ME 361: INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

SENSORS AND TRANSDUCERS

In measurement systems, the devices which perform an “Input” function are
commonly called ”Sensors” because they “sense” a physical change in some
characteristic that changes in response to some excitation, i. e.,
physical/natural phenomenon/stimulus, e. g., heat or force and covert that
into an electrical signal.

The word “Transducer” is the collective term used for both Sensors which can
be used to sense a wide range of different energy forms such as movement,
electrical signals, radiant energy, thermal or magnetic energy etc.

There are many different types of Sensors and Transducers, both analogue
and digital input and output to choose from. The type of input or output
transducer being used, really depends upon the type of signal or process
being “Sensed” or “Controlled” but we can define a sensor and transducers as
devices that converts one physical quantity into another.
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Electrical Transducers are used to convert energy of one kind into energy of
another kind, so for example, a microphone (input device) converts sound
waves into electrical signals for the amplifier to amplify (a process), and a
loudspeaker (output device) converts these electrical signals back into
sound waves and an example of this type of simple Input/Output (I/O)
system is given below.

Sensor and transducer are often used interchangeably,

There are other words used to name transducers for particular applications-
the terms gage, cell, pickup, probe and transmitter being common.
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Quantity being Input Device Output Device
Measured (Sensor/Transducer) (Actuator) - Applications

Potentiometer
LVDT Motor
Reflective/Slotted Opto-switch Solenoid
Position Encoders Panel Meters

Strain Gauge Lifts & Jacks

Pressure Switch Electromagnet
Force/Pressure Load Cells Vibration

Thermocouple
Thermistor
Thermostat Heater
Temperature Resistive Temperature Detectors Fan

Tacho-generator AC and DC Motors

Reflective/Slotted Opto-coupler Stepper Motor
Speed Doppler Effect Sensors Brake

Bell
Carbon Microphone Buzzer
Sound Piezo-electric Crystal Loudspeaker

Light Dependant Resistor (LDR)

Photodiode Lights & Lamps
Photo-transistor LED’s & Displays
Light Level Solar Cell Fibre Optics
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Hall Effect Sensor

A Hall effect sensor is a transducer that varies its output voltage in response
to a magnetic field. Hall effect sensors are used for proximity switching,
A wheel containing two
positioning, speed detection, and current sensing applications.
magnets passing by a Hall
effect sensor
A Hall probe contains an indium compound semiconductor crystal such
as indium antimonide, mounted on an aluminum backing plate, and
encapsulated in the probe head. The plane of the crystal is perpendicular to
the probe handle. Connecting leads from the crystal are brought down
through the handle to the

circuit box.

When the Hall probe is held so that the magnetic field lines are passing at
right angles through the sensor of the probe, the meter gives a reading of the
value of magnetic flux density (B). A current is passed through the crystal
which, when placed in a magnetic field has a "Hall effect" voltage developed
across it.
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Engine fan with Hall effect

sensor