TRANSDUCER

➢ Device which converts mechanical energy into an electrical signal

➢ Transducer produce an output signal when simulated / actuated by a mechanical or non mechanical input.
➢ Ex: Photo conductor – light to Resistance change, Thermocouple-Temp to Voltage, Strain Gauge –Strain to Resistance

➢ In general – Transducer is a device which converts one form of energy into another form, in instrumentation, transducer
is a device which converts a physical quantity into a electrical signal.

Advantages:
1) Amplification & Attenuation can be done easily
2) Mass or inertia problem do not exist
3) Electrical or Electronic system can be operated with a very small power level
4) Electrical output can be transmitted & processed for further process
5) Development in IC, has completely revolutionized the field of instrumentation
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Heat to Voltage

Strain to ∆R
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Classification of Transducer:
➢ Based on the principle of transduction
➢ Primary & Secondary
➢ Active & Passive
➢ Analog & Digital
➢ Transducer & Inverse Transducer

Active transducer are those which do not require

auxiliary power source to produce their output (Self
generating type). The energy required for the production
of output signal is obtained from the physical quantity
being measured.

The physical quantity like velocity, temperature, force and

the intensity of light is transducted with the help of the
transducer. The piezoelectric crystal, photo-voltaic cell,
tacho generator, thermocouples, photovoltaic cell are the
examples of the active transducers.
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The Photovoltaic cell is the semiconductor device that
converts the light into electrical energy. The voltage induces
by the PV cell depends on the intensity of light incident on it.
The name Photovoltaic is because of their voltage producing
capability.
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➢ Passive transducer requires an auxiliary power source for transduction

➢ These are externally powered transducers, that induces variation in the parameters associated
with the electrical circuits, with the variation in the applied input signal.

➢ Energy conversion is established by the use of an auxiliary power source. In these type of
transducers, changes in voltage, current or frequency are noticed when electrical parameters
such as inductance, capacitance or resistance associated with the circuit changes. A passive
transducer sometimes may draw energy from the measuring system itself.
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 PRIMARY & SECONDARY TRANSDUCER: The PSE consists the mechanical as well as the
electrical devices, two stages of conversion.

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Primary Transducer(Sensor) –The mechanical devices
of the PSE change the physical input quantities into a
mechanical signal. This mechanical device is known as the
Sensor or primary transducers.

Secondary Transducer – The secondary transducer

converts the mechanical signal into an electrical signal. The
magnitude of the output signal depends on the input
mechanical signal.
(Based on application)
Example of Primary and Secondary Transducer
In Bourdon’s Tube the tube act as a primary transducer. It
detects the pressure and converts it into a displacement from
its free end. The displacement of the free ends moves the
core of the linear variable displacement transformer. The
movement of the core induces the output voltage which is
directly proportional to the displacement of the tube free end.

Thus, the two type of transduction occurs, First the pressure

is converted into a displacement and then it is converted into
the voltage by the help of the L.V.D.T.
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The transducer can also be classified by their output signals. The output signal of the transducer may
be continuous or discrete.

Analog Transducer – The Analog transducer changes the input quantity into a continuous function.
The strain gauge, L.V.D.T, thermocouple, thermistor are the examples of the analogue transducer.

Digital Transducer – These transducers convert an input quantity into a digital signal or in the form
of the pulse. The digital signals work on high or low power. Photo electric and electromagnetic
transducer for speed measurement, encoders for displacement, are examples of digital transducers
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Transducer and Inverse Transducer:

Transducer – The device which converts the non-electrical quantity into an electric quantity is
known as the transducer.

Inverse Transducer – The transducer which converts the electric quantity into a physical
quantity, such type of transducers is known as the inverse transducer.
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Key Differences
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Between Transducer and Inverse Transducer

➢ The transducer transforms the non-electrical quantity into the electrical quantity.
Whereas,
the inverse transducer changes the electrical quantity into the non-electrical quantities.

➢ The input of the transducer is the non-electrical quantity.

Whereas,
the input of the inverse transducer is the electrical quantity.

➢ The output of the transducer is the electrical quantity

while
the output of the inverse transducer is always the non-electrical quantity.

The photoconductive cell, thermocouple, pressure gauge are the examples of the non-electrical quantities.
The piezoelectrical transducer, current carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field are the examples of the
inverse transducer.
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Key Differences Between Active and Passive Transducer

✓ In an active transducer, the energy required for its operation is taken from the quantity that has to be measured.

✓ In passive transducer energy needed for operation is derived from an external source.

✓ Active transducers basically produce electrical current or voltage as its output

✓ Passive transducers show variation in passive parameters as its output.

✓ On the basis of their working active transducers are known as self-generating transducers

✓ passive transducers are known as externally powered transducers.

✓ A very low amplitude signal is produced at the output by an active transducer thus requires amplification.
✓ high amplitude signal is generated by a passive transducer thus signal amplification is not required.

✓ The system design of an active transducer is simple whereas passive transducer holds a complex system design.

✓ Active transducers do not need an external supply of power while the passive transducer requires an external energy
source.
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Factors (affecting) influencing the choice of transducer:

➢ There are many ways of measuring a physical quantity and in many case, there is no best way.
➢ The selection of transducer depends on the instrument already available and also in the
experience of the user.
➢ Most transducer are not sensitive to the desired input alone, so methods must be adopted for
taking care of interfering and modifying input.

1. Operating principle: Selected based on the operating principle used

2. Few static characteristic: Range, Sensitivity(Cross Axis Sensitivity (CAS) → to be taken into account
while measuring mechanical quantities,) Error, Transient & Frequency Response ,loading effects etc
Example: – Accelerometer – X- axis accelerometer
Quantity is being measured in one plane, the transducer in subjective to variation in another
plane.
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3. Environment compatibility – It should be assured that the transducer selected to work under
specified environmental conditions, maintains its input –output relationships.

-extreme temperature condition corrosive environment, to withstand pressure shock.

-Insensitive to unwanted signal & Sensitive to the desired signal.
4. Usage and Ruggedness – The ruggedness both of mechanical and electrical intensities of
transducer versus its size and weight must be considered while selecting a transducer.

5. Electrical aspects – Signal to noise ratio, cable resistance, Capacitance, Frequency

response limitation of electronic circuit must be also taken into account.

6. Stability & Reliability – The transducer should be reliable & stable during its operating
condition.