TRANSDUCERS

REPORTERS: SEGUI, ESTRADA, LAURE

OUTLINE
 Introduction
 Characteristics
 Selection Factors
 Classifications
 Applications
Transducer
 a device used to convert a physical quantity into its
another form of energy/signal
 can also be defined as a device that when actuated by
energy in one system supplies energy in the same form or
in another form to a second system
Examples:
 temperature transducers
 Thermocouples
 resistance-temperature detectors (RTD)
 Thermistors
 resistive position transducers
 displacement transducers
 strain gauge
 Block Diagram

Non-electrical Electrical
signal signal
Sensing Element
 The physical quantity or its rate of change
is sensed and responded to by this part of
the transducer.
Transduction Element
 The output of the sensing element is
passed on to the transduction element.
 Thiselement is responsible for converting
the non-electrical signal into its
proportional electrical signal.
 There may be cases when the
transduction element performs the action
of both transduction and sensing.
Characteristics
 Accuracy - the conformity of an indicated value to an
accepted standard, or true value.
 Resolution - the smallest difference between measured
values that can be discriminated.
 Calibration - the degree to which an instrument is known to
conform to an accepted standard
 e.g. The liquid-in-glass thermometer gives a liquid height that
corresponds to the temperature. Calibration converts the liquid height
measured by ticks on the glass into temperature. The thermometer may
be accurately calibrated to a standard; but if the glass flows over time,
the thermometer distorts and may not hold its calibration.

An instrument with high resolution

might make a precise measurement that is not accurate
because it is poorly calibrated.
 Repeatability - the agreement among a number of
consecutive measurements of the output for the same value
of the input
 Hysteresis - The effect in which a measured value differs for
the same value of the input if the input is applied in an
increasing direction versus a decreasing direction
 Linearity - the deviation of the plotted transducer output
from a straight line
 Sensitivity - the ratio of the change in the magnitude of
the output to the change in the input

The slope of the linearity curve is the sensitivity.

 Noise
 Threshold - minimum value for which a noticeable or
measurable response is produced
 noise floor - the lower limit of what can be measured set by
the noise levels of the transducer
 saturation level - maximum input level before significant
non-linearities in the output appear
 maximum input - highest input signal which gives a
calibrated output.
 dynamic range - ratio of the maximum input signal to the
noise floor or threshold.
 DR = 10 log10(Max/Min)
Selection Factors
 Type of input and output
 Operating Principle
 Operating range
 Transient and frequency response
 Loading effect
 Transfer function ( input output relation)
 Error
 Insensitivity to unwanted signals
 Response of transducer to the environment influences
 Environmental considerations: vibration, temperature, proximity
of other conductors or magnetic fields
 Cross sensitivity
 electrical requirements
 mechanical requirements
 thermal considerations
 Life span
 Availability
 Cost, Stability and reliability
 Purpose: indication, recording or control
Classifications