Most of the sensors carry out switching action through solid-state circuits. The connections between load devices and power supplies are made through two or more wires, and the entire setup is known as the electrical interface circuit.
Fiber optic sensors are fiber-based devices that use optical fibers to detect certain quantities such as mechanical strain or temperature, concentrations of chemical species, acceleration, rotations, pressure, vibrations and displacements.
Motion capture, which is also referred to as motion tracking, is the method of recording movements of people and objects.
A new generation of intelligent or smart sensors is fast replacing basic sensors across the spectrum of industries. An intelligent sensor comprises a sensing element, an analog interface circuit, a bus interface, and an analog-to-digital converter fitted inside a single housing.
Image sensors are instruments used for converting optical images into electronic signals. The global image sensors market has grown immensely due to technological advancements in the last decade. This has stimulated diversification in image sensor applications. Image sensors have been placed on board NASA’s Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) spacecraft to capture the first images of the Sun.
Nicéphore Niépce is widely attributed as being the inventor of photography, but he may not have envisioned how far camera technology would advance. Printable image sensors are one such development that has offered manufacturers huge benefits in flexibility, scalability and cost.
By Stuart Milne
22 Aug 2014
Cynophobics may soon be able to avoid the anxiety of being sniffed by the canine police at airports thanks to the development of a nanosensor by a team of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. The new technology, which uses light based plasmon sensors, can identify the smallest and most difficult to detect explosives and so could be employed at airport security in the near future.
By Alessandro Pirolini
23 Jul 2014
The world’s population is rapidly expanding with a huge proportion of this growth found in our cities. The increased population and our modern life style are putting more pressure on the infrastructure within our cities. Researchers are now using sensor technology with the aim of making our cities more efficient.
By Stuart Milne
26 Jun 2014
It is uncommon to meet somebody in the developed world who doesn't own a cell phone these days, in fact there are almost as many cell phones in the world as humans. Smartphones, with the capability of internet access and built in applications, have become a useful tool to track information about the user. This information can include health, travel and hobbies and can give a fairly accurate representation of the personality of its owner.
By Alessandro Pirolini
25 Jun 2014
With the fashion and technology industries becoming ever more entwined, some technology giants are looking to use fashion to not only give a visual statement, but also to help improve our lives and the lives of those around us. Recent examples include the ‘Up’ from Jawbone, Google Glass and now, Sony’s SmartWig.
By Stuart Milne
25 Jun 2014