Self Generating Sensors

Peizo electric effect

• The piezoelectric effect describes the relation
between a mechanical stress and an electrical
voltage in solids.

• It is reversbile: an applied mechanical stress will

generate a voltage and an applied voltage will change
the shape of the solid by a small amount.
Electric Flux Density

Piezo electric charge coefficient

 Thermoelectric sensors
• A Thermoelectric materials converts heat
(temperature differences) directly into electrical energy
through a phenomenon called the Seebeck effect

• Thermoelectric generator, or TEG (also called

a Seebeck generator) is a solid state device that
converts heat (temperature differences) directly into
electrical energy.

• Thermoelectric generators function like heat engines,

but are less bulky and have no moving parts. However,
TEGs are typically more expensive and less efficient.
• Thermoelectric materials must have both high electrical
conductivity (σ) and low thermal conductivity (κ) to be good
thermoelectric materials.

• Having low thermal conductivity ensures that when one side

is made hot, the other side stays cold, which helps to generate
a large voltage while in a temperature gradient.

• The measure of the magnitude of electrons flow in response

to a temperature difference across that material is given by
the Seebeck coefficient (S).
• A thermoelectric module consists of two dissimilar
thermoelectric materials joining in their ends: an n-type
(negatively charged); and a p-type (positively charged)
semiconductors.
• A direct electric current will flow in the circuit when there is a
temperature difference between the two materials.
• V = α∆T

Seebeck coefficient between

100 µV/K and 300 µV/K
 Applications
• Needs a large temperature gradient, which is not easy in
real-world applications.
– Hot exhaust flue
• Heat exchangers are used on both sides of the modules to
supply this heating and cooling.
• Thermoelectric generators could be used in power plants in
order to convert waste heat into additional electrical power
and in automobiles as automotive thermoelectric
generators (ATGs) to increase fuel efficiency.
• Another application is radioisotope thermoelectric
generators which are used in space probes, which has the
same mechanism but use radioisotopes to generate the
required heat difference.
Pyroelectric Sensor
 Pyroelectric sensor
• Pyroelectric detectors are thermal detectors:
Temperature fluctuations produce a charge
change on the surface of pyroelectric crystals,
which produces a corresponding electrical signal
• This temperature gradient can be created by the
absorption of light.
• Pyroelectric Infrared Detectors (PIR) convert the
changes in incoming infrared light to electric
signals.
• It is specifically used for detecting
electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength
range from (2 to 14) µm.
 Pyroelectricity
• Pyroelectricity is the ability of certain materials to
generate a temporary voltage when they are heated
or cooled.
• The change in temperature modifies the positions
of the atoms slightly within the crystal structure,
such that the polarization of the material changes.
• This polarization change gives rise to a voltage
across the crystal.
• f the temperature stays constant at its new value,
the pyroelectric voltage gradually disappears due
to leakage current.
• Pyroelectric detector is a thermal detector working with a
thermally isolated chip which is covered by a black
absorption coating.
• This coating converts the infrared radiation falling on the
chip to heat.
• The chip changes its temperature in the order of
magnitude of µK … mK.
• As a result of the pyroelectric effect, produces the
electrical signal desired.
• Commonly used in pyroelectric detectors: Deuterated
Lanthanum α Alanine doped TriGlycine Sulphate (DLaTGS),
Lithium Tantalate (LiTaO3) and PZT.
 Characteristics
• High Sensitivity
• Versatile selection of IR wavelength filters
• Room temperature operation
• Low cost
• Robust under severe environmental conditions
• Stable against ambient temperature and
atmospheric changes
• Stable against electromagnetic interference
 Applications
• Intrusion sensor
• Light control
• Temperature measurement
• Flame detector
• Automatic door switch
• Visitor detector
• Home security
• Life safety
Photovoltaic Sensor
• A photovoltaic cell (PV cell) is a specialized
semiconductor diode that converts visible
light into direct current (DC).
• Photovoltaic cells are an integral part of solar-
electric energy systems, which are becoming
increasingly important as alternative sources
of utility power.
 References
• Text Book: Sensors and signal conditioning
• Text Book: Resistive, Capacitive, Inductive, and
Magnetic Sensor Technologies