Input devices

Group assignment:

Probe an input device(s)'s analog levels and digital signals Document your work on the group work page and reflect on your individual page what you learned

Individual assignment:

Measure something: add a sensor to a microcontroller board that you have designed and read it.

A sensor is a device that detects or measures a physical property and converts it into a signal that can be read or used by a system—usually electronic.
🔍 What is a sensor?
In simple words:
A sensor is like a human sense organ (like eyes, ears, skin). It helps machines or systems "feel" or "sense" their surroundings.
✅ Why do we use sensors?
We use sensors to:
Measure real-world conditions — like temperature, pressure, light, motion, humidity, distance, etc.
Enable automation — they are key components in automatic systems (like smart homes, robots, vehicles).
Improve accuracy — machines with sensors can make decisions based on real-time data.
Enhance safety — for example, gas sensors detect leaks, temperature sensors prevent overheating, etc.
Reduce human effort — by monitoring and controlling systems automatically.

>Here’s a list of electronic input device sensors, categorized by the type of input they detect. These are commonly used in various applications ranging from consumer electronics to industrial automation and robotics.

Human Interface / Touch-Based Input Push Buttons / Tactile Switches – Basic on/off input

Capacitive Touch Sensors – Used in smartphones and touch panels Photo of Your name

Resistive Touch Screens – Pressure-based touch detection Membrane Switches – Flat pressure-sensitive switches Force-Sensitive Resistors (FSR) – Detect pressure or force

Position and Movement Potentiometers / Rotary Encoders – Measure angular position

Linear Encoders – Measure linear displacement Optical Mouse Sensor – Detects relative movement Photo of Your name

Joystick Modules – Two-axis analog input

Magnetic Hall Effect Sensors – Detect magnetic field presence or strength

Reed Switches – Magnetic contact switches

Environmental Temperature Sensors – e.g., LM35, DHT22, thermistors

Humidity Sensors – e.g., DHT11, DHT22 Photo of Your name

Gas Sensors – e.g., MQ series (for LPG, CO, smoke) Light Sensors (LDR, photodiodes, phototransistors) – Light intensity detection

Motion & Orientation Accelerometers (e.g., ADXL345) – Detect acceleration or tilt

Gyroscopes (e.g., MPU6050) – Detect angular velocity Photo of Your name

Magnetometers (e.g., HMC5883L) – Detect orientation relative to Earth's magnetic field IMUs (Inertial Measurement Units) – Combination of accelerometer, gyroscope, and sometimes magnetometer

Sound and Vibration Microphones (analog/digital) – Sound detection

Piezo Sensors – Vibration, knock, or impact detection Photo of Your name

Liquid Level / Water Presence Float Sensors – Detect water level

Capacitive Water Level Sensors – Non-contact sensing Water Leak Detectors – Simple conductive or capacitive types

Imaging and Vision Camera Modules (e.g., OV7670, Arducam) – Capture images

IR Sensor Arrays (e.g., Grid-EYE) – Thermal vision Photo of Your name

Time-of-Flight Sensors (e.g., VL53L0X) – Depth sensing

Proximity & Distance IR Proximity Sensors – Detect nearby objects

Ultrasonic Sensors (e.g., HC-SR04) – Distance measurement

LIDAR Sensors – High-precision distance and mapping Photo of Your name

Bonus – Smart Sensors / Integrated Modules Touch + Gesture Sensors (e.g., APDS-9960) – Touch + gesture

Biosensors (Heart rate, SpO2) – Used in health devices

RFID / NFC Readers – Detect tags/cards