Difference between Sensor and Transducer
Differences Digital Electronics Electronics & Electrical
Sensors and transducers are extensively used in the electrical and electronic
instruments to measure different physical quantities. However, there are many
differences between a sensor and a transducer that we will discuss in this article.
But, before getting into the differences, let's get an overview of what sensors and
transducers are, so that it becomes easier to understand how they differ from
each other.
What is a Sensor?
A sensor is a device that detects any physical quantity such as pressure, light,
heat, temperature, humidity, etc. from the outside environment and responds
according to the input to produce a desired output in a format that is easy to read
for the user.
The output produced by a sensor is an electric signal that can be either converted
to human readable form by a display or transmitted over a network or supplied to
a processing device, etc. Some common examples of sensors are temperature
sensor, pressure sensor, humidity sensor, proximity sensor, photo sensor, motion
sensor, etc.
What is a Transducer?
A device that is used for transforming energy from one form to another form is
known as transducer.
The transducer can also be used for the transformation of a non-electrical physical
quantity into an electric signal. The major components of a transducer are input
:
device, processing device and output device. The process of conversion of energy
from one form to another in a transducer is known as transduction. Where, the
transduction is complete in following two steps −
It first senses the input signal,
Strengthen the input signal for further processing to produce output.
In case of a transducer, the input device of the transducer measures the physical
quantity and then transfers an analog signal proportional to the physical quantity
to the processing device. The processing device (or conditioning device) modifies,
filters or attenuates the analog signal so that it can be accepted by the output
device.
Generally, transducers are used for conversion of different types of energies such
as mechanical energy, light energy, acoustic energy, thermal energy,
electromagnetic energy, etc. Some common examples of transducers are
microphone, light bulb, loud speaker, etc.
Difference between Sensor and Transducer
Sensors and transducers are used in electrical and electronic instruments for the
measurement of physical quantities. However, there are many differences
between them that are listed in the following table −
Basis of Sensor Transducer
Difference
A sensor is a device which A transducer is a
converts the physical parameter device that transforms
of a quantity into corresponding energy from one form
Definition
electrical output. to another, such as
speed into electrical
signal.
A sensor does not have any The components of a
other component except itself. transducer are − input
Main device (sensor),
components processing device
(signal conditioning),
:
and output device.
All the sensors are not A sensor is the part of
Dependency
transducers. all the transducers.
A sensor is less complicated in its Transducer is a
construction and processing. relatively more
complex device
Complexity because it involves the
transformation of
energy from one form
to another.
A sensor detects the change in Transducer converts
the physical parameter of the energy into a
Function
quantity to produce different form.
corresponding electrical signal.
Sensor does not provide any Transducer generally
feedback to the system. Which provides a feedback to
means, it only measures the the system through the
Feedback
change in the physical quantity output device after
and cannot give input to the processing.
system on its own.
Common examples of sensor Examples of
are: temperature sensor, photo transducers are: strain
sensor, proximity sensor, etc. gauge, microphone,
Examples
loud speaker,
piezoelectric element,
etc.
Conclusion
The most significant difference between a sensor and a transducer is that a sensor
is a device that senses any physical change in the parameter of a quantity to
produce a corresponding electric signal, while a transducer converts the energy
from one form to another.
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