Accelerometer
This is one of the first sensors to have been used on your smartphone. In the basic idea, we use this sensor to track linear movement of the smartphone.
The accelerometer is a small chip placed somewhere on the main board of the smartphone. Its main task is to transfer the linear motion force to an electrical signal in a three-dimensional space. At a later stage, the processor recognizes signals from the sensor and reads our reaction. In the final stage, it changes the phone’s movement into the behavior of the operating system.
You use this sensor every time you want to change the orientation of the smartphone screen from vertical to horizontal. Then you make some movements and the smartphone knows that you want to turn the screen clockwise or vice versa.
According to picture, acceleration sensors recognize the power around the smartphone. When you hold your smartphone in landscape orientation (as in the picture), the greatest force comes from Earth’s gravity and acts on strength [-Y]. In this case, the smartphone’s operating system recognizes the position of the smartphone and sets the screen as a horizontal view. The acceleration sensor can also be used in other applications, such as speed detection or detection and calculation of the approximate number of steps per day.
Gyroscope
The application of a gyroscope is similar to that of an accelerometer. Instead of a linear displacement, gyroscope measures the angular displacement. The gyroscope is more accurate than the accelerometer, and since it is more advanced, it can be used for complex applications. The first major use of it is in interactive games. It can be used to drive a car in racing games (when you turn the smartphone clockwise than the car turns right). We also use a gyroscope for virtual reality applications and games. When you move your head with the headset (using your smartphone as a screen), the gyroscope is used to find the orientation of the head. The last application is recording from the camera. Because we know which way we turn the smartphone and how quickly, we can adapt the optical image stabilization.
Magnetometer / Compass
The magnetometer on the smartphone uses a semiconductor sensor that detects the Earth’s magnetic field along three perpendiculars X, Y, and Z axes. The magnetometer allows you to use applications on your smartphone that show the magnetic north of the Earth. The sensor is primarily used in navigation to detect your orientation in the field.
Hall Sensor
This sensor recognizes a magnetic field near the sensor. Mainly used to lock / unlock the screen on smartphones with flaps. The flap covers have magnets that create a magnetic field near the hall sensor. Instead of the Hall sensor, on some smartphones you can find an infrared sensor, but the main idea is to automatically unlock the screen when you open the flip or remove the phone from your pocket
Barometer
The barometer is used to measure the air pressure. This sensor is rare and is found in smartphones with a special purpose. The main way to use it is to provide GPS information to your altitude which will allow you to determine your position more accurately.
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