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(1) Measurement range
The range of sensor corresponds to the minimum and maximum operation limits that sensor
is expected to measure accurately. For example, a pressure sensor may have a nominal
performance over the operating range from 0 Pa to 10MPa.
(2) Sensitivity
Sensitivity refers to the ratio of output change for a given input change. Another way to define
sensitivity is to find the slope of calibration line relating the input to the output, as illustrated
in figure 1.A high sensitivity implies that a small change in input causes a large change in
output.
For example, a pressure sensor may have a sensitivity of 
0.4V / Pa
; that’s to say, the output of
this sensor will change 0.4V for 1Pa change in input pressure. If the calibration curve is linear
seen in figure 1 (a), then sensitivity of sensor will be constant, whereas the sensitivity of sensor
will vary with the input when the calibration is nonlinear, as in figure 1 (b). Alternatively,
sensitivity can be defined as the smallest change in input that will result in a detectable change
in sensor output.
(a)
Linear sensor 
(b)
Nonlinear sensor 
Figure 1. Input versus output calibration curve of a typical sensor
(3) Accuracy
Accuracy refers to the difference between the true value and the actual value measured by
sensor. Classically, accuracy is expressed as a ratio between the preceding difference and the
true value; it is specified as a percent of full-scale readings. Here, note that the true value could
be traceable to a primary reference standard.
Biomedical Sensor, Device and Measurement Systems
http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/59941
179

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(4) Precision
Precision refers to the degree of measurement reproducibility under the same conditions. Very
reproducible readings indicate a high precision. Precision should not be confused with
accuracy. For an example, measurement may be very precise but not necessary accurate.
(5) Resolution
When the input is increased from some arbitrary nonzero value, the output of a sensor will
not change until a certain input increment is exceeded. Accordingly, resolution is defined as
the smallest distinguishable input change that can be detected with certainty.