Sensors and data logging

Lesson5

2011-2012

What is a sensor

A sensor is a piece of equipment that senses or monitors something.

Example : thermometer which is temperature sensors

There are two different types of sensor:

1- Analogue sensors 2- Digital sensors

Analogue sensorIt can measure over

continuous range and their readings may form a curve

Example mercury thermometer

Digital sensorIt jumps between values,

though if the steps are small, they may not be detected by the human eye.

Example: modern desk weather systems

Mercury thermometer

Weather systems

Analogue to digital convertorIf an analogue sensor is used as a computer input ,a device must be used to

convert the analogue signal to a digital format. This device is known as

Analogue to digital convertor

Datalogging

When sensors are attached to a computer that records readings at intervals over time, this is known as datalogging.