Mobile phones have pretty much replaced all our physical tools. It is becoming one of the closest integral parts of our body. Owing to its size it’s just unbelievable the amount of tech it packs within itself. want to check your altitude? your moving speed? or the direction you are moving towards? All of them are easily accessible through mobiles. In this article, we will look at different types of sensors that are used in mobile phones and will look at their functions.
Accelerometer
This is one of the most common sensors you will see on a smartphone. As the name suggests, it is responsible for measuring the acceleration and deceleration of your phone while in motion. It senses the motion in the x,y, and z directions. Using that data it can calculate the speed and direction your phone is moving. It is the same sensor that calculates your steps. The back-and-forth movement of your phone is what helps it to calculate the direction of motion. This sensor doesn’t consume a lot of power but on the downside, it is accurate.
Proximity sensor
Have you noticed the moment you get your phone close to your ear it automatically turns off the screen? well, it’s the proximity sensors doing its work. It is located on the screen side of your phone. It uses the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum to calculate the distance between itself and the object. Its primary use is to avoid accidental touch by your face when you place your phone close to your ears on a call. Apart from this, it is also used for auto brightness. In this case, it measures ambient light surrounding the device and accordingly, adjusts the screen brightness.
Fingerprint
Probably the one we most interact with. Most of us today use fingerprint sensors from securing our phones to securing UPI payments. These sensors have been shifted and relocated at multiple locations from front to back to side. With the most latest advancement is the in-display fingerprint scanner. Before this, all the other ones were capacitive and worked on the same principle. The under-display or in-display sensors are optical. Using a line under the glass they illuminate the fingerprint area and take a photo of your finger.
Barometer
The barometer is a device which measures pressure. When it comes to phones a barometer sensor uses this change in pressure information to determine the altitude of your phone. Which simply means it tells you the height or elevation you are at. Usually, this sensor combined with your GPS data is used together to provide an accurate altitude. The accuracy can still vary up to 10 meters.
Temperature
Today’s smartphones are truly smart. Most of the phones come with multiple temperature sensors. They are not to measure the external temperature. Rather they are here to measure the internal temp of the phone and battery. Have you ever noticed your phone automatically switches off when placed out in the sun? The temperature sensor acting in. Once your mobile reaches a certain temp it automatically switches itself off to protect its components and battery.
Bottom line
The above mentioned comonents are basic and standard across all smartphones. With advancements in phone technology such as face recognition and virtual reality, its most likely new and innovative sensors are to be embedded in our phones.