Introduction Concept of Remote Sensing Photoelectric Effect Classes of Sensors Terms related to Remote Sensor Optical Setup Spectral

Filters

Without sensors most electronic applications would not exist they perform a vital function, namely providing an interface to the real world.

The importance of sensors, however, contrasts with the limited information available on them.
Today's smart sensors, wireless sensors and micro technologies are revolutionizing sensor design and applications.

The term "remote sensing" means a rather simple, familiar activity that we all do as a matter of daily life. As you view the screen of your computer monitor, you are actively engaged in remote sensing.

A physical quantity (light) emanates from that screen, whose imaging electronics provides a source of radiation. The radiated light passes over a distance, and thus is "remote" to some extent, until it encounters and is captured by a sensor (our eyes). Each eye sends a signal to a processor (your brain) which records the data and interprets this into information.

Most remote sensing instruments (sensors) are designed to measure photons. The fundamental principle underlying sensor operation is stated as when there will be an emission of negative particles (electrons) when a negatively charged plate of some appropriate lightsensitive material is subjected to a beam of photons. This is the concept of the photoelectric effect

Now, with this principle as the basis for the operation of most remote sensors, let us see several main ideas for sensor types classification in the following two concepts:

The first is a functional treatment of several classes of sensors. The second covers a wider array of sensor types.

The functional treatment of several classes of sensors, plotted as a triangle diagram, in which the corner members are determined by the principal parameter measured: Spectral; Spatial; Intensity

The second covers a wider array of sensor types:

The two broadest classes of sensors are : 1.Passive Energy leading to radiation received comes from an external source. Eg: Sun 2. Active Energy generated from within the sensor system is beamed outward, and the fraction returned is measure. Eg: Radar

Sensors can be Non-imaging-Measures the radiation received from all points in the sensed target, integrates this, and reports the result as an electrical signal strength such as radiance. Imaging -The electrons released are used to excite or ionize a substance like silver (Ag) in film or to drive an image producing device like a TV or computer monitor or CRT.

Radiometer Photometer Spectrometer Spectroradiometer

Sensors that instantaneously measure radiation coming from the entire scene at once are called framing systems. The size of the scene that is framed is determined by the apertures and optics in the system that define the field of view, or FOV.

If the scene is sensed point by point along successive lines over a finite time, this mode of measurement makes up a scanning system.

The optical setup for imaging sensors will be either an Image plane Setup or Object plane Setup Depending on where lens is before the photon rays are converged or focused.

For the image plane arrangement, the lens receives parallel light rays after these are deflected to it by the scanner,with focusing at the end.

For the object plane setup, the rays are focused at the front end (and have a virtual focal point in back of the initial optical train), and are intercepted by the scanner before coming to a full focus at a detector.

Spectral filters fall into two general types: Absorption filters They pass only a limited range of radiation wavelengths, absorbing radiation outside this range. Interference filters They reflect radiation at wavelengths lower and higher than the interval they transmit.