A sensor means a sensor, and it is derived from the word sens, which means sensing, and it can convert quantities such as pressure, heat, humidity, temperature, etc. into continuous (analog) or non-continuous (digital) electrical quantities. Sensors are used in various measuring devices, analog and digital control systems such as PLC. The performance of sensors and their ability to connect to various devices, including PLC, has made the sensor an integral part of the automatic control device. Sensors send information to the controller system based on the type and task defined for them, and the system operates according to the defined program.
Sensors are devices that measure the physical inputs of the environment and convert them into data to be interpreted by humans or machines and used in our daily life and various devices we work with. In this article, we have examined the types of car sensors and the duties of each.
Only in an average car, there are dozens of different types of sensors. For example, tire pressure sensors are for whether the tire needs more air or not.
There are also self-driving cars, such as Tesla’s products, which are equipped with ultrasonic sensors and use sound waves to measure the distance between the vehicle and other vehicles or other objects in the environment and inform the driver.
What is a sensor?
Sensors are devices that measure the physical inputs of the environment and convert them into data to be interpreted by humans or machines and used in our daily life and various devices that we face.
Due to the electronicization of all types of equipment and devices that we use, most of the sensors are electronic, but some are simpler, such as thermometers. Sensors are used to measure temperature, distance, smoke detection, pressure regulation, etc.
There are two types of electrical sensors :
- analogue
- Digital
Analog sensors convert physical data into analog signals and they never change suddenly and the changes are continuous.
In general, existing signals are inherently and naturally analog, and its digital type is man-made. Also, due to being continuous, analog sensors are much more accurate than digital sensors, which are limited to a limited set of possible values.
So, considering that analog signals are continuous, they can account for and record the smallest physical change in temperature, pressure, etc. But in digital signals, due to the fact that they follow the general trend of changes, they are limited to fixed data (one and zero).
What is a car sensor?
A car sensor or sensors in a car is an electronic device that controls a car from various aspects and sends information to the driver or ECU as an electronic control unit. According to the type of sensor and the type of data it sends, ECU-ECU automatically receives the settings of a specific part based on the information received from the corresponding sensor and sends the command.
In a modern car, sensors are present and used everywhere, from the engine to small electrical components. Sensors constantly monitor various aspects of the car from the moment the engine is turned on, and in fact, the sensors send signals to the ECU to make the best adjustments or to warn the driver what part or problem is in the car.
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Human sensory organs such as eyes, nose, mouth, tongue and hands are the best examples for understanding the function of sensors that sense things and give us the necessary warning. For example, when we touch a hot object, they send signals to the brain, and then the brain decides to separate the hand from the hot object in any way possible.
Sensors can cover and control different aspects of the car, these include:
temperature sensor, thermometer
Cooling system sensor
Engine sensor
Oil pressure sensors
Vehicle speed sensors
How does the car sensor work?
Considering that there are many sensors in a car that monitor various systems and the performance of their components, knowing the work of a sensor is not without grace and gives you a broad idea of the performance of car sensors.
It is true that the function of car sensors is much wider than it is thought, however, the basic functions of the sensors are the same. That is, it sends the information related to the system that each sensor tracks to the ECU, then the data is adjusted through predefined algorithms based on the ECU. This is when an ECU cannot make the necessary changes and perform its task, so to speak, sending a warning to the driver.
Types of car sensors
Compared to the cars of a few decades ago, today’s modern cars have become a complex machine, so that a modern car today consists of many electrical components, because mechanical parts are being replaced by electronic equipment or That they are designed and made to help electronic devices.
In a way, in today’s era, sensors are considered one of the vital electrical components of the car. In the following, we will examine the types of sensors in the car and their different functions, which include:
- Air flow and oxygen sensor
- Engine knock sensor or Engine knock sensor
- Engine speed sensor
- Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor
- Throttle position sensor or gas pedal sensor
- Vehicle voltage sensor and its function
- NOx sensor
- Fuel and water temperature sensor
- Speed sensor in the car and its function
- Parking sensor or car parking warning sensor
- Rain sensor
Air flow and oxygen sensor
To control and measure the density and volume of the air entering the combustion chamber, the air flow sensor and the oxygen sensor are also used for the exhaust gases.
The lack of proper combination of oxygen and fuel in the combustion chamber and their combination causes the combustion to not be done properly and leads to subsequent problems such as air pollution due to excess fuel or increased fuel consumption. The oxygen sensor also measures the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gases. This sensor is near the exhaust manifold and after the catalytic converter.
This sensor checks to determine that the engine is using the right amount of fuel with the right combination of air and rich fuel and detects additional substances such as fat and… in it.
The causes of oxygen sensor failure are:
- Candle failure
- Accident and hitting the car
- Poor quality fuel
Engine knock sensor or Engine knock sensor
The engine knock sensor controls the engine knock caused by the correct mixture of air and fuel so that it ignites properly and the engine works. If abnormal knocks are made during ignition, the sensor sends a warning to the ecu.
If this sensor does not work properly and there is an engine shock, it will reduce the engine efficiency, which will lead to damage to the engine components in the long run.
Engine speed sensor
The engine speed sensor or crankshaft sensor, which is abbreviated as ess or Engine speed sensor, controls the speed of rotation and the position of the crankshaft. In injection cars, the engine speed sensor is installed on the flywheel, which sends frequencies to the ECU, and the engine speed is adjusted based on the conditions of the car.
Symptoms of failure of engine speed sensor or crankshaft sensor also include:
- It shows wrong engine speed.
- The fuel pump does not work properly when starting.
- In case of breakdown, the car starts but does not turn on.
- The odometer does not work properly or does not go higher than a number.
Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP ) sensor
The Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor monitors the engine load by measuring the difference between the manifold pressure and the external pressure. The fuel injection inside the cylinders is also adjusted based on this change in pressure, and in the event of a failure of the manifold pressure sensor (MAP), the ECU will not correctly detect the amount of incoming air, and the combination of fuel and air will also be done correctly. not done and combustion will not be done well.
Throttle position sensor or gas pedal sensor
The gas valve position sensor or gas pedal sensor, which is also called the pedal angle sensor, controls the gas valve. That is, according to the information received from the ECU, the gas pedal is pressed by the driver, the angle of the valve is changed, and by increasing and decreasing the air entering the engine, the right fuel mixture enters the cylinder and the car engine starts moving.
Vehicle voltage sensor
The voltage sensor is one of the types of sensors used in cars, and the main task of this sensor is to manage the speed of the car and ensure the increase and decrease of speed if needed. In a way, the function of the voltage sensor in the car is to increase or decrease the capacity of the engine.
NOx sensor
This sensor is the same as the oxygen sensor in the exhaust and gas outlet of the car, which measures the dangerous gases in the exhaust outlet and gives the necessary warning.
Fuel and water temperature sensor
The water temperature sensor is a resistance sensor that is connected to the ECU and amp to send a signal. In this case, if the car’s computer detects that the temperature is high and is harmful to the engine, it will turn on the fan and thereby control the engine temperature.
The fuel temperature sensor also controls the temperature of the fuel entering the engine. This means that the amount of fuel injected is sufficient or not. When the temperature is low, the fuel will burn slowly, and when the temperature is high, the speed of the fuel will increase, and the sensor will send these things to the ECU.
Speed sensor in the car and its function
The speed sensor in the car controls the speed of the car by measuring the speed of the wheels or tires. The speed sensor is responsible for optimizing the acceleration of the car, fixing the idle speed of the engine and reducing the oscillations of the car engine.
Among the symptoms of Speed sensor failures, the following can be mentioned, which are:
- When braking, the car seems to shut down.
- Your odometer and its hand will not exceed one limit.
- Ripping the car
Parking sensor or car parking warning sensor
The parking sensor or the car parking warning sensor detects and gives an alarm for any obstacle in front or back of the car when it is parked.
Rain sensor
The rain sensor is installed on the windshield and detects rain and sends a signal to the ECU to activate the wipers.
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