Transducers

Md. Mahbub Hasan

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Bangladesh

June 9, 2014
Introduction of transducers
An electronic instrumentation system consists of a number of
components to perform a measurement and record its results.
A generalised measurement system consists of three major
components:
an input device
a signal conditioning or processing device
an output device
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. Transducers is device which transform
actuated energy from one form to another
Many physical parameters such as heat, intensity of light, flow
rate, liquid level, humidity, and pH value also be converted into
electrical form by means of transducers.
Electric Transducers
To measure the non-electrical quantity a detector is used which
converts the physical quantity into displacement. The
displacement actuates electric transducer, which acting as
secondary transducer, gives an output that is electrical in
nature.
Advantages of Electrical transducers:
Electrical amplification and attenuation can be done easily
The mass-inertia effects are minimised
The effects of friction are minimised
The electrical or electronic system can be controlled with a
very small power level
The electrical output can be easily used, transmitted, and
processed
Miniaturization on account of use ICs has completely
revolutionised the filed of instrumentation
Telemetry is based on electronic transducers
Electric Transducers
The transducer may be thought of consisting of two important
and closely related parts:
Sensing element
Tranduction element

Sensing or Detector element: A detector or a sensing element is

that part od a transducer which response to a physical
phenomenon or a change in physical phenomenon. The
response of the sensing element must be closely related to the
physical phenomenon.
Tranduction element: A transaction element transforms the
output of a sensing element to an electrical output. The
transaction element in a way acts as secondary transducer.
Electric Transducers
Classification of transduction:
Based on the transduction form used
as primary or secondary transducers
as passive or active transducers
as analog and digital transducers
as transducers and inverse transducers

Based on the transduction form used Classification based on

the principles of transduction such as resistive, inductive,
capacitive. They can be classified as piezoelectric,
thermoelectric, magnetorestrictive, and optical.
Please read Table 25.2 (Types of Electrical Transducers)
Primary and Secondary transducers
Primary and Secondary Transducers

In
most of the measurement device, Mechanical device acts as primary
detector transducer and electrical device as secondary transducers
Passive and Active Transducers
Passive Transducers

xi
The output voltage, e0 = L ei
Displacement, xi = ee0i L
Passive and Active Transducers
Active Transducers

No external power source is required

Analog and Digital Transducers
Analog Transducers: These transducers convert the input
quantity into an analog output which is a continuous function
of time.
Digital Transducers: These transducers convert the input
quantity into an electrical output which is a pulse of train.
Transducers and Inverse Transducers
Transducers: The controlled quantity is measured and converted
into analogous quantity by transducers which form the feedback loop

A transducer can be broadly defined as a device which converts a

non-electrical quantity into a electrical quantity.
Transducers and Inverse Transducers
Inverse Transducers: A inverse transducer can be defined as a device
which converts an electrical quantity into a electrical quantity. Ex:
Piezo-electric crystal, current carrying moving coil

In this case the output quantity is converted to a non-electrical form

suitable suitable for comparison with quantity to be measured with
non-electrical form.
Resistive Transducers
The resistance of a metal conductor is R = ρ AL . Any method of
varying one of the quantities involved in the above relationship
can be design basis of an electrical resistive transducers. The
translational and rotational potentiometers which works on the
basis of change in the value of resistance with change in length
of the conductor can be used for the measurement of
translation and rotational displacement.
Strain gauges work on the principle that the resistance of a
conductor or a semiconductor change when strained.
The resistivity of material change with temperature can be used
for temperature measurement.
Potentiometer
Translational Potentiometer

xi
The output voltage e0 = xt ei
Potentiometer
Rotattional Potentiometer
Potentiometer
Multiturn helix Potentiometer