Aim:

The lower limit of the sensivity of any sensor is limited by the noise, fluctuation generated in them. The magnitude of this noise determines the dynamic range of the sensor too. Namely the maximum of the perceptible signal, which results in a proportional output signal is also limited. This limitation follows from the working principle of the sensor. Therefore a sensor with lower noise will have a greater dynamic range shifted towards the smaller signals. Furthermore the long term stability and reliability of sensors will be better if their noise is lower.

The pressure-, temperature-, gas-sensors work in low frequency range from a few hundred Hz down to mHz. The output of sensors of high frequency signals (microwave, optical) is usually a filtered, averaged slowly changing voltage. Therefore the noise of sensors in the low frequency range - from a few Hz to 100 kHz - has a great importance.

Sponsor:

National Research Foundation (OTKA), contract no.: T 037706

Contact person:

B. Szentpali

szentpa@mfa.kfki.hu