Advantages of Resistive Sensor | disadvantages of Resistive Sensor
This page covers advantages and disadvantages of Resistive Sensor and its basics. It mentions benefits or advantages of Resistive Sensor and drawbacks or disadvantages of Resistive Sensor.
What is Resistive Sensor?
A sensor is an electronic component, module or subsystem which detects events or changes in its environment and sends out information to other electronics (i.e. µC, µP) etc.
Resistive sensors are sensors which detect changes in their resistance. These changes are monitored and used to perform certain tasks. Resistance is a quantity which measures how device or material reduces flow of current through it. It is measured in units of Ohms.

The figure depicts different sensors available in the market which use different factors in order to detect their resistance. The basic resistive sensors include photo resistor, thermistor, RTDs (Resistive Temperature Detectors), flex resistor etc.
Photo resistor: It detects presence of light, IR and/or UV energy.
This resistive sensor type changes its resistance based on brightness
change in its surroundings or based on presence and absence of light.
Thermistor: It's resistance depends upon temperature. It is made of
appropriate semiconductor material which exhibits large modification in resistance
in proportion to a tiny low modification in the temperature.
Flex sensor : It is a sensor which measures amount of deflection or bending.
This sensor is stick to the surface whose resistance can be varied by
bending of surface.
RTDs : They are used to measure temperature.
Many RTDs consist of a length of fine wire wrapped around a ceramic or
glass core. It works based on basic correlation between metal and temperature.
When temperature of metal increases, its resistance increases and vice versa.
Strain Guage: A thin film having metal pattern which changes resistance when
strained.
Piezoresistive element: Pressure on the element causes
material to compress and change its' resistance.
Benefits or advantages of Resistive Sensor
Following are the benefits or advantages of Resistive Sensor:
➨It is simple in construction.
➨It is durable.
➨It offers good dynamic range.
➨It produces low noise.
➨It is lower in cost.
➨It is sensitive.
Drawbacks or disadvantages of Resistive Sensor
Following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of Resistive Sensor:
➨It has non-linear response.
➨It has hysteresis characteristic.
➨It has lower sensitivity.
➨It has high power consumption.
➨It usually detects single contact point.
Also refer advantages and disadvantages of following:
Photoresistor >> ,
Resistive touch screen >> and
Temperature sensor >> for more information.
Advantages and Disadvantages of other Sensor Types
Advantages and Disadvantages of other wireless technologies
What is Difference between
difference between OFDM and OFDMA
Difference between SC-FDMA and OFDM
Difference between SISO and MIMO
Difference between TDD and FDD
FDMA vs TDMA vs CDMA
FDM vs TDM
CDMA vs GSM