Aim Dynamics: Analog vs. Digital Sensors

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Analog vs. Digital Sensors

There are many different types of sensors and transducers, but in general, all of them can be classified into two basic types: analog and digital. So which one is more useful to your needs? Find out below.

Analog sensors

Analog sensors create continuous and generally proportional output signal to that of the quantity being measured. Physical quantities such as Strain, Temperature, Pressure, Displacement and Strain, among others, are all analog because of their continuous characteristic. Analog sensors share this continuous nature, producing signals that change smoothly over time.

Digital sensors

Digital sensors produce distinct digital output signals that represent the digital form of the quantity being measured. This type of sensor generates a binary output signal in the form of 1s and 0s. This means that the digital sensor only produces, distinct, non-continuous values which may be outputted as a single serial transmission (bit) or parallel transmission (byte).


Compared to analog, sensors of the digital variety score high in accuracy and can measure and sample signals at a much faster rate—usually millions of times faster than analog signals. To be able to produce electrical signals that can be used and measured, analog sensors require additional amplification or filtering of the signal and an external power supply.

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