Sensors

Abstract

Sensors utilize a wide spectrum of the transducer and signal transformation approaches with corresponding variations in technical complexity. These range from relatively simple temperature measurement based on a bimetallic thermocouple, to the detection of specific bacteria species using sophisticated optical systems. There are a variety of sensing approaches that include microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), optical, electrical, mechanical, electrochemical, semiconductor and biosensing. The applications of sensors is growing over a wide range of sensing targets such as air, water, bacteria, movement and physiology. The performance of a sensor might depend upon transduction method, the environment where it is used or might be with the system components. In this chapter, we discuss various sensors and its applications, fundamental terminologies related to sensors, common characteristics, strength and weakness of sensors and ends up with the selecting a particular sensor for an application.