Scribd
Upload
19 views

SEM 3characteristics of Transducers or Sensors

The document discusses the characteristics of transducers and sensors. It describes static characteristics such as accuracy, precision, resolution, minimum detectable signal, threshold, sensitivity, selectivity, nonlinearity, hysteresis, range, span, and input impedance. It also covers dynamic characteristics including speed of response, fidelity, lag, and dynamic error. Finally, it lists factors to consider when selecting a transducer, such as high input/low output impedance, resolution, sensitivity, size, durability, accuracy, and overload protection.

Uploaded by

asnaph9
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
19 views

SEM 3characteristics of Transducers or Sensors

The document discusses the characteristics of transducers and sensors. It describes static characteristics such as accuracy, precision, resolution, minimum detectable signal, threshold, sensitivity, selectivity, nonlinearity, hysteresis, range, span, and input impedance. It also covers dynamic characteristics including speed of response, fidelity, lag, and dynamic error. Finally, it lists factors to consider when selecting a transducer, such as high input/low output impedance, resolution, sensitivity, size, durability, accuracy, and overload protection.

Uploaded by

asnaph9
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 10

CHARACTERISTICS OF TRANSDUCERS/SENSORS

In instrumentation, the selection of proper transducer is essential. And the selection is done based on the characteristics. All
transducers, irrespective of their measurement requirements, exhibit the same characteristics such as range, span, etc
➢STATIC CHARECTERISTICS
The set of criteria defined for the instruments, which are used to measure the quantities that are slowly varying with time or
mostly constant, i.e., do not vary with time, is called 'static characteristics'.
1.Accuracy specified by inaccuracy or usually error
Error means a mistake, and is the difference between a perfect measurement and what was actually measured at any point,
time and direction of process movement in the process measuring range.
Static accuracy is one of the most desirable characteristics of any transducer. The accuracy of a transducer is the degree of
closeness of the output obtained to the true or ideal value.
A transducer with high sensitivity can produce errors easily to any change. The errors can be reduced using in-place system
calibration and monitoring so that corrections are made accordingly to have a high degree of accuracy and repeatability.
Inaccuracy is given by
−
%= *100

xm is the measured physical quantity


xt is the true value
𝒕
𝒙
𝒂
𝜺
𝒎
𝒕
𝒙
𝒙
For multi error system over all performance in terms errors are assessed through
i. Worst case approach which assume all the errors are in one direction or increasing, hence the overall error is very
high. It will be the linear sum of all the performance errors
ii.The root mean square approach which is the optimistic and practical and the total error is given by,
1/2

[∑ ]
2
ε0 = (ε )

2. Precision
Precision is the accuracy with which a variable can be repeatedly measured
When a transducer is used to measure the same output at different instances, the output may not be the same.
𝑖
𝑖
A precise instrument doesn’t mean that it is an accurate instrument. A precise
instrument can be calibrated to give an accurate readings.
Accuracy is the closeness to the true value whereas precision is the closeness amongst
readings
3.Resolution
When the input to the transducer is increased from a non zero arbitrary value, the change in output is not
detected at all until it reaches an input increment is exceeded, ie, resolution.
It is the smallest incremental change in the input that would produce a detectable change in the output.
Resolution is often expressed as percentage of the measured range, MR ( It is defined as the difference of the
maximum input and minimum input.)
The resolution of a digital instrument is decided by the number of digits used for display. Eg.,
resolution of a four digit voltmeter with range of 999.9 volt is 0.1 volt and that of a five digit voltmeter with
same range is 0.01 volt.
4. Minimum Detectable Signal (MDS)
Noise in a sensor can occur because of different reasons like internal sources or fluctuations due to
externally generated mechanical and electromagnetic influences.
If the input doesn’t contain any noise, the minimum signal level that produces a detectable output
from the sensor is determined by its noise performance or noise characteristics. For this the equivalent
noise source is connected to the input side of the ideal noiseless sensor to yield an output which is the
actual output level of the sensor. MDS is taken as the RMS equivalent input noise. When signal
exceeds this value, it is called a detectable signal.
5. Threshold
At the zero value condition of the measurand, the smallest input change that produces a detectable
output is called threshold. i.e., when the input to the transducer is increased from zero, there is a
minimum value below which no output can be detected. This minimum value of the input is defined as
the threshold of the transducer.
The threshold depends on the output sensing device and the observer. Hence it is preferred to define
a certain numerical value for the output change and measure the corresponding input change as
threshold.
5.Sensitivity
sensitivity is defined as the amount of change in the output signal from a transducer’s
transmitting element to a specified change in the input variable being measured, i.e. it is the ratio of
the output signal change to the change in the measure variable and is a steady-state ratio or the
steady-state gain of the element.
∆
Sensitivity=
∆
If sensitivity or the input level changes with time, temperature and/or any other input parameters
without any change in input level, drift is said to occur in the system which often leads to instability
A transducer should have high stability and reliability. It should be stable to the external disturbances
during its operation without deviating the output.

6.Selectivity and specificity


The output of a sensor may change when affected by environmental parameters or other variables
and this may appear as an unwanted signal. The sensor is then said to be non-selective. The
selectivity can be defined as the sensitivity to the desired parameter divided by the sensitivity to the
undesired parameter.
𝑥
𝑦
7.Nonlinearity/Linearity
In many case the calibration curve of a transducer may not be linear.
Linearity is a measure of the maximum deviation of the plotted transducer response from a specified straight line.
To select a straight line for a plotted calibration curve there are a number of ways- i)the straight line connecting the
calibration point at zero input to that at full scale output or the end points. ii)deviation from the best fit straight line
A consequence of nonlinearity is distortion, which is defined as the deviation from an expected output of the sensor
or transducer. It also occurs due to the presence of additional input components. If deviation at each point of the
experimental curve is negligibly small from the corresponding point in the theoretical curve or best fit curves, the sensor is
said to have conformance, which is quantitatively expressed in %FSO at any given value of the input.
8.Hysteresis
When the input to a transducer which is initially at rest is increased from zero to full scale and decreased back to zero,
there may be two output values for the same input. It can be minimised by taking readings corresponding to ascending
and descending values of the input and taking the average.
9.Range and Span
Range of an instrument is thus defined as the difference between the largest and the
smallest reading of the instrument. Supposing the highest point of calibration is Xmax units
while the lowest is Xmin units and the calibration is continuous between the two points, then
the instrument range is between Xmin and Xmax . Many times it is also said that the instrument
range is Xmax. The instrument span is the difference between highest and the lowest point of
calibration
Span = Xmax - Xmin
10. Input impedance and Loading effect
A transducer is used in any measurement normally extracts some energy from the
measuring medium and hence disturbs the value of the measured quantity. This is known as
loading effect of the transducer. An ideal transducer is one which does not absorb any energy
and does not disturb the state of the measured quantity. The loading effect gives the measure
of the disturbance on the measured quantity. It is expressed in terms of input impedance and
shiftness.
➢DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS
This refers to the performance of the transducer when it is subjected to the time varying input.
1.Speed of response
It is defined as the rapidity with which an instrument responds to the changes in the measured quantity.
It shows how active and fast the system is. Important for speed measuring systems.
2.Fidelity
It is defined as the degree to which a measurement system is capable of faithfully reproducing the changes in
input without any dynamic error
3.Lag
Every system requires its own time to respond to the changes in input. This time is called as lag
The lags are of two types
i. Retardation lag – As soon as there is a change in the measured quantity, the measurement system begins to
respond
ii.Time delay – the response of the measurement system starts after a dead time once the input is applied.
They cause dynamic error
4.Dynamic error
It is the difference between the true value of the quanitity that is to be measured with respect to time and the
measured value, if no static error is present.
FACTOR TO BE CONSIDERED WHILE SELECTING TRANSDUCER

✓It should have high input impedance and low output impedance, to avoid loading effect.
✓It should have good resolution over its entire selected range.
✓It must be highly sensitive to desired signal and insensitive to unwanted signal.
✓Preferably small in size.
✓It should be able to work in corrosive environment.
✓It should be able to withstand pressure, shocks, vibrations etc..
✓It must have high degree of accuracy and repeatability.
✓Selected transducer must be free from errors.
✓The transducer circuit should have overload protection so that it will withstand
overloads.

You might also like