This document provides a summary of 20 existing sensors and their uses. It discusses sensors such as temperature sensors, pressure sensors, touch sensors, image sensors, motion sensors, light sensors, humidity sensors, vibration sensors, proximity sensors, color sensors, gas/smoke sensors, alcohol sensors, tilt sensors, ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors, flow sensors, leak sensors, radiation sensors, level sensors, and flame sensors. For each sensor, it provides a brief definition and examples of applications. The document was submitted by a student as part of a course assignment on microprocessors and assembly language.

1. Assignment-03
Topic Name: 20 Existing Sensors &
Its Uses.
Course Title:Microprocessor & Assembly Language
Course code: CSE321
SUBMITTED BY
Name: Nishat Tasnim Ali
Id: 1834902591
Batch: 49th
SUBMITTED TO
Md Ataullah Bhuiyan
Senior Lecturer
Department of Computer Science & Engineering
City University
Submission Date: 10.10.21

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SENSOR
A sensor is an electronic equipment that is used to detect and observe
the physical activities and pass the notification/signal to other
electrical control devices.
In an automation system, the sensor is the most important equipment
that provides an input to the programmable logic controller (PLC).
Different types of Sensors
Sensors are split up into four main categories. Such as,
Analog Sensor
Digital Sensor
Active Sensor &
Passive Sensor
Each category having the different types of sensors.
20 Different types of Sensors & Their Role
1. Temperature Sensor:
Temperature sensor uses to detect the temperature and heat
energy and convert it into an electrical signal (in form of voltage
or current).
Temperature Sensors can be analog or digital. In an Analog
Temperature Sensor, the changes in the Temperature correspond
to change in its physical property like resistance or voltage.
LM35 is a classic Analog Temperature Sensor. Digital
Temperature Sensor, the output is a discrete digital value
(usually, some numerical data after converting analog value to
digital value). DS18B20 is a simple Digital Temperature Sensor.

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There are several types of temperature sensor used- Thermometer,
Thermocouple, Resistance, Temperature Detector, Thermistor
Temperature Sensor, Semiconductor Temperature Sensor,
Vibrating Wire, Temperature Sensor. The temperature sensor is
used in a computer, refrigerator, automobile, medical device,
cooking appliances, electrical motor, etc.
2. Pressure Sensor:
Pressure sensor is called Pressure Transducer or Pressure
Transmitter or Piezometer.
A pressure sensor detects the pressure of air, gas, water and
provides electrical signal to the controller.
According to different uses and many more features, it is divided
into different parts like:
o Vacuum Pressure Sensor
o Absolute Pressure Sensor
o Gauge Pressure Sensor
o Differential Pressure Sensor

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Pressure sensors are used in many systems like pneumatic,
hydraulic, vacuum systems, etc.
3. Touch Sensor:
The touch sensor is called a Tactile sensor. It is an electronic
sensor that is used for detecting and recording physical touch.
Capacitive touch sensor, resistive touch sensor is the best
example of touch sensor.
It is used in industrial applications like switches for turn on/off
light, remote control by the air conditioner (AC), door open/close
operation, elevator, and robotics, smartphones, so on.
An oximeter is one of the best examples of a touch-based sensor
to detect oxygen levels in the human body. In this COVID
pandemic, Pulse Oximeter is in huge demand. It is easy to handle
and operate, even at your home.

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4. Image Sensor:
The image sensor is an electronic device that is used to detect the
image pixels and provide information to the display devices.
There are analog and digital types of sensors. Generally, an
electronic image sensor is classified into two main types:
❖ Charge-Coupled Device (CCD)
❖ Active Pixel Sensor
For the digital camera, closed-circuit television (CCTV), medical
imaging equipment, thermal imaging devices, radar, sonar, etc.,
image sensors are used.

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5. Motion Sensor:
Motion sensor measures and records physical activities or
movements. It is classified into different types:
Active Motion Sensor
Passive Motion Sensor
Tomographic Motion Sensor
Gesture Motion Sensor
The motion sensor is used in home security, automatic doors
operation, microwaves, robotics, ultrasonic waves, gesture
detector, etc.
6. Light Sensor:
Light sensor is a photoelectric device. This sensor detects and
converts the brightness or luminescence of light or photon into an
electrical signal. There are three types of light sensor:
o Photoresistor or Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)
o Photodiode
o Phototransistor

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It is widely used in the solar system, automobile, agriculture
sector (automatic sprinkler system), and electronic-based project
device like Arduino.
7. Humidity Sensor:
Humidity sensor is also known as a Hygrometer.
For detecting moisture in air and soil, the humidity sensor is very
essential. Mostly, it is used in Air Conditioner (AC) system.
Humidity Sensors are classified into Capacitive Type:
Resistive Type.
Thermal Conductive Tepidity sensor.
WS1 Pro is an example of the wireless humidity sensor.

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8. Vibration Sensor:
Sometimes, vibration sensor is known as Piezoelectric Sensor.
The vibration sensor detects and records any movement or
activities. And it provides data or signals to connected machines
or systems.
This sensor helps to send acknowledgement if there is any
hazardous activity.
In an industrial area such as gas and oil, food and beverage,
mining, metalworking, paper, wind power, power generation, the
vibration sensors are needed.
9. Proximity Sensor:
Proximity sensor can easily detect nearby objects without any
physical touch. It is divided into different types like-
Capacitive Proximity Sensor.
Inductive Proximity Sensor.
It is widely used in smartphones, tablet computers, machines,
robotic systems, roller coasters, etc.

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10. Color Sensor:
Color sensor is the type of photoelectric sensor.
It helps to sense the color of an object and recognize the color
mark. This sensor uses RGB (red, green, and blue) color scale.
SEN-11195 is the best example of the color sensor.
For color painting and printing, cosmetic material, textile area,
medical diagnosis, computer color monitor, and the process
control, color sensor is used.
11. Gas or Smoke Sensor:
Some of these sensors are also capable to measure gas
concentration.
Gas or smoke sensor is divided into three parts:
Optical Type Smoke Sensor
Ionization Type Smoke Sensor
Laser Type Smoke Sensor
Smoke sensor is used in plant, industries, buildings, ships,
airplanes, etc.

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12. Alcohol Sensor:
An Alcohol Sensor detects alcohol. Usually, alcohol sensors are
used in breathalyzer devices, which determine whether a person
is drunk or not. Law enforcement personnel uses breathalyzers
to catch drunk-and-drive culprits.
13. Tilt Sensor:
Often used to detect inclination or orientation, Tilt Sensors are
one of the simplest and inexpensive sensors out there.
Previously, tilt sensors are made up of Mercury (and hence they
are sometimes called as Mercury Switches) but most modern tilt
sensors contain a roller ball.

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14. Ultrasonic Sensor:
An Ultrasonic Sensor is a non-contact type device that can be
used to measure distance as well as velocity of an object. An
Ultrasonic Sensor works based on the properties of the sound
waves with frequency greater than that of the human audible
range.
Using the time of flight of the sound wave, an Ultrasonic Sensor
can measure the distance of the object (similar to SONAR). The
Doppler Shift property of the sound wave is used to measure the
velocity of an object.
15. Infrared Sensor (IR Sensor):
IR Sensors or Infrared Sensor are light based sensor that are used
in various applications like Proximity and Object Detection. IR
Sensors are used as proximity sensors in almost all mobile
phones.
There are two types of Infrared or IR Sensors: Transmissive Type
and Reflective Type. In Transmissive Type IR Sensor, the IR
Transmitter (usually an IR LED) and the IR Detector (usually a
Photo Diode) are positioned facing each other so that when an
object passes between them, the sensor detects the object.
The other type of IR Sensor is a Reflective Type IR Sensor. In
this, the transmitter and the detector are positioned adjacent to

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each other facing the object. When an object comes in front of the
sensor, the infrared light from the IR Transmitter is reflected from
the object and is detected by the IR Receiver and thus the sensor
detects the object.
Different applications where IR Sensor is implemented are
Mobile Phones, Robots, Industrial assembly, automobiles etc.
16. Flow Sensor or Float Sensor:
Flow sensor measures and detects virtually any process fluid.
This detected data will be provided to the controller system.
It is used in industrial area, power generating instruments,
power plant, etc.

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17. Leak Sensor:
Leak sensor is used in a closed vessel or vacuums for detecting
water leakage, fluid leakage, air leakage, etc.
As per the working role, it is divided into two main parts:
o Spot Leak Sensor
o Flow Leak Sensor
18. Radiation Sensor:
A radiation sensor is an electronics instrument that senses and
measures the radiation particles like alpha, beta, gamma,
neutrons, X-ray.
Also, it senses electromagnetic radiation like waves, cosmic
radiation (sunlight).
Radiation sensor includes three different types:
❖ Gas-filled Radiation Sensor
❖ Scintillation Radiation Sensor
❖ Solid-state Radiation Sensor

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This sensor is used for nuclear energy, medical imaging
modalities, and monitoring of environmental radioactivity.
19. Level Sensor:
The main role of the level sensor is to measure the level or height
of different materials like solid, liquid, and gaseous.
It is classified into different parts:
❖ Laser Level Sensor
❖ Float Sensor
❖ Capacitive Level Sensor
❖ Resistive Level Sensor
❖ Ultrasonic Level Sensor
❖ Hydrostatic Level Sensor
❖ Optical Level Sensor
❖ Electromagnetic Level Sensor
It is widely used in vessel, container, water tank, fuel tank bin, etc
for water level check.

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20. Flame Sensor:
The flame sensor easily detects fire or flame of nearby
materials. These detected signals are passed to the connected
control devices.
It is used in industrial areas for an alarm system, natural gas
plant, fire suppression system and Arduino based design fire
detector project.