What is Sensor Interfacing?
Table of Contents
Sensor interfacing enables a system to read out information from an inputted signal that is generated by a sensor. This is called an output signal and it is presented to the user in a way that they can display or it can be process
Interfacing differs per sensor and the type of system that the user is interfacing to
The most common type of systems that are used are:
Microchip PIC microcontrollers
Arduino compatible boards
Raspberry Pi variants
These systems are electronic circuits that can be programmed to carry out a vast array of tasks
PIC
They can be bought as pre-built circuits or as a kit that the user can assemble
They are relatively cheap to buy
To use it, the user needs a computer to run the software on
This software can be Circuit Wizard or Genie Studio, where it allows the user to program the PIC
The microcontroller can come in 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit as a MCU(Microcontroller) or a DSC(Digital Signal Controllers)
https://www.microchip.com/design-centers/microcontrollers
The different types of PIC can be found here
How PIC can look like | PIC set up on a Breadboard |
Arduino
It is an open-source electronics platform
The boards can read inputs and turn them into outputs
For example, it can detect touch through the sensor and then turn the lights one
The user needs to use the Arduino Software (IDE) to program the Arduino to do a set of instructions
Can come in a 8-bit or 16-bit
It runs on a 5 voltage
It stores its memory in a Flash memory, it has 32 KB of memory
- https://www.arduino.cc/en/main/products
- The different types of Arduino can be found in the website link above
Set up of an Arduino Uno and Breadboard |
Raspberry PI
- It is a credit-card sized computer that can be plugged into a computer monitor or Tv
- The user can use a mouse, a keyboard, wiki, Bluetooth, and other computer features
- It acts as a computer, but it can also be used with sensors to read inputs and convert them to outputs
- https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/
- The different types of Raspberry PI's can be found here
- Can have 2GB, 4GB or 8GB of RAM
- Micro-SD card slot for loading operating system and data storage
- NOOBS is the software that is required to run the Raspberry PI
References
List of Contributors: