TRANSDUCERS

TRANSDUCERS
• A device which converts non electrical quantity
(energy) into an electrical (energy) quantity.
• Converts one form of energy to another form.
• Provides an output signal when simulated by a
mechanical or non- mechanical input.
 TRANSDUCERS
• Example:
-Microphone(sound to electrical pulses)
-Light Bulb(electrical energy to optical energy)
-Electric motor(electricity to mechanical energy)
 TRANSDUCERS
• A generalised measurement system consists of
three major components
– Input device
• Receives the measurand (non electrical quantity) and
delivers a proportional or analogous electrical signal to the
signal conditioning device
– Signal conditioning or processing device
• Signal is amplified, attenuated, filtered, modulated or
modified to a format which ensures minimum transmission
losses and is acceptable to the output device
– Output device
• It may be a simple indicating meter, an oscilloscope, a
computer etc
 TRANSDUCERS
• Input quantity mostly is a non-electrical quantity
• In order to use electrical methods and techniques
for measurement, manipulation or control
– The non electrical quantity is generally converted into
an electrical form by a device called ‘transducer’
• Transducer can thus be defined as
– A device when actuated by energy in one form in a
transmission system
– Supplies energy in the same form or in another form
into a second transmission system
– Energy transmission may be electrical, mechanical,
chemical, optical or thermal
 TRANSDUCERS
• Broad definition of transducer includes devices
which convert mechanical force or displacement
into electrical energy
– These devices include a very large and important
group of transducers
• Many other physical parameters like heat, light
intensity, humidity may also be converted into
electrical energy by means of transducers
• In all cases, the electrical output is measured by
standard methods, yielding the magnitude of the
input quantity in terms of a standard measure
 CLASSIFICATION OF
TRANSDUCERS
• Transducers are classified according to
– Their application
– Method of energy conversion and
– Nature of output signal and so on
Transducers

On the Basis Active/ Primary/ Analog/ Transducers/

of Principle Used Passive Secondary Digital Inverse Transducers

Capacitive

Inductive

Resistive
 CLASSIFICATION OF
TRANSDUCERS
• On the basis of transduction form used
– Can be classified as resistive, inductive or capacitive
depending upon how the input quantity is converted
into resistance, inductance or capacitance respectively
– For example
• Capacitive transduction
– Measurand is converted into change in capacitance
– A change in capacitance can occur by varying
» the distance between two plates or
» by changing the dielectric
 THERMISTORS (25.22,P-777)
• Thermistor is contraction of term ‘thermal resisitor’
– Composed of semi-conductor materials
– Most thermistors have a negative coefficient of
resistance i.e.,
• Resistance decreases with the increase in temperature
• Also, change is quite significant i.e. several percent per
degree
– This allows the thermistor circuits to detect very small
changes in temperature which thermocouple circuits
cannot
– Used extensively in applications which involve
measurements in the range of -60°C to 15°C
– Highly sensitive and is prone to high non linearities
 POTENTIOMETERS
• Potentiometer is commonly known as POT meter
– Example of passive transducer (?)
– Consist of a resistive element provided with a sliding
contact called ‘wiper’
– Motion of the wiper could be
• Translational or
• Rotational
 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
TRANSDUCERS
– Example Bourdon tube & Linear Variable Differential
Transformer
 ACTIVE AND PASSIVE
TRANSDUCERS
– Active transducers are those which do not require
any power source for their operation

– They work on the energy conversion principle

– They produce an electrical signal proportional to the

input (physical quantity)
• For example, a thermocouple is an active transducer
 ACTIVE AND PASSIVE
TRANSDUCERS
– Passive transducers require an external source of
power for their operation
– Passive transducers are hence not self generating
devices
– A DC power supply or an audio frequency generator is
used as an external source of power supply
– These transducers produce output signal in the form of
variation in the electrical parameter like resistance,
inductance and capacitance which then has to be
converted into an equivalent current or voltage signal
• For example thermistor, potentiometer type transducer
 ANALOG AND DIGITAL
TRANSDUCERS
– Analog transducers give outputs which are continuous
function of time

– Digital transducers give outputs in form of pulses i.e. it

gives discrete output

• Has distinct advantage of digital signals being transmitted

over long distance without distortions
 INVERSE TRANSDUCERS
– Inverse Transducers converts an electrical signal into a
non electrical signal
• Piezoelectric crystal works as a inverse transducer when
voltage is applied across its surfaces, it changes its
dimensions causing a mechanical displacement
– An applied electric field E produces a proportional
strain X which will lead to either expansion or
contraction depending upon polarity
 INVERSE TRANSDUCERS
Mechanical Stress Polarisation/Charge/Current

Transducers

Electric Field Strain Inverse Transducers

Peizoelectric Crystals
Quartz
ZnO
 OPTICAL TRANSDUCERS
• Optical transducers are sensors which convert
light rays into electrical signals
• These are quite similar to photo-resistors
• These sensors measures the physical quantity of
light and then it is translated into that form which is
readable by an instrument