Sensors:

Pressure and
Temperature
Pressure
Sensors
• A pressure sensor is a device for pressure measurement of gases or
liquids.
Aneroid Barometer Sensors
• An aneroid barometer device is
composed of a hollow metal
casing that has flexible surfaces
on its top and bottom.
Atmospheric pressure changes
cause this metal casing to
change shape, with mechanical
levers augmenting the
deformation in order to provide
more noticeable results.
Manometer Sensors
• A manometer is a fluid pressure
sensor that uses the effect of
pressure on a column of liquid. The
most common form of manometer
is the U-shaped model in which
pressure is applied to one side of a
tube, displacing liquid and causing
a drop in fluid level at one end and
a correlating rise at the other.
Manometer usually provides
greater accuracy level greater than
that afforded by most aneroid
barometers.
Bourdon Tube Pressure Sensor
• bourdon tubes employ a helical
or C-shaped sensing element
instead of a hollow capsule. One
end of the bourdon tube is fixed
into connection with the
pressure, while the other end is
closed. Each tube has an elliptical
cross-section that causes the
tube to straighten as more
pressure is applied.
 strain gauge / Piezoresistive
Pressure sensor
• Uses the piezoresistive effect of bonded or formed strain gauges to detect strain
due to applied pressure, resistance increasing as pressure deforms the material.
• The piezoresistive effect is a change in the electrical resistivity of a semiconductor
or metal when mechanical strain is applied.
Capacitive Pressure Sensor
Uses a diaphragm and pressure cavity to create a variable capacitor
to detect strain due to applied pressure, capacitance decreasing as
pressure deforms the diaphragm.
Piezoelectric Pressure sensor
• Uses the piezoelectric effect in certain materials such as quartz to
measure the strain upon the sensing mechanism due to pressure. This
technology is commonly employed for the measurement of highly
dynamic pressures. As the basic principle is dynamic no static
pressures can be measured with piezoelectric sensors.
Optical Pressure Sensor
• Techniques include the use of the physical change of an optical fiber
to detect strain due to applied pressure. It utilizes an elastic film
constructed in layers that can change reflected wavelengths according
to the applied pressure (strain).
potentiometric pressure sensor

• Uses the motion of a wiper along a resistive mechanism to detect the

strain caused by applied pressure.
Temperature
Sensors
Temperature sensor
 What is a
temperatur
e sensor
Types of temperature sensor

Thermocouple
Thermistor
Resistance Temperature Detectors
Semiconductor Sensors
Thermocouple
• This temperature sensor type
consists of two wires of different
metals connected at two points.

• The varying voltage between

these two points reflects
proportional changes in
temperature.
 Type T
Type E
Types of Type N
Thermocou
ple Type S
Type R
Type B
 They are simple, rugged,
need no batteries,
measure over very wide
Advantages
temperature ranges
and
Disadvanta The main limitation is
ges accuracy; System errors of
less than 1°C can be
difficult to achieve 
Application

• 
• Suitable for measuring temperature up to
1800

• These are widely used in the steel

industry, heating appliances,
manufacturing of electrical equipment
like switch gears.
Thermistor
• A thermistor is a type of
resistor with resistance
varying according to its
temperature.
• The resistance is
measured by passing a
small, measured direct
current through it and
measuring the voltage
drop produced.
Two broad types

• NTC-Negative Temperature
Coefficient: used mostly in
temperature sensing

• PTC-Positive Temperature Coefficient:

used mostly in electric current control
Advantages and disadvantages

Thermistors typically work

Thermistors, since they can be
over a relatively small
very small, are used inside
temperature range, compared
many other devices as
to other temperature sensors,
temperature sensing and
and can be very accurate and
correction devices
precise within that range
Application

NTC Thermistors are regularly used in

automotive applications.

Thermistors are also commonly used in

modern digital thermostats and to monitor the
temperature of battery packs while charging.
Resistance
Temperature
Detector (RTD)
• An RTD, also known as a resistance
thermometer, measures temperature
by correlating the resistance of the
RTD element with temperature.
• While providing the greatest accuracy,
RTDs also tend to be the most
expensive of temperature sensors.
Types of RTD
• Film thermometers have a
layer of platinum on a
substrate; the layer may be
extremely thin, perhaps 1
micrometer.

• Wire-wound thermometers can

have greater accuracy,
especially for wide
temperature ranges.
Advantages
•  High accuracy
• Wide operation range
• Suitability for precision applications

Disadvantages
• RTDs are rarely used above 660
• Less sensitive to small temperature
• Slower response time
Semiconductor-based sensors
• A semiconductor-based
temperature sensor is placed
on integrated circuits (ICs).
Advantages and disadvantages
• It is quite accurate and inexpensive and very easy to interface with
other electronics for display and control.

• Temperature range is small compared to thermocouple and RTD.

Application
• Electronics
• Telemetry
References
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressure_sensor
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoresistive_effect
• https://www.ametherm.com/blog/thermistors/temperature-sensor-t
ypes
• https://realpars.com/temperature-sensor/