The ultrasonic sensor (or transducer) works on the same principles as a radar system. An ultrasonic sensor can convert electrical energy into acoustic waves and vice versa. The acoustic wave signal is an ultrasonic wave traveling at a frequency above 18kHz. The famous HC SR04 ultrasonic sensor generates ultrasonic waves at 40kHz frequency. Typically, a […]
FAQ
What are the different types of light sensors?
Light sensors or photosensors, which are designed to measure light intensity, are one of the most commonly used sensors in electronic applications. Light intensity is one of the seven base physical quantities. The measurement of light intensity is useful in many consumer, industrial, and security applications. What is a light sensor? A light sensor is […]
How to design an LDR light/dark sensor using Arduino
Light sensors are widely used in electronic applications. The most common one used is a photoresistor or light-dependent resistor. Despite a long response time, this sensor is inexpensive and useful in several applications. A photoresistor consists of a zigzag track of photo-sensitive semiconductors. It offers pure resistance although this is dependent on the ambient light. […]
4 to 20 mA current loops made easy
by Edward E. Herceg, VP and CTO, Alliance Sensors Group For analog sensor data transmission, a 4-20 mA current loop is a very common method to convey the sensor data acquired. Sensors or transducers are usually designed to measure a range of values of the measured parameter, which is known as the measurand. The measurand […]
Creating cryogenic environments for electronics
This FAQ series has gone to extremes and looked at “electronics that operate in extreme heat” (up to 800°C) and “electronics that operate in extreme cold” at cryogenic temperatures. This third and final FAQ will consider the various methods available to create artificial cryogenic environments. The temperature where refrigerated temperatures end and cryogenic temperatures begin […]
Electronics that operate in cryogenic cold
The first part of this FAQ series looked at “electronics that operate in extreme heat” (up to 800°C). This FAQ delves into the opposite end of the temperature spectrum and heads toward absolute zero. There are several existing cryogenic electronics applications, including superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) for measuring extremely subtle magnetic fields, microwave preamplification, […]
Electronics that operate in extreme heat to 800°C
Extreme environments require electronic systems capable of surviving beyond the MIL-STD operating temperature range of -55°C to +125°C. This FAQ series will go to extremes and look at super hot electronics (up to 800°C) and cryogenic electronics. Part one of this series looks at electronics that operate in extreme heat. Part two will look at […]
LVDT electronics, Part 2: interface circuitry
The interface electronics for the LVDT must excite the primary-side winding with a sine wave and then demodulate the two resultant secondary-side waveforms; modern ICs make this analog-signal process fairly straightforward. Part 1 of this FAQ looked at the basics of LVDT excitation, demodulation, and waveforms. This part looks at two standard ICs which implement […]
LVDT electronics, Part 1: excitation and demodulation
The interface electronics for the LVDT must excite the primary-side winding with a sine wave and then demodulate the two resultant secondary-side waveforms; modern ICs make this analog-signal process fairly straightforward. The first two parts of this LVDT article (see References) looked at the LVDT transducer itself, along with its attributes and history. This second […]
What are inertial sensors?
Inertial sensors are used to transduce inertial force into measurable electrical signals to measure an object’s acceleration, inclination, and vibration. Micromachining technology has made it possible to produce MEMS (Micro Electromechanical System) inertial sensors using single-crystal silicon sensor elements. These micron-sized sensors meet all major system design drivers like low cost, high performance, high precision, […]
