What Is a Temperature Sensor?

Mankind is always looking for a more specific understanding of the world. For that more specific understanding, measuring systems and methods have been created. To that end, temperature sensors are often used to measure the heat in a variety of industries from forging to forensics, and quite a few others in between.

Definition

A temperature sensor is a machine that measures heat radiation. There are a variety of types of temperature sensor, and different methods are suited to different situations.

Contact Sensors

Contact temperature sensors, as the name may suggest, are placed in contact with an object they wish to measure.

Non-Contact Sensors

Non-contact sensors are sensors that can get a radiation "snapshot" of the heat of an object or area. These sensors are more complex than contact sensors, and are not as commonly used.

Advantages

Temperature sensors can give a specific readout, and are often used in industrial manufacturing sectors such as steel, glass and ceramics. They're also commonly found in the medical field.

Disadvantages

Temperature sensors are expensive. They often have trouble taking certain readings accurately, such as readings of moving areas like a flowing stream. Given their complexity, and the lack of a set of universal standards, temperature sensors are still being adjusted for common use.