Hey Guys,
We live in the era of Technology where all the technical stuff is made up of electrical components. such as capacitors, transistors, sensors, and main is the motherboard where all the instruments are fitted. Electronic devices respond to physical properties like a compass, battery temperature, fingerprint, etc. Does anyone ever think that how do these electronic modules respond to physical properties? The only answer is the Sensors.
Sensors are the devices or modules which convert physical quantities (like distance, speed, light, temperature,etc.) into electrical pulses and then respond to these pulses.
There are several classifications present to differentiate sensors.
Mainly sensors are classified as Active and Passive sensors.
Active sensors are the modules that require an external power supply getting output however, Passive sensors are the modules that don’t require an external power supply that they generate output without an external current for its operation.
Classification based on signal
There are two types of signals, one is the analog and another is digital. Analog sensors are the modules that give the output as an analog signal (ie.continuous signal) and Digital sensors are the modules that give the output as a discrete signal (ie. 1 & 0).
While there is one question arises that, which are the sensors are available in our smartphones? or Does our smartphone needs different types of sensors for its work and how they work?
Hence I am explaining the use of sensors and how they work which described below.
1.Fingerprint Sensor
Fingerprint sensors are used to authenticate biometrics and grant permission to a user to access the information.
The fingerprint scanner uses a light-sensitive chip, then it records an image and the computer analyzes that image by converting it to the electrical pulses and if recorded image input is the same as the fingerprint image which is stored in a computer, then it gives them access to the user.
2.Proximity Sensor
Proximity sensor detects any nearby objects without any physical contact. It is used while calling to turn off the touchscreen when our ear is close to the smartphone causes unwanted touches can not be sense.
It works on the principle of electromagnetic waves such as electromagnetic beam is emitted and when it is returned then it responds is recorded and analyze it based on intensity, phase & amplitude. And the output is executed based on results.
3.Heart Rate Sensor
Heart rate sensors are used to record the heartbeats of a person per minute and based on the results health of the person is deduce.
LED light source is used to measure the heartbeats. The light is enlightened and records the amount of light reflected is recorded. The reflected light intensity depends on blood pulses passing under your skin. On that result, the heart rate is determined.
4.Ambient Light Sensor
This sensor detects the amount of light around the device and based on the results it increases or decreases the mobile screen’s light.
It is working on the principle on the ambient light sensor, where it is a photodetector module that detects the sum of ambient light nearby and varies the mobile screen’s light.
5.IR Blaster
IR sensor is used to make our smartphone as a universal smart remote.whereas all the tv/setup box/ac remotes have an IR sensor which emits the Infrared lights.
6.Thermometer
Thermometer sensor (Usually RTD-Resistance temperature detector or thermocouple) is used in smartphones to measure the temperature of the smartphone by the temperature of the environment.
The temperature is converted in electrical signals using resistors, Resistance is varied under the temperature and due to change in resistance applied voltage is changed, and due to change in voltage the electrical pulses vary and recorded. By this process temperature data is converted into electrical pulses data, after processing data output is generated.
7.Li-Fi
LiFi is a visible Light transfer system which transmits data wirelessly through very high speed. In this system LED light bulbs emits light pulses (invisible to the naked eye) in that pulses data is transferred to the smartphone.
This photosensor is used as light data is absorbed from LED light bulbs and data is hatched from the signal. Hence as more as light is brighter the data transmission rate is higher.
8.Humidity Sensor
Nowadays, humidity sensors are used in the smartphone to record the moisture content in the environment and tell the user that given whether is optimum or not.
9.Magnetometer
Magnetometer sensor is used to determine the orientation of the smartphone consideration with the Earth’s the North Pole. Simply it is used in digital compass present in smartphones.
By calibrating scale it determines the magnetic field of the Earth and magnet moves concerning the magnetic field around it and the rotation of the magnet is recorded and converts it in electrical data.
10.Iris Scanner
It is used as a security system in a smartphone for granting access to the information. It used iris biometrics to determine you.
It illuminates iris by invisible infrared light and records a unique pattern that is not seen by naked eyes. (ie.eyelashes, eyelids, size of the pupil, specular reflections, parts of iris, etc.)
11.Pedometer
A pedometer sensor is used to measures step counts of a person. It uses the accelerometer but in android, it’s logically different quantity.
When you walk your body tilts at two sides when you forward your left leg then it is counted as the first step and when you forward your right leg then it is counted as the second step, so as your walking is going on steps are counted.
12.Gyrometer
Gyrometer is work on the gyro sensor which is used to detect the orientation of the smartphone, so it’s reading is zero when it is placed on a horizontal surface. If the orientation changes the readings are varied. It is also used while playing games, like in a racing car game if you tilt your phone to the right then the vehicle in the game takes a right turn.
Gyro sensors are worked on the principle of the angular velocity.
If you have any doubt then comment below.
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