Windows.Devices.Sensors Namespace

Provides access to the supported types of sensors and related motion data.

Classes

Accelerometer	Represents an accelerometer sensor. This sensor returns G-force values with respect to the x, y, and z axes. For an example implementation, see the accelerometer sample.
AccelerometerDataThreshold	Provides access to accelerometer data thresholds (also known as change sensitivity).
AccelerometerReading	Represents an accelerometer reading.
AccelerometerReadingChangedEventArgs	Provides data for the accelerometer reading– changed event.
AccelerometerShakenEventArgs	Provides data for the accelerometer-shaken event.
ActivitySensor	Represents a sensor that provides the activity and status of a sensor.
ActivitySensorReading	Represents the reading of an activity sensor that provides readings for the sensor.
ActivitySensorReadingChangedEventArgs	Represents data for the reading–changed event of the sensor.
ActivitySensorReadingChangeReport	Represents data for the sensor trigger.
ActivitySensorTriggerDetails	Represents details about the sensor triggering.
AdaptiveDimmingOptions	Provides the ability to manage the dimming behavior of the PC screen based on whether a user is detected by the human presence sensor.
Altimeter	Provides an interface for an altimetric sensor to measure the relative altitude. For an example implementation, see the altimeter sample.
AltimeterReading	Represents an altimeter reading.
AltimeterReadingChangedEventArgs	Provides data for the altimeter reading– changed event.
Barometer	Provides an interface for a barometric sensor to measure atmospheric pressure. For an example implementation, see the barometer sample.
BarometerDataThreshold	Provides access to barometer data thresholds (also known as change sensitivity).
BarometerReading	Represents a barometer reading.
BarometerReadingChangedEventArgs	Provides data for the barometer reading– changed event.
Compass	Represents a compass sensor. This sensor returns a heading with respect to Magnetic North and, possibly, True North. (The latter is dependent on the system capabilities.) For an example implementation, see the compass sample.
CompassDataThreshold	Provides access to compass data thresholds (also known as change sensitivity).
CompassReading	Represents a compass reading.
CompassReadingChangedEventArgs	Provides data for the compass reading–changed event.
DetectedPerson	Represents a detected person as detected by the human presence sensor.
Gyrometer	Represents a gyrometer sensor that provides angular velocity values with respect to the x, y, and z axes.
GyrometerDataThreshold	Provides access to gyrometer data thresholds (also known as change sensitivity).
GyrometerReading	Represents a gyrometer reading.
GyrometerReadingChangedEventArgs	Provides data for the gyrometer reading– changed event.
HeadOrientation	Represents an object that describes the orientation a user's head is facing relative to the human presence sensor, in terms of roll, pitch, and yaw.
HeadPosition	Represents an object that describes the location of a user's head relative to the human presence sensor, in terms of azimuth and altitude.
HingeAngleReading	Provides access to the data exposed by the hinge angle sensor in a dual-screen device.
HingeAngleSensor	Represents the hinge angle sensor in a dual-screen device.
HingeAngleSensorReadingChangedEventArgs	Provides data for the ReadingChanged event.
HumanPresenceFeatures	Represents the system settings supported by a human presence sensor.
HumanPresenceSensor	Represents a sensor that detects whether a user is present, absent, or not interacting with their device.
HumanPresenceSensorReading	Represents a single reading from a HumanPresenceSensor.
HumanPresenceSensorReadingChangedEventArgs	Provides data for the HumanPresenceSensor.ReadingChanged event.
HumanPresenceSensorReadingUpdate	Represents a single, updated reading from a HumanPresenceSensor.
HumanPresenceSettings	Represents the various human presence system settings.
Inclinometer	Represents an inclinometer sensor that provides pitch, roll, and yaw values corresponding to rotation angles around the x, y, and z axes, respectively.
InclinometerDataThreshold	Provides access to inclinometer data thresholds (also known as change sensitivity).
InclinometerReading	Represents an inclinometer reading.
InclinometerReadingChangedEventArgs	Provides data for the inclinometer reading-changed event.
LightSensor	Represents an ambient-light sensor that provides the ambient-light reading as a LUX value.
LightSensorDataThreshold	Provides access to light data thresholds (also known as change sensitivity).
LightSensorReading	Represents an ambient light–sensor reading.
LightSensorReadingChangedEventArgs	Provides data for the ambient-light sensor reading-changed event.
LockOnLeaveOptions	Provides the ability to manage the locking behavior of the PC screen based on whether a user is detected by the human presence sensor.
Magnetometer	Represents a magnetic sensor.
MagnetometerDataThreshold	Provides access to magnetometer data thresholds (also known as change sensitivity).
MagnetometerReading	Represents a magnetometer reading.
MagnetometerReadingChangedEventArgs	Provides data for the magnetometer reading– changed event.
OrientationSensor	Represents an orientation sensor. This sensor returns a rotation matrix and a Quaternion that can be used to adjust the user's perspective in a game application. For an example implementation, see the orientation sensor sample.
OrientationSensorReading	Represents an orientation-sensor reading.
OrientationSensorReadingChangedEventArgs	Provides data for the orientation-sensor reading-changed event.
Pedometer	Provides an interface for a pedometer to measure the number of steps taken. For an example implemenation, see the pedometer sample.
PedometerDataThreshold	A threshold for the Pedometer sensor. When the threshold conditions are met, the sensor trigger will activate.
PedometerReading	Represents a pedometer reading.
PedometerReadingChangedEventArgs	Provides data for the pedometer reading– changed event.
ProximitySensor	Provides an interface for a proximity sensor to determine whether or not an object is detected. For an example implementation, see the proximity sensor sample.
ProximitySensorDataThreshold	A threshold for the ProximitySensor. When the threshold conditions are met, the sensor trigger will activate.
ProximitySensorDisplayOnOffController	Provides a controller responsible for turning on or off the phone display based on the readings from the ProximitySensor.
ProximitySensorReading	Represents a reading from the proximity sensor.
ProximitySensorReadingChangedEventArgs	Provides data for the reading– changed event of the proximity sensor.
SensorDataThresholdTriggerDetails	Provides data for what sensor triggered the data threshold monitoring task.
SensorQuaternion	Represents a Quaternion.
SensorRotationMatrix	Represents a 3x3 rotation matrix.
SimpleOrientationSensor	Represents a simple orientation sensor. For an example implementation, see the simple orientation sensor sample. This sensor detects the current quadrant orientation of the specified device as well as its face-up or face-down status.
SimpleOrientationSensorOrientationChangedEventArgs	Provides data for the sensor reading–changed event.
WakeOnApproachOptions	Provides the ability to manage the waking behavior of the PC screen based on whether a user is detected by the human presence sensor.

Interfaces

IHumanPresenceSensorExtension	Defines the implementation for a type that supports inspecting and modifying human presence sensor readings in the pipeline between the sensor and the system.
ISensorDataThreshold	Identifies a threshold for sensor data. When this threshold is crossed, the sensor trigger will activate.

Enums

AccelerometerReadingType	Indicates the type of accelerometer.
ActivitySensorReadingConfidence	Specifies the confidence of a sensor reading.
ActivityType	Specifies activity types of a sensor.
HumanEngagement	Specifies the possible engagement states supported by a HumanPresenceSensor.
HumanPresence	Specifies the possible detection states supported by a HumanPresenceSensor.
MagnetometerAccuracy	The sensor's accuracy. See One Dev Minute - Sensor calibration for a short video overview on how to calibrate the magnetometer.
PedometerStepKind	The type of step taken according to the pedometer.
SensorOptimizationGoal	Indicates whether power or precision should be optimized for sensors.
SensorReadingType	Specifies the sensor reading type.
SensorType	Indicates the type of sensor.
SimpleOrientation	Indicates the orientation of the device.

Remarks

This namespace provides access to the sensor types listed in the table below. The driver for a sensor must indicate that the hardware is integrated with the PC chassis for it to be accessible via this namespace. Sensors not marked as PC-integrated, even if they are of a supported type, will not be accessible. Driver developers can refer to SensorConnectionType enumeration for more details.

Sensor	Description
Accelerometer	Detects acceleration along three axes (x, y, and z).
Inclinometer	Detects angle of incline along three axes (pitch, roll, and yaw).
Gyrometer	Detects angular velocity along three axes.
Compass	Detects heading in degrees relative to magnetic north (and due north when integrated with onboard GPS).
Light	Detects ambient lighting level in lumens.
Orientation	Combines the data from the accelerometer, compass, and gyrometer sensors to provide smoother and more sensitive rotation data than can be obtained from any of the sensors alone. See the Quaternion and SensorRotationMatrix definitions. This combined sensor data is also known as “Sensor Fusion.”
Simple Orientation	Uses the accelerometer to obtain device orientation as a rotation into one of four quadrants, or face-up, or face-down.

In addition, this namespace provides access to the following motion (or movement) data.

Data	Description
Quaternion	A Quaternion is a rotation of a point [x,y,z] around an arbitrary axis.
Rotation Matrix	A Rotation Matrix represents a rotation around 3 axes (x, y, and z).

Sensor data is provided relative to the device's fixed sensor coordinate system, and is independent of display orientation. For applications that rely on sensor data for input control or to manipulate elements on the screen, the developer must take current display orientation into account and compensate the data appropriately. For more info about the sensor coordinate system, see Sensor data and display orientation.

For some samples that demonstrate using various sensors, see Windows Sensor Samples.

See also

• Sensor data and display orientation
• Windows Sensor Samples
• Background sensors sample (Windows 10)
• Compass sample (Windows 10)
• Inclinometer sample (Windows 10)
• Gyrometer sample (Windows 10)
• Light sensor sample (Windows 10)
• Orientation sensor sample (Windows 10)
• Accelerometer sample (Windows 10)
• Video stabilization sample
• Activity detection sensor sample
• Altimeter sample
• Barometer sample
• Magnetometer sample
• Pedometer sample
• Proximity sensor sample
• Relative inclinometer sample
• Simple orientation sensor sample
• Version adaptive code sample