Smartphone application for atmospheric pressure sensor. How to find out what sensors are in your smartphone
A modern smartphone is a complex high-tech computing device that is more powerful than thousands on-board computers, who launched Apollo to the Moon half a century ago. There are also almost more sensors installed on board flagship mobile phones than on board this very Apollo. Each of them quietly but conscientiously performs their work. What do all these smartphone sensors do and how do they work? Read on for more details.
The light sensor in a smartphone is located on the front panel, usually near conversational dynamics(there are exceptions). Structurally, it is a semiconductor sensor sensitive to photon flux. Depending on its intensity, the sensor controls the display backlight in order to use battery power more efficiently. It can also perform an auxiliary function for other tasks by working with a proximity sensor.
Proximity sensor
This is an optical or ultrasonic sensor that determines whether there are objects in front of the screen. It sends a very weak light or sound pulse, and if it is reflected, it registers the reflected signal. Due to this, the screen is automatically locked during a call or when the smartphone is turned over with the display down. Traditionally, the proximity sensor is calibrated in such a way that it registers only 2 states: “a foreign object is closer than N (usually 5) centimeters” and “a foreign object is further than N cm”.
Accelerometer
This smartphone sensor is located on a circuit board and is a miniature electromechanical device that records the slightest movements. The responsibilities of this sensor include switching the orientation of the smartphone screen when tilted, controlling games, registering special control gestures (such as shaking or tapping the body), and also measuring steps (by counting rhythmic vibrations during walking).
A regular dual-axis accelerometer in a smartphone
There are two-axis and three-axis accelerometers. A feature of the accelerometer is that at rest, one of the axes will always show a value in the region of 9-10 m/s 2 (in a three-axis three-dimensional accelerometer). This is due to the fact that the Earth's gravity is on average 9.8 m/s 2 .
Gyroscope
The gyroscope is responsible for determining the movement and orientation of the smartphone in space. It also structurally represents a MEMS (microelectromechanical circuit) located on system board. Its areas of application overlap with those of the accelerometer. The main differences are that the gyroscope has noticeably greater accuracy and measures movement not in m/s 2, but in radians or degrees per second. Due to this, it can be used to track head turns in a VR headset, as well as more accurately implement gesture control.
MEMS gyroscope under a microscope
Magnetometer and Hall sensor
The magnetometer measures the quantity magnetic field the surrounding world. It also takes measurements in three-dimensional space (along three axes of Cartesian coordinates - X, Y and Z). The main function of the magnetometer is to more accurately determine the location during navigation. In this mode of use it functions as a digital compass. Due to the fact that one of the axes, which is located in the plane with the North Pole of the Earth, registers a constantly increased background. The magnetometer helps to more accurately determine in which direction relative to north the smartphone is moving.
Smartphone magnetometer
A magnetometer is often called a Hall sensor, but these are not entirely identical concepts. We wrote more about the Hall sensor in another article. The differences are that the first is more universal and sensitive. The magnetometer is capable of measuring magnetic radiation, while only registering its presence/absence and decrease/increase. In modern smartphones, a separate Hall sensor is usually not installed, since a universal magnetometer completely covers its functionality.
One of the alternative functions of a magnetometer is to find wiring in walls. A live conductor generates a weak electromagnetic radiation, and the sensitivity of the sensor is units of microtesla. If you move your smartphone along the wall, the magnetic background will be increased where the cable is laid.
Gravity sensor
Measures the force of gravity of our planet in three-dimensional space. At rest (when the smartphone is lying on the table), its readings should coincide with the accelerometer: along one of the axes the gravitational force will be close to 9.8 m/s 2 . This sensor is usually not used on its own, but it helps the work of others. In navigation mode, it determines which side of the earth's surface is in order to quickly determine the correct position of the smartphone. When used in VR, the gravity sensor ensures the correct positioning of the image.
Linear acceleration sensor in a smartphone
The principle of its operation is almost identical to the accelerometer, the only difference lies in inertia. That is, the readings of this sensor do not depend on any global external factors (like gravity). The only thing it registers is the speed of the smartphone’s movements in space relative to its previous position.
The linear acceleration sensor is not capable of determining the position of the device in space (there is no reference to external landmarks), but this is not necessary (the gravity sensor and accelerometer do an excellent job of this task). The absence of reference to external landmarks allows you to rotate objects on the display without reference to these landmarks, for example, in games. Also, this sensor, in combination with others, increases the overall accuracy of movement detection.
Rotation sensor
It determines the direction and frequency of rotation of the smartphone relative to one of the axes of three-dimensional space. Like the acceleration sensor, it is independent and not tied to external reference points. Often performed as part of a single module with a linear acceleration sensor. Separately, as a rule, it is not used, but it allows you to adjust the operation of other sensors to improve accuracy. It also helps with gesture control, for example, by twisting the smartphone in your hand, the camera is activated.
Cutaway MEMS gyroscope
Temperature sensors
A modern smartphone is abundantly stuffed with digital thermometers. Structurally, they are a thermocouple: a resistor with two terminals, the resistance between which varies depending on the temperature. Since it is relatively primitive, it can even be implemented inside a semiconductor chip.
Every smartphone must have a battery temperature sensor. If it overheats, it turns off charging or reduces the output current to prevent the electrolyte from boiling, which leads to a fire or explosion. Thermometers inside the SoC are also common (from a couple of pieces to a dozen or more). They measure the temperatures of processor cores, graphics accelerators, and various controllers. Sometimes there are also ambient temperature sensors, but they are not widespread. The reason for this is low accuracy, since heat from the inside of the device and the user’s hands distorts the readings.
Pressure sensor (barometer) in a smartphone
The barometer on your smartphone measures atmospheric pressure (in mmHg, bar or pascals). It allows you to more accurately determine your location and altitude above sea level, since the pressure decreases as you rise. It can also be used as an altimeter, measuring altitude above sea level, but the accuracy leaves much to be desired, since atmospheric pressure changes with the weather. The function of adjusting the weather forecast in meteorological programs and widgets is even less in demand.
Hygrometer
A hygrometer measures air humidity. Its main purpose is obvious, but this sensor is not popular. In theory, it can be used to correct weather forecast data. Knowing the readings, you can also control the indoor climate by turning on a humidifier or dehumidifier. The only known smartphone with a hygrometer is already old Samsung Galaxy S4.
Heart rate monitor or heart rate sensor in smartphones
The heart rate monitor is capable of measuring the frequency and rhythm of heart contractions. During sports, it makes it possible to monitor the work of the heart and adjust the load to increase the effectiveness of training. The disadvantage of a heart rate monitor is the need for close contact of the smartphone with a part of the body in which the blood vessels are close to the surface (for example, fingers) in order to catch the slightest pulsations. Because of this, it has not gained popularity in smartphones, but is found everywhere in smart watches and fitness trackers.
Color screens mobile phones produced using STN, TFT, TFT TMR, TFD, UFB, OLED, AMOLED, Super AMOLED and AFFS technologies. STN (super twisted nematic - structure with ultra-high distortion) - liquid crystal display with a passive matrix. The main disadvantages are low performance, “blind” in daylight, high power consumption. TFT (Thin Film Transistor) - thin film transistor technology. Used in active matrix displays. For each image element (pixel) there are three transistors, each of which corresponds to one of the three primary colors - red, green or blue, and a capacitor that maintains required voltage . The disadvantage of the technology is high energy consumption. UFB (Ultra Fine and Bright) This abbreviation hides a screen with increased brightness and contrast, while reducing power consumption compared to traditional LCDs. In addition, the production of the new display, according to the developers, is cheaper. This technology is a transitional option between STN and TFT. The main drawback is that the screen goes blind in daylight. TFD (Thin Film Diods) is a thin film diode technology similar to TFT. Of the four technologies listed above, TFD is the most optimal. If you rarely use your phone outdoors, then UFB displays are also suitable for you. TFT can be recommended to those who are not afraid of the need to frequently charge their phone. OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) - organic electro-luminescent displays - thinner, brighter, do not require additional backlighting and are more economical. Compared to LCD technologies, OLED has the advantages of very high contrast and brightness (i.e. the display is readable under almost any conditions). Now OLED screens are used as additional external ones, for example, in the LG G7030 and Samsung SGH-E700, since making main screens using the new technology is still expensive. AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) is an improved version of OLED technology. Displays made on its basis have an active matrix with organic light-emitting diodes. This allows the screen to be very thin and light weight, and the display itself can bend slightly without the risk of breaking. In addition, the advantages of this type of screen are reduced power consumption, high brightness, contrast and color rendition of the image. There is a type of TFT screen - TFT TMR. The abbreviation TMR (Transmissive with Micro Reflective) indicates that the display has transflective properties. That is, such a screen can transmit incident light and reflect it from the substrate. In addition, the display has internal backlighting. TFT TMR allows you to get a bright and contrasting image both outdoors, even in bright sun, and in a dark room. AFFS (Advanced Fringe Field Switching) is a technology that provides excellent color reproduction and high brightness. In addition to the listed advantages, such displays have large viewing angles and do not “blind” in the sun. S-IPS (Super IPS) - improved IPS (In Plane Switching) technology, increased viewing angles and pixel response speed. The display is also characterized by perfect blacks and excellent color rendering. Super LCD is an improved version of LCD screens. Distinctive feature Such screens have low power consumption and maximum viewing angles.
Not every mobile device user knows that most devices have Android based there is such an interesting thing as a barometer. Why is it needed on the phone? Is it really just to measure atmospheric pressure? In fact, this sensor is part of the GPS system and allows you to determine geolocation with maximum accuracy.
But, of course, nothing prevents us from using the barometer for its intended purpose. All it requires is to install special program from the shop Google Play. Below we present several such applications.
The app deserves to be number one on our list. The program has all the necessary functions and a user-friendly interface. It has its own widget that shows not only the current pressure, but also. If you wish, you can configure automatic display of notifications on the display of your smartphone. Alerts about upcoming natural surprises will appear as an icon in the notification bar. Unfortunately, latest version SyPressure has an annoying bug: sound warnings have started to turn on automatically in the settings, and the phone can sometimes ring at the most inopportune time.
At the top of the program window the atmospheric pressure at the current time is displayed. You can choose one of possible ways information output: scale, diagram or graph. The units of measurement can also be customized to your liking: hPa (hectopascal), inHg (inch of mercury), mmHg (millimeter of mercury), psi (pounds per square inch), atm (physical atmosphere). At the bottom of the window you can see pressure fluctuations (rise/decrease) and expected weather changes. The notification settings panel is also located here.
The paid program is another useful tool for measuring atmospheric pressure and, compared to SyPressure, has more settings. Several options for displaying information are supported: indicator, graph, altimeter and list. In addition, the widgets displayed on the screen vary in size: 1×1, 2×1, 2×2.
In the application, any of the functions can be configured with extreme precision. For example, in order to receive more reliable weather reports, you should indicate the basic measurement values for your location, and for the altimeter (altimeter) - the height above sea level. On the pressure change graph, you can set the desired display period (from 6 to 48 hours).
Here you can also choose the color of the main interface and indicators, and change the transparency of widgets. Like SyPressure, this tool works with different units of measurement. In general, using the program leaves a fairly pleasant impression. It, without a doubt, justifies its cost of 40 rubles.
Barometer Reborn
Barometer Reborn is a simple barometer that allows you to track the amplitude of changes in atmospheric pressure to determine the impact of these factors on your well-being. This may be useful for those of us who experience headaches and other discomfort when weather conditions change.
Knowing in advance about the upcoming natural metamorphoses, you can try to reduce their unpleasant effect to a minimum. For example, if the device shows an increase in atmospheric pressure, then on such days you should avoid increased physical activity. First of all, this is important for people suffering from respiratory diseases (such as asthma) or hypertension. On the contrary, a decrease in pressure should be a reason to spend more time in the fresh air.
Barometer & Altimeter
Barometer & Altimeter - the program uses a built-in GPS sensor (if there is none, it receives information from the Internet). You can track atmospheric pressure, air temperature, wind speed, visibility, altitude. This information will certainly provide invaluable assistance to fans of extreme sports, tourists and travelers.
Agree that this is quite an interesting application and definitely deserves attention. Imagine how great it would be to install a barometer and, climbing to the roof of a skyscraper, easily determine the altitude and atmospheric pressure.
The program is not demanding on your phone's memory resources and uses battery power very carefully. The interface is as convenient as possible, the settings are not complicated. Young researchers of natural phenomena, using this tool, will be able to conduct their first scientific experiments, quench their curiosity and thirst for knowledge.
mu Barometer
mu Barometer is a free and very simple tool that records changes in atmospheric pressure. The application has an elegant design and user-friendly interface; it uses measurement units such as mBar, mmHg, inHg, atm.
You can choose one of three proposed themes for the design of the widget displayed on main screen phone. The program also allows you to measure height (in meters or feet).
eWeather HD
The eWeather HD application is a complete weather station for your Android. Here you will find detailed information about natural phenomena for the next 10 days. The first thing that attracts attention is the amazingly beautiful images of the sun and clouds. Looking at them, you forget what purpose you had in opening this program. But in addition to colorful drawings, there are a huge number of other functions, and the forecasts are extremely accurate.
The main screen of the weather display contains a lot of useful information: humidity, pressure, temperature (real and felt), sunrise and sunset times, moon phases, temperature charts, probability of precipitation, geomagnetism... By the way, weather-dependent people should pay attention to the last parameter. If geomagnetic storms are a concern for you, be sure to check the forecast before starting important tasks.
Equally, this information will be useful to everyone who reacts painfully to the approach of a thunderstorm, precipitation and other natural phenomena. You will be able to monitor changes in atmospheric pressure over the past 24 hours on a chart or graph, where the indicator turns red when the indicators are unfavorable.
It is impossible to list all the functions of this wonderful application, the interface of which looks really cool from a graphical design point of view.
According to medical statistics, more than half of the inhabitants of our planet react in one way or another to changing weather conditions. For some, these changes are practically unnoticeable, while others, on the contrary, have a hard time withstand surges in atmospheric pressure, surges in solar activity and magnetic storms. In addition, the vagaries of the weather often cause a deterioration in the health of people with chronic diseases of the joints and cardiovascular system, suffering from hypertension or arterial hypotension.
By knowing in advance about upcoming changes, you can try to minimize their negative impact on health. To always have at hand necessary information, you just need to install one of the applications described above on your smartphone.
If you remove all sensors from a smartphone, it will lose an impressive part of its functions and turn into a rather primitive device. Even actions familiar to users, such as changing the screen orientation when moving the gadget to a horizontal position and automatically turning off the display during a conversation, would not be performed without sensors.
In an effort to win competition in the market, manufacturers of modern mobile equipment equip their devices with a huge number of sensors - because this increases functionality. In this article we will talk about all known smartphone sensors, including those installed in the latest models.
Accelerometer– one of the main sensors of a smartphone; it is also called G-sensor. The function of the accelerometer is to measure the linear acceleration of the smartphone along 3 coordinate axes. Data about the movements of the device are accumulated and processed by a special controller - naturally, this happens in a matter of seconds. Places a tiny sensor approximately in the center of the smartphone body. Replacing the accelerometer yourself in the event of a breakdown is impossible - you will have to go to a service center.
Who should thank developers for accelerometers in smartphones? First of all, fans of racing simulators, who are able to control virtual cars by simply tilting the device left and right. It is the accelerometer that allows the gadget to change the screen orientation from portrait to landscape when the user turns the device over.
For the first time, an accelerometer appeared on a phone Nokia 5500. This sensor caused great delight among supporters of an active lifestyle, because it allowed them to use a pedometer.
The accelerometer has one significant drawback: it can only fix the position when acceleration– that is, when the gadget moves in space. The accelerometer is not capable of determining the position of the device lying on the table. A “partner” sensor called gyroscope. This sensor measures the speed of angular rotation and provides higher data accuracy compared to an accelerometer. A gyroscope that has undergone the calibration procedure will have an error of no more than 2 degrees.
The gyroscope is actively used in mobile games– in combination with an accelerometer. In addition, this sensor makes it possible to optically stabilize the camera, create panoramic images (the gyroscope determines how many degrees the smartphone has been rotated), and gesture control.
The first smartphone with a gyroscope was iPhone 4. Now the gyroscope is far from exotic; Most modern devices are equipped with it (as well as an accelerometer).
Proximity and light sensors
The presence of a proximity sensor (Proximity Sensor) in a smartphone is an objective necessity. If such a sensor were absent, the user would have to endure inconvenience every time while talking on the phone. It would be enough to easily touch the reset button with your cheek - and the conversation is stopped, you need to call the subscriber again. The function of the proximity sensor is obvious: it locks the gadget's screen as soon as the user brings the device to his ear. This sensor allows the smartphone owner not only to communicate comfortably, but also to save battery power.
The proximity sensor is “hidden” under the front glass of the mobile device. It consists of 2 elements: diode And detector. The diode sends an infrared pulse (invisible to the human eye), and the detector tries to catch its reflection. If the detector succeeds, the screen goes dark. The sensor is capable of recording only 2 states: “ foreign object closer than 5 cm" And " foreign object more than 5 cm».
Samsung has achieved amazing results in experiments with a proximity sensor. Based on this sensor, the Korean manufacturer created gesture sensor, thanks to which contactless control of a smartphone became possible. The first gesture sensor appeared on the Samsung Galaxy S3 - in 2012 it was a real breakthrough.
It is not for nothing that the Light Sensor is considered in tandem with a proximity sensor - as a rule, these two sensors are located in close proximity to each other. The light sensor is the “oldest” of all sensors used in mobile electronics. It is also the simplest - from a design point of view, this sensor is a semiconductor sensitive to the flow of photons. The function of the light sensor is not as important as that of the proximity sensor: the Light Sensor only adjusts the brightness of the display in accordance with the surrounding conditions.
In some Samsung models(For example, Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S5) installed RGB sensors. The RGB sensor is capable of not only changing the brightness of the display, but also adjusting the proportions of red, green, blue and white flowers images on the screen.
The developers of Samsung Galaxy Note 4 have reached the point of absurdity: they have taught the phablet’s sensor to measure illumination in the ultraviolet range, which is invisible to humans. Thanks to this interesting innovation, the user can, for example, choose the optimal time for tanning.
Barometer and temperature sensor
A person with high sensitivity to sudden changes in atmospheric pressure simply needs to have a barometer application on their smartphone. On Google Play, for example, one of these programs is called “Barometer”.
The barometer sensor is capable of not only warning the user about the approach of a cyclone - anticyclone; This is not even its main function. The sensor increases the efficiency and accuracy of the gadget's GPS navigator. GPS satellites show where in the world the location you are looking for is located - but not at what height. This shortcoming of their work is eliminated by the barometer. A pressure sensor can help find, say, the office of a certain company in a multi-story business center building.
Temperature sensors, unlike barometers, are present in most smartphones - but you cannot measure the temperature outside with their help. This is about internal thermometers, whose task is to ensure that the gadget does not overheat. One smartphone can have a lot of similar sensors: the first controls the graphics accelerator, the second controls the processor cores, and so on. If overheating occurs, the internal thermometer automatically stops charging or reduces the output amperage.
External thermometers They are also found on gadgets, but they are still “a novelty.” The first smartphone with a built-in thermometer was the Samsung Galaxy S4. The sensor turned out to be necessary to improve the performance of the pre-installed S Health application.
Alas, external thermometers mobile devices there is a significant drawback - low accuracy. The data is distorted due to the heat emanating from the user’s body and the insides of the device itself. The developers have not yet been able to solve this problem.
For the needs of the S Health application, another interesting sensor was installed on the Samsung Galaxy S4 - hygrometer. This sensor measures humidity levels, giving the user the ability to effectively control the indoor climate.
What sensors allow you to monitor your health?
A person who wants to lead a healthy lifestyle would do well to acquire a gadget that is equipped with the following sensors.
Pedometer (pedometer)
The function of the pedometer is to count the distance covered by the user based on the number of steps taken. An accelerometer can also perform this function, but the accuracy of its measurements leaves much to be desired. The pedometer as a separate sensor first appeared on the Nexus 5 smartphone.
Pulse monitor (heartbeat sensor)
The built-in heart rate monitor is one of the innovations of the Samsung Galaxy S5. Samsung developers felt that it was the pulse sensor that the S Health program lacked in order for it to be considered a full-fledged personal trainer. The Samsung heart rate monitor has not yet become popular among users, because it is quite finicky. To provide accurate data, the sensor needs close contact with a part of the user's body where blood vessels are shallow, such as the pad of a finger. Going for a run while holding your finger on the sensor is not a pleasant experience.
Blood oxygenation sensor (SpO2 sensor)
This sensor determines the degree of oxygen saturation in the blood. It is present only on 2 Samsung smartphones (Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge) and is “tailored” for the S Health application. On the devices, the SpO2 sensor is combined with a camera flash and a heart rate monitor. The user just needs to activate the corresponding application and place his finger on the flash for 30-40 seconds - after which he will see the measurement result as a percentage on the gadget’s screen.
Dosimeter
The Sharp Pantone 5 smartphone released in Japan is equipped with such a sensor. The function of the dosimeter is to measure radiation. For the Japanese, this function is important, because after the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011, they are forced to more closely monitor the background radiation. There are no smartphones with dosimeters on the European market.
Fingerprint and retina scanners
Users who believe that the first fingerprint sensor appeared on the iPhone 5S are greatly mistaken. Phones capable of scanning fingerprints have been released before. Back in 2004, a Pantech GI 100 “clamshell” equipped with similar technology was sold. 7 years later, Motorola introduced the Atrix 4g model with a fingerprint sensor. In both cases, users reacted rather coolly to the technology.
When, in 2013, Apple built a fingerprint scanner into the Home button of the iPhone 5S, the Apple company was applauded by both experts and ordinary consumers. Apple was more fortunate with the era: in the “zero” the issue of the security of non-cash payments was not so pressing.
The fingerprint scanner eliminates the need for the user to use digital passwords to protect data stored on the gadget. Passwords are easy to crack; It is much more difficult to deceive a fingerprint sensor (although it is also possible).
Nowadays it has become fashionable to install fingerprint scanners in smartphones. This technology is used not only by long-term market leaders - Samsung, Apple, HTC - but also by promising Chinese manufacturers such as Xiaomi and Meizu.
A retinal scanner provides an even higher degree of security than a fingerprint sensor - in fact, it is the next level of biometric security. Proponents of the technology argue that getting a fingerprint is a feasible task (after all, people leave them everywhere). There is no way to get a copy of the retina.
Image: iphonefirmware.com
The idea of equipping a smartphone with a retinal scanner is also not new. Back in 2015, Asian manufacturers (Vivo, Fujitsu) experimented with this sensor; in 2016, the trend was supported by a little-known company from the Middle Kingdom, Homtom. However, this technology became discussed only after it was addressed Samsung company– installed in Galaxy Note 7 iris scanner.
The sensor in the Note is different from those found in smartphones from Chinese companies. Samsung's idea can be called revolutionary because the Note 7 has a camera that is responsible only for eye scanning. The “Chinese” read information from the retina with a selfie camera.
The method used by gadgets from the Middle Kingdom is ineffective. The fact is that the eye must be scanned with an infrared (IR) beam, but front cameras The IR spectrum, as a rule, is filtered - because of it, selfies are spoiled. It turns out that Samsung is so far the only smartphone manufacturer that does not force users to make a choice between high-quality devices and the security of personal data.
Conclusion
Any modern smartphone equipped with at least 5 sensors. In flagship models, the number of sensors reaches the “damn dozen”, and manufacturers are not going to stop there. IBM experts predict that already in 2017, gadgets will have a sense of smell, thanks to which they will be able to warn the user, for example, about a high concentration of fumes and the presence of influenza virus in the air. We are looking forward to innovations - surely there will be a continuation?
Many convenient and even necessary functions of a smartphone would be impossible without special sensors. Gesture control, automatic brightness change, changing the screen orientation when rotating and turning it off during a conversation, control in the game without pressing - this is not a complete list of possibilities. Also, the presence of some sensors can turn a smartphone into a weather station or be very useful when playing sports or monitoring your physical condition.
The presence of sensors in smartphones and not only would not be impossible without the development of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Such devices combine electrical and mechanical components in a micro-design. The dimensions of such elements do not exceed 100 micrometers.
Ready-made MEMS devices
The main materials for creating MEMS are silicon and polymers. This technology is used to create all known sensors that need to be used in compact devices, such as smartphones. Technological improvements in smartphones have given a big impetus to the development of MEMS. Let's look at examples of such sensors.
Accelerometer- a word that combines two languages: accelero- from Latin “I accelerate”, meter- from Greek “I measure”. Such a sensor measures the linear acceleration of a moving body along three coordinate axes. Measurement data is collected and processed via an SoC or dedicated microcontroller. Next, a mathematical calculation is made and the position of the smartphone in space is recorded in real time.
Accelerometer inside a smartphone
It is the accelerometer that allows you to change the screen orientation from portrait to landscape and vice versa depending on the position of the device, switch music tracks when shaking, drive car simulators using a smartphone or tablet as a steering wheel. The accelerometer is one of the most popular sensors in a smartphone, and if previously it was a curiosity and a prerogative expensive phones, then today any budget solution can boast of such a sensor.
Gyroscope- consists of two ancient Greek words “circle” and “look”. As a rule, it works in tandem with an accelerometer, complementing it in some cases. A gyroscope is necessary to fix the tilt angles of the device. He does this by measuring the speed of angular rotation.
Just like an accelerometer, a gyroscope transmits measurement results to the device for further calculations of the angle of inclination and its direction. The error of the calibrated gyroscope is no more than 1-2 degrees. Widely used in mobile games, photography applications, for optical stabilization in cameras, flying drones controlled by a smartphone. Just like the accelerometer, the gyroscope is a very popular sensor and is found in many smartphones.
Magnetometer- sensor for measuring the magnetic field. In essence, it is a miniature sensor based on the Hall effect made using MEMS technology. It records changes in magnetic field strength along three axes X, Y and Z. In this case, it is used for navigation and various mapping applications to improve location accuracy. Also, without this sensor, the digital compass in your smartphone will not work. The magnetometer is sometimes placed in the same module with the accelerometer, and they work in pairs, complementing each other. Another Hall sensor simply records changes in the magnetic field, without reference to the axes. Such properties are used in conjunction with special cases with built-in magnets. When you open the cover of such a case, the smartphone screen will automatically turn on and vice versa.
Proximity sensor. Allows you to turn off your phone screen during a call. This function allows you to save battery power and also prevents accidental clicks. This sensor works based on an IR detector. It is usually located near the speaker and, using an infrared beam, captures our part of the face in close proximity to the phone. Based on this sensor, another interesting feature is implemented - gesture recognition. They allow you to control some functions of your smartphone without touching the screen.
Light sensor- measures how bright the light is around the smartphone. Based on its data, the OS increases or decreases the screen brightness. Saving your smartphone's energy and allowing you to use it more comfortably. Advanced sensors can analyze the component RGB colors and adjust the display colors accordingly.
The sensors described above are typical for modern smartphones. But there are also rare specimens:
Barometer- sensor for measuring atmospheric pressure. Can be used in some applications (navigation, measurement) to determine altitude above sea level. He does this by calculating the difference in atmospheric pressure. Also improves the accuracy and speed of GPS systems. For example, by constantly recording the height of an object relative to sea level, you can track its movements not only in the horizontal plane, but also in the vertical.
Temperature sensor- as you may have guessed, this sensor measures temperature. There are two types:
- Internal - for measuring the temperature of smartphone modules, needed to control heating and prevent overheating of components. Present in many devices.
- External - for measuring ambient temperature. Can be used as a regular thermometer and for a variety of fitness applications. And this sensor is more rare than ordinary.
Air humidity sensor- paired with the previous two, it can perform the functions of an advanced weather station. It will help you find out whether you are drying out the air in your apartment and how comfortable the weather is outside (temperature and humidity ratio).
Pedometer- Counts the number of steps taken and is useful for tracking activity. The main thing is that you always have your smartphone with you.
Heart rate monitor- Measures heart rate upon request. As for me, it is much more convenient to use this sensor and pedometer in all kinds of fitness bracelets.
Fingerprint's scanner- a biometric sensor designed to increase the security of the device. You can read more about them in one of ours.
The presence of all the above sensors is a unique feature Samsung smartphones Galaxy line (starting from S4).
And it looks absolutely outlandish dosimeter- radiation measurement sensor. The Sharp company equipped its phone with it, and the reason for this step was the accident at a nuclear power plant in Japan.
You can check the presence and functionality of a particular sensor in your smartphone using a special software, for example - AnTuTu Tester, Z - Device Test, Android Sensor Box, etc.
As we have seen, our smartphone can have many different sensors and its operation is almost impossible without them. But to this list you can add a camera with a light-sensitive sensor, a microphone for recording sound, a touch for reacting to touch. In the future, smartphones may have a sense of smell, detecting, for example, fumes, they will be able to diagnose heart and other diseases, and much more.
What sensors do you think are really useful and in demand in a modern smartphone?