrosion resistance, etc.  Proximity Switch Classification: 1) Inductive Proximity Switch 2) Capacitive Proximity Switch 3) Hall Proximity Switch 4) Reed Proximity Switch Sensor, this component that plays an important role in electronic devices, is sacred? This article will take you through the details, from definition, principle to application, so that you can easily grasp all the key points of the sensor.   01 Sensor Definition and Principle Sensors, electronic devices capable of sensing and responding to various physical, chemical, or biological signals, are critical components in modern electronic systems. Its working principle is based on various physical effects, chemical reactions, or biological reactions, and information is obtained and transmitted by converting these signals into electrical signals or other processable forms.   Sensors, electronic devices, play a pivotal role in modern electronic systems with their unique perception and response capabilities. It can sense and convert various physical, chemical or biological signals, providing critical support for information acquisition and transmission. Its working principle relies on rich physical effects, chemical reactions, and biological reactions to ensure that signals can be efficiently and accurately converted into electrical signals or other forms that are easy to process.   The basic components of a sensor include a sensing element, a converter, a signal processing circuit, an output interface, an enclosure, and a power supply component. These components work together to efficiently convert the collected information into electrical signals or other forms of data that the device can process. Similar to how humans act by acquiring information through sight, hearing, smell, and touch, devices also rely on information obtained by sensors for precise control or data processing.  02 Working Principle of Sensors Through the synergy of their internal components, sensors efficiently convert external information into electrical signals or other data. It works similarly to how humans obtain information through their senses, except that sensors use physical, chemical, or biological effects to achieve this transformation. This process involves the capture of external information by the sensing element, the converter converts the information captured by the sensing element into an electrical signal, the signal processing circuit processes the electrical signal, and the output interface outputs the processed signal in a suitable form. At the same time, the housing and power supply components ensure that the sensor can work stably in complex environments.   Diversity of sensor types There are many types of sensors, each with its own unique working principles and application scenarios. According to their conversion methods, sensors can be divided into analog sensors and digital sensors; According to the perception object, there are temperature sensors, pressure sensors, light sensors, sound sensors, etc. These sensors play a key role in many fields such as industry, medical care, and environmental protection, providing great convenience for people's production and life.   Classification - Temperature: Temperature sensors are specifically designed to measure the temperature of an environment or object.   Pressure: Pressure sensors focus on measuring the pressure of a gas or liquid.   Light: Light sensors are capable of detecting multiple parameters of light, such as intensity, wavelength, and color.   Position and motion: Position sensors and acceleration sensors work together to monitor the position, posture, and motion status of objects.  Gases and Chemicals: Gas sensors and chemical sensors are used to monitor gas concentrations and chemical composition.   Water Level and Flow Rate: Water level sensors and flow sensors focus on measuring water level and fluid flow.   Biometrics: Biosensors are used to detect physiological characteristics of the human body, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.   03 Light sensor A light sensor is an instrument that can detect multiple parameters of light, including the intensity, wavelength, and color of light. These sensors play a key role in a variety of applications, such as camera autofocus, brightness adjustment, and color correction. Through light sensors, we can achieve precise perception and response to the light environment.   The Importance of Sensors Light sensors play a crucial role in a variety of applications. They can accurately detect multiple parameters of light, such as intensity, wavelength, and color, allowing for accurate perception and rapid response to the light environment. Whether it's camera autofocus, screen brightness adjustment, or color correction, it is inseparable from the precise measurement and control of light sensors.   The importance of sensors As the most cutting-edge equipment in industrial products, sensors play an important role in perceiving the physical world, as if they are the first sentinel guarding the process. They enable real-time monitoring of production processes, providing necessary detections and reports. The data collected through sensors allows for precise control and in-depth analysis of processes. As soon as an anomaly is detected in a particular attribute, the sensor immediately sends an electrical signal to report. These features make sensors crucial in improving process efficiency, product quality, and ensuring that processes follow best practices. It can be said that without sensors, modern production will lose its solid foundation.   Sensors in Wide Applications in Life Sensor technology plays a pivotal role in daily life. They not only appear in the industrial field, but also penetrate into every link of our clothing, food, housing and transportation. From environmental monitoring in smart homes, to safety in car driving, to accurate measurement in medical devices, sensors play an indispensable role. Its ubiquitous presence highlights the indispensable position of sensors in modern life.   Sensor Overview 【 Temperature Sensor Classification and Application 】 Temperature sensor is mainly responsible for collecting information about temperature. Temperature sensors can be divided into contact and non-contact types, such as glass mercury thermometers to measure temperature by thermal expansion and contraction. The former requires direct contact with the object being measured and is suitable for monitoring the temperature of solids, liquids and gases. The latter, on the other hand, requires no physical contact and primarily monitors non-reflective solids and liquids, but is not suitable for gases.   1.2 【 Infrared Sensor Working Principle 】 Infrared sensors can emit or detect infrared radiation, thereby sensing specific phases in the environment. Infrared sensors perceive the environment by emitting or detecting infrared radiation; The voltage signal needs to be measured by an amplifier. Infrared radiation is part of the thermal radiation emitted by all objects, and infrared sensors capture this radiation that is not visible to the naked eye.   1.3 [ Different Types of Temperature Sensors ] In addition, there are different types of temperature sensors such as thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), and thermistors, each with its own unique working principle and application scenarios. For example, a thermocouple determines the temperature of a junction by measuring the current at the joint; Resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) use the resistance changes of thermal resistance to sense temperature. Thermocouples and RTDs each have their own unique working principles and are widely used in industrial and environmental monitoring.   1.4 [ Application Fields of Infrared Sensors ] Infrared sensors have a wide range of applications in many fields. For example, thermal imaging technology can use infrared sensors to observe the environment with or without visible light, and work according to the law of blackbody radiation; In the field of heating, infrared light can be used to cook and heat food, and even remove frost from aircraft wings. At the same time, it is also widely used in industrial fields such as printing and dyeing, plastic molding, and plastic welding. Infrared sensors are used in thermal imaging, heating, spectroscopy and other fields.   UV & Touch Sensors 2.1 【 UV Sensor Applications 】 UV sensors are specifically designed to measure the intensity or power of incident UV rays. The wavelength of this electromagnetic radiation is between X-rays and visible light. UV sensors are used to measure strong ultraviolet rays and are used in pharmacies, automobiles, and other fields. Active materials such as polycrystalline diamond are widely used in reliable UV sensing, enabling UV sensors to detect UV radiation in the environment.  2.2 【 Touch Sensor Characteristics and Applications 】 Touch sensors act as variable resistors based on the touch position. Its components include fully conductive substances, insulating spacers, and partially conductive materials. When the length of the material through which the current must pass changes, the resistance of the material changes accordingly. This sensor is often connected to software and is able to remember the "last contact location" and the "first contact location" after activation. Touch sensors have low cost and long lifespan, and are often used in consumer electronics and other fields.   Principle and Application of Proximity Sensor Types and Principles of Proximity Sensor Proximity sensor detects the existence of an object and has no contact with the object being measured, so it has a long life and high reliability. The principle is to emit an electromagnetic or electrostatic field or beam of electromagnetic radiation and wait for a change in the return signal or field. The proximity sensor has no contact and detects the target by change; The types include inductive and capacitive types. The core component of the inductive proximity sensor is the oscillator, which adjusts the loss resistance by approaching the conductive dielectric to achieve the detection of metal targets. Capacitive proximity sensors, on the other hand, work by converting the change in electrostatic capacitance between the detection electrode and the ground electrode, which occurs when approaching a nearby object at an oscillation frequency.

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