ME 455, Precision Engg.

&
Metrology

Topic: Sensors, Transducers and Actuators

week: 2
Lecture: 2
Level: 4th Semester 2nd Year
program: BE Mechanical Engineering

Course Teacher: Engr. Adnan ([email protected])

Access At: portal.suit.edu.pk
Department of Mechanical Engineering, SUIT Peshawar
Engr. Adnan Mechanical Engineering Department SUIT
1
Peshawar
 Introduction to
Transducers,
Sensors and Actuators
 Transducers, Sensors, and
Actuators
 Introduction to Transducers
 Introduction to Types of Transducers
 Introduction to Sensors
 Introduction to Types of Sensors
 Introduction to Actuators
 Introduction to Types of Actuators

3
Transducer:

• A transducer is a device that converts a signal in

one form of energy to another form of energy

• A transducer is a device that is used to convert a

physical quantity into its corresponding electrical
signal

• Transducers are widely used in measuring

instruments

4
A transducer is made of three blocks:

1. Input
2. Sensor
3. Output

5
 Examples of common
transducers are:
 A microphone converts sound into electrical
impulses and a loudspeaker converts electrical
impulses into sound (i.e., sound energy to electrical
energy and vice versa).
 A solar cell converts light into electricity and a
thermocouple converts thermal energy into electrical
energy.
 A light bulb produces light by passing a current
through a filament. Thus, a light bulb is a transducer
for converting electrical energy into optical energy.
 An electric motor is a transducer for conversion of
electricity into mechanical energy or motion.

6
Types of Transducers

7
 Actuators
An actuator is a device that actuates or moves
something. An actuator uses energy to provide
motion. Therefore, an actuator is a specific type
of a transducer.

8
 Sensors
A sensor is a device that detects and responds to
some type of input from the physical environment.
The specific input could be light, heat, motion,
moisture, pressure or tempreture.
Once a sensor detects one or more of these signals
(an input), it converts it into an analog or digital
representation of the input signal.
Based on this explanation of a sensor, you should
see that sensors are used in all aspects of life to
detect and/or measure many different conditions.
What are some sensors that you are familiar with or
use daily?

9
Sensors

10
 Sensors
Eyes detect light energy, ears detect acoustic
energy, a tongue and a nose detect certain
chemicals, and skin detects pressures and
temperatures. The eyes, ears, tongue, nose,
and skin receive these signals then send
messages to the brain which outputs a
response. For example, when you touch a hot
plate, it is your brain that tells you it is hot, not
your skin.

11
 Basic Concept of
Transducers
There are many variables which affect our
everyday lives: the speed of a car, the velocity
of the wind, and the temperature in a home. In
most situations these variables are continuously
monitored.

The elements that sense these variables and convert

them to a usable output are transducers. For
example, a transducer known as a thermocouple, is
able to sense changes in temperature and produce
output voltages representative of those changes.

12
Electrochemical
Transducers

13
 Basic Concepts of
Transducers
Common electro acoustic transducers:
 Loudspeaker – Converts an electrical signal
into sound
 Microphone – Converts sound waves in air into
an electrical signal
 Hydrophone - Converts sound waves in water
into an electrical signal.
Common electromagnetic transducers:
 Magnetic cartridge – Converts motion in a
magnetic field into an electrical energy
Generator – Converts motion in a magnetic field
into electrical energy
14
 Basic Concepts of
Sensors
Sensors detect the presence of energy, changes
in or the transfer of energy.
Sensors detect by receiving a signal from a
device such as a transducer, then responding to
that signal by converting it into an output that
can easily be read and understood.

Typically sensors convert a recognized signal

into an electrical – analog or digital – output that
is readable. In other words, a transducer
converts one form of energy into another while
the sensor that the transducer is part of converts
the output of the transducer to a readable 15
Basic Concepts of
Sensors
Consider the previous examples of transducers.
They convert one form of energy to another, but
they do not quantify the conversions.
The light bulb converts electrical energy into
light and heat; however, it does not quantify
how much light or heat.
A battery converts chemical energy into
electrical energy but it does not quantify exactly
how much electrical energy is being converted.
If the purpose of a device is to quantify an
energy level, it is a sensor.

16
Basic Concepts of
Sensors

17
 Basic Concepts of
Sensors
Thermal Sensors:
Thermometer – measures absolute temperature
Thermocouple gauge– measures temperature by
its affect on two dissimilar metals
 Calorimeter – measures the heat of chemical
reactions or physical changes and heat capacity

18
 Basic Concepts of
Sensors
Mechanical Sensors:
Pressure sensor – measures pressure
Barometer – measures atmospheric pressure
Altimeter – measures the altitude of an object
above a fixed level
Liquid flow sensor – measures liquid flow rate
Gas flow sensor – measures velocity, direction,
and/or flow rate of a gas
Accelerometer – measures acceleration

19
 Basic Concepts of
Sensors
Electrical Sensors:
Ohmmeter – measures resistance
Voltmeter – measures voltage
Galvanometer – measures current
Watt-hour meter – measures the amount of
electrical energy supplied to and used by a
residence or business

20
 Basic Concepts of
Actuators
An actuator is something that actuates or moves
something. More specifically, an actuator is a
device that coverts energy into motion or
mechanical energy. Therefore, an actuator is a
specific type of a transducer.
Thermal Actuators:
One type of thermal actuator is a bimetallic strip.
This device directly converts thermal energy into
motion. This is accomplished by utilizing an
effect called thermal expansion.

21
 Basic Concepts of
Actuators
Mechanical Actuators:
Mechanical actuators convert a mechanical input
(usually rotary) into linear motion. A common
example of a mechanical actuator is a screw
jack. Rotation of the screw causes the legs of the
jack to move apart or move together. Inspecting
the motion of the top point of the jack, this
mechanical rotational input is clearly converted
into linear mechanical motion.

22
Basic Concepts of
Actuators

23
 Summary of
Transducers, Actuators
and Sensors
A transducer is a device which converts one form
of energy into another. Transducers are used in
all aspects of life to measure changes in the
environment, to enhance everyday applications.
An actuator is a device that converts energy into
motion. Therefore, it is a specific type of a
transducer. When the output of the transducer is
converted to a readable format, the transducer is
called a sensor.

24
 Classification of Sensors
Active and passive Sensors
Analogue and digital Sensors
Null-Type and Deflection-Type Sensors

25
Active and passive
Sensors
Active Sensors do not require an external source
of power (excitation voltage). Active transducers
generate electric current or voltage directly in
response to environmental stimulation.

Examples of active transducers are thermocouples

and piezoelectric accelerometers. Thermocouples
produce a voltage related to a temperature of two
metals and if the two junctions are at different
temperatures, electricity is generated.
26
• Passive transducers require
external power source. It produce
a change in some passive
electrical quantity, such as
capacitance, resistance, or
inductance, as a result of
stimulation. These usually require
additional electrical energy for
excitation.

27
Cont…
Bonded strain gauge which is a passive
transducer used to measure stress or pressure.
As the stress on the strain gauge increases or
decreases the strain gauge bends or
compresses causing the resistance of the wire
bonded on it to increase or decrease. The
change in resistance which is equivalent to the
change in stress is measured with the help of a
bridge. Hence stress is measured.

28
Analogue and digital
Sensors
An analogue instrument gives an output that
varies continuously as the quantity being
measured changes. Process or quantity whose
amplitude can have a continuous range of
values (1V, 1.1V, 1.01V, 1.001V, 1.0001V,
1.00001V etc…) and is continuous in time

A digital instrument has an output that varies in

discrete steps and so can only have a finite
number of values. A signal only has two states:
off and on, most often called zero and one

29
A signal can fall into one of two categories:
• Digital
• Analog

30
Null-Type and Deflection-
Type Instruments
The pressure gauge just mentioned is a good
example of a deflection type of instrument,
where the value of the quantity being measured
is displayed in terms of the amount of
movement of a pointer.
An alternative type of pressure gauge is the
deadweight gauge shown in Figure, which is a
null-type instrument. Here, weights are put on
top of the piston until the downward force
balances the fluid pressure. Weights are added
until the piston reaches a datum level, known as
the null point. Pressure measurement is made in
terms of the value of the weights needed to
reach this null position. 31
 Null-Type and Deflection-Type
Instruments
NULL-TYPE INSTRUMENTS DEFLECTION-TYPE INSTRUMENTS
Deadweight Pressure Gauge Pointer Deflection

32
33
34