Chapter:5 Sensors & Transducers

I. Introduction to Sensors and Transducers

Sensors: A sensor is a device that detects and responds to some type of input
from the physical environment. The input can be light, heat, motion, moisture,
pressure, or any number of other environmental phenomena. The output is
generally a signal that is converted to a human-readable display at the sensor
location or transmitted electronically over a network for reading or further
processing.

Sensors play a pivotal role in the Internet of things (IoT). They make it possible to
create an ecosystem for collecting and processing data about a specific
environment so it can be monitored, managed, and controlled more easily and
efficiently. IoT sensors are used in homes, out in the field, in automobiles, on
airplanes, in industrial settings, and in other environments. Sensors bridge the
gap between the physical world and the logical world, acting as the eyes and
ears for a computing infrastructure that analyzes and acts upon the data collected
from the sensors

Figure:5.1 Sensors
Example: The simplest example of a sensor is an LDR or a Light Dependent Resistor.
It is a device, whose resistance varies according to intensity of light it is subjected to.
When the light falling on an LDR is more, its resistance becomes very less and when
the light is less, well, the resistance of the LDR becomes very high.

We can connect this LDR in a voltage divider (along with other resistors) and check the
voltage drop across the LDR. This voltage can be calibrated to the amount of light
falling on the LDR. Hence, a Light Sensor.

Transducer: A transducer is defined as a device that receives energy from one system
and transmits it to another, often in a different form.

Broadly defined, the transducer is a device capable of being actuated by an energizing

input from one or more transmission media and in turn generating a related signal to
one or more transmission systems. It provides a usable output in response to a
specified input measured, which may be a physical or mechanical quantity, property, or
condition. The energy transmitted by these systems may be electrical, mechanical or
acoustical.

The input quantity for most instrumentation systems is nonelectrical. In order to use
electrical methods and techniques for measurement, the nonelectrical quantity is
converted into a proportional electrical signal by a device called a “transducer”.

Actually, an electrical transducer consists of two parts that are very closely related to
each other. These two parts are the sensing or detecting element and the transduction
element. The sensing or detecting element is commonly known as the sensor.

Figure:5.2 Transducer Block Diagram

Sensing Element: The physical quantity or its rate of change is sensed and responded
to by this part of the transistor.

Transduction Element: The output of the sensing element is passed on to the

transduction element. This element is responsible for converting the non-electrical
signal into its proportional electrical signal.

II. Comparison between sensors and Transducers

Sr. No Sensors Transducers

1 A sensor is a device which A transducer is a device that transforms

converts the physical parameter energy from one form to another, such
of a quantity into corresponding as speed into electrical signal.
electrical output.
2 A sensor does not have any other The components of a transducer are −
component except itself. input device (sensor), processing device
(signal conditioning), and output device.
3 All the sensors are not A sensor is the part of all the
transducers. transducers.
4 A sensor is less complicated in its Transducer is a relatively more complex
construction and processing. device because it involves the
transformation of energy from one form
to another.
5 A sensor detects the change in The transducer converts the energy into
the physical parameter of quantity a different form.
to produce a corresponding
electrical signal.
6 The sensor does not provide any Transducer generally provides feedback
feedback to the system. This to the system through the output device
means, it only measures the after processing.
change in the physical quantity
and cannot give input to the
system on its own.
 7 Common examples of sensors Examples of transducers are: strain
are temperature sensors, photo gauge, microphones, loudspeakers,
sensors, proximity sensors, etc. piezoelectric elements, etc.

III. Applications of Sensors and Transducers

Application of Sensors

Top Applications of Sensors. Sensors find usage in various industries

like Automotive, Manufacturing, Aviation, Marine, Medical, Telecom, Chemical, and
Computer Hardware. Let's examine some of the applications of sensors in these
Industries.

1) Automotive: Antilock Braking System (ABS) Sensors connected to the wheel,

measure the speed of the wheel and braking pressure and keep sending them to
ABS controlling When the driver applies the sudden brake, the ABS system, with
breaking pressure and speed data received from the sensors, releases the
braking pressure to avoid skidding/locking of wheels. It is one of the critical safety
aspects of vehicles.
2) Manufacturing: Predictive maintenance of the machinery, Assembly equipment
using the data collected from sensors in the machines. Optimal utilization of
Machines by continuously monitoring the performances and effectively rejigging
the operations with the data collected from sensors. Fine-tuning the Quality
systems and enhancing the quality standards using the data collected from
sensors. Design notifications and alerts in case of a deterioration of quality and
process standards. Agility in reacting to market demands.
3) Aviation: Sensors deployed in the aviation industry measure the data during the
navigation of aircraft, monitoring various systems, and controlling instruments.
These data are utilized for inefficient flight operations, improve aircraft
performance, and design improvements. Some of the instrumentation sensors
are tachometers, gauges to measure engine pressure and oil& fuel quantity,
Altimeters, airspeed meters, etc. Sensors help measure the testing of the ground
conditions, vibration, and environmental factors and provide useful inputs to the
pilot to manage the general operation and emergency conditions.
4) Medical & Healthcare
  Blood pressure monitoring (self).
 Continuous glucose monitoring by Individuals.
 Automatic measurement of the vitals of the patient and sending it to the
patient’s doctor.
 More home care facilities and ambulatory treatments.
 Automatic detection of visitors spreading the disease to patients in
hospitals.
 Decentralized laboratories.
 Robotics in Operation Theater.
.

Application of Transducers

Ultrasonic Transducer
 This transducer can be used to measure the distance of the sound based
on reflection. This measurement is based on a suitable method compared
to the straight methods which use different measuring scales. The areas
which are hard to find, such as pressure areas, and very high
temperatures, using conventional methods the measurement of the
distance is not a simple task. So, this transducer-based measuring system
can be used in this kind of zone.

Figure:5.3 Ultrasonic Transducer

Temperature Transducer
 A temperature transducer is used to measure the temperature of the air
such that to control the temperature of several control systems like air-
conditioning, heating, ventilation, and so on.
 Figure:5.4 Temperature Transducer

Piezoelectric Transducer
 Piezoelectric transducers are a type of electroacoustic transducer that
convert the electrical charges produced by some forms of solid materials
into energy. The word "piezoelectric" literally means electricity caused by
pressure.
 This transducer is mainly used to detect the stick drummer’s impact on
electronic drum pads. And also used to detect the movement of the
muscle, which can be named acceleromyography.
 The load of the engine can be determined by calculating diverse absolute
pressure, which can be done by using these transducers as the MAP
sensor in fuel injection systems.
 This sensor can be used as a knock sensor in automotive engine
management systems for noticing the knock of the engine.
 Figure:5.5 Piezoelectric Transducer

Pressure Transducer
 The applications of pressure transducers mainly involve altitude sensing,
pressure sensing, level or depth sensing, flow sensing, and leak testing.
These transducers can be used for generating electrical power under the
speed breakers on the highways or roads where the force of the vehicles
can be converted into electrical energy.

Figure:5.6 Pressure Transducer

The common application of transducers in different parts of electronics:

1. Strain gauge
2. Hall Effect
3. Force
4. Torque
5. Power
6. Position
7. Displacements
8. Humidity
9. Temperature
 10. Pressure

IV. Types of Electronic sensors

Temperature Sensor

One of the most common and most popular sensors is the Temperature Sensor. A
Temperature Sensor, as the name suggests, senses the temperature i.e., it
measures the changes in the temperature.

Figure:5.7 Temperature Sensor

There are different types of Temperature Sensors like Temperature Sensor ICs (like
LM35, DS18B20), Thermistors, Thermocouples, RTD (Resistive Temperature
Devices), etc.

Temperature Sensors can be analog or digital. In an Analog Temperature Sensor,

the changes in the Temperature correspond to changes in its physical property like
resistance or voltage. LM35 is a classic Analog Temperature Sensor.

Proximity Sensors
A Proximity Sensor is a non-contact type sensor that detects the presence of an
object. Proximity Sensors can be implemented using different techniques like Optical
(like Infrared or Laser), Sound (Ultrasonic), Magnetic (Hall Effect), Capacitive, etc.

Some of the applications of Proximity Sensors are Mobile Phones, Cars (Parking
Sensors), industries (object alignment), Ground Proximity in aircraft, etc.

Figure:5.8 Proximity Sensor

Infrared Sensor (IR Sensor)

IR Sensors or Infrared Sensors are light-based sensors that are used in various
applications like Proximity and Object Detection. IR Sensors are used as proximity
sensors in almost all mobile phones.

There are two types of Infrared or IR Sensors: Transmissive Type and Reflective
Type. In Transmissive Type IR Sensor, the IR Transmitter (usually an IR LED) and
the IR Detector (usually a Photo Diode) are positioned facing each other so that
when an object passes between them, the sensor detects the object.
 Figure:5.9 Infrared Sensor

Ultrasonic Sensor

An Ultrasonic Sensor is a non-contact type device that can be used to measure

distance as well as velocity of an object. An Ultrasonic Sensor works based on the
properties of the sound waves with frequency greater than that of the human audible
range.

Using the time of flight of the sound wave, an Ultrasonic Sensor can measure the
distance of the object (similar to SONAR). The Doppler Shift property of the sound
wave is used to measure the velocity of an object.

Figure:5.10 Ultrasonic Sensor

Light Sensor
A simple Light Sensor available today is the Light Dependent Resistor or LDR. The
property of LDR is that its resistance is inversely proportional to the intensity of the
ambient light i.e., when the intensity of light increases, its resistance decreases and
vice-versa.

Figure:5.11 Light Sensor

Smoke and Gas Sensors

One of the very useful sensors in safety related applications are Smoke and Gas
Sensors. Almost all offices and industries are equipped with several smoke
detectors, which detect any smoke (due to fire) and sound an alarm.

Gas Sensors are more common in laboratories, large-scale kitchens, and industries.
They can detect different gases like LPG, Propane, Butane, Methane (CH4), etc.

Figure:5.12 Smoke Sensor

Humidity Sensor

If you see Weather Monitoring Systems, they often provide temperature as well as
humidity data. So, measuring humidity is an important task in many applications.
 Often all humidity sensors measure relative humidity (a ratio of water content in the
air to the maximum potential of air to hold water). Since relative humidity is
dependent on the temperature of the air, almost all Humidity Sensors can also
measure Temperature.

Figure:5.13 Humidity Sensor

V. Types of Transducers.

There are of many different types of transducers, they can be classified based
on various criteria as:

Types of Transducers based on Quantity to be Measured

 Temperature transducers (e.g., a thermocouple, RTD)
 Pressure transducers (e.g., a diaphragm)
 Displacement transducers (e.g., LVDT)
 Oscillator transducer
 Flow transducers
 Inductive Transducer
Types of Transducers based on the Principle of Operation
 Photovoltaic (e.g., a solar cell)
 Piezoelectric transducer
 Chemical
 Mutual induction
 Electromagnetic
 Hall effect
 Photoconductors
Types of Transducers based on Whether an External Power Source is required or
not

1. Active Transducer
 Active transducers generate electric signals in response to an external
signal without the need of an additional energy source.
 For example, a thermistor does not generate any electric signal, but by-
passing electric current through it, its resistance can be measured by
detecting variations in current and/or voltage across the thermistor.

2. Passive Transducers
 Passive transducers require an external power source to operate, which is
called an excitation signal.
 For example, a thermistor does not generate any electric signal, but by
passing electric current through it, its resistance can be measured by
detecting variations in current and/or voltage across the thermistor.

References
1. https://www.electronicshub.org/
2. https://www.techtarget.com/
3. http://www.instrumentationtoday.com/
4. https://www.tutorialspoint.com/
5. https://www.elprocus.com/
6. https://www.electrical4u.com/