sensingselementer

Sensingselementer, or sensing elements, are the functional core of sensors. They are the component that directly interacts with the quantity to be measured and converts it into a signal that can be processed by electronics. The term covers a wide range of transduction mechanisms, including electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric, magnetic, and resistive/semiconductive processes. In practice, a sensor may contain one or more sensing elements together with signal conditioning, packaging, and reference elements.

Common types include temperature sensing elements such as resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) made of platinum, thermistors made of semiconducting oxides, and thermocouples based on dissimilar metals; pressure sensing elements such as piezoresistive silicon diaphragms or capacitive membranes; optical sensing elements like photodiodes and phototransistors; chemical sensing elements such as electrochemical electrodes; humidity sensing elements such as capacitive or resistive polymer films; and magnetic sensing elements such as Hall-effect devices.

Materials selection depends on required range, stability, and environment. Performance criteria include sensitivity, linearity, hysteresis, response time, drift, noise, and cross-sensitivity to other quantities. Design often involves packaging and isolation from mechanical stress, temperature, and chemicals, as well as calibration to relate the element’s output to the physical quantity.

Sensingselementer are used across industries, from consumer electronics to industrial automation and medical devices. They are typically integrated with signal conditioning circuits, analog-to-digital converters, and data processing systems to provide useful measurements.