THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SENSORS

Sensors and actuators are based on the transfer of a physical quantity from one energy domain into another. These are the well-known radiant , mechanical, electrical, magnetic, thermal, and chemical domains. Sen sors and actuators can be subdivided into three groups, depending on t he physical principles involved: static dress effects, dynamic cross e ffects and modulating effects. The thermodynamic basis, resulting in t he derivations of the phenomenological equations and practical applica tions of the theory on a number of effects, is treated.