Resistive

&
Capacitive
Transducers
 Overviews
• Transducers
• Resistive Transducers
• Definition
• Working Principle
• Types
• Advantages and disadvantages
• Applications
• Capacitive transducers
• Definition
• Working principle
• Types
• Advantages and disadvantages
• Applications
 Transducers
Transducer is an electronic device that converts a signal,
in the form of energy, into another form of energy. It
converts energy to a readable form e.g. thermometer that
converts heat energy into height of mercury column.
OR
Transducer covert physical quantity into electrical signal.
So without transducer, it would be very difficult to
measure the physical quantity e.g. light intensity, speed,
temperature, radiation, electric flux etc. The quantities are
first converted into electrical signal ,then they are
monitored by dedicated equipments.
 Resistive Transducer
Resistive transducers are those in which the resistance
change due to the change in some physical phenomenon .
They can be used for measuring various physical
quantities like temperature, pressure, displacement, force,
vibrations etc.
 Working Principle of
Resistive transducers:
The variable resistance transducer elements work
on the principle that the resistance of the
conductor is directly proportional to the length of
the conductor and inversely proportional to the
area of the conductor.
R = ρL/A
Where ρ is constant of resistivity of the material
and is measured in ohm-m
• Resistance can be changed if any of these
value p ,L or A is changed
 Working Principle of Resistive
transducers:
• The resistance of some materials also changes
with the change in their temperature.
For example:
Resistance of metal is increased by
increasing the temperature and resistance of semi
conductor decreased by increasing the temperature.
This principle is primarily used for the
measurement of temperature.
 Types of Resistive Transducers:
• Strain Gauge
Wire Strain Gauge
Foil Strain Gauge
Semiconductor Strain Gauges
• Potentiometer
• Thermistors
• Resistance Thermometers
 Strain Gauge:
The strain gauge is a passive, resistive transducer
which measures the mechanical elongation and
`
compression with the help of resistance change.
This change in resistance takes place due to
variation in length and cross sectional area of the
gauge wire, when an external force acts on it.
 POTENTIOMETER:
• A potentiometer is an instrument for measuring
the potential (voltage) in a circuit.
• Potentiometer is one of most commonly used
device for measurement of the displacement of
the body.
• The potentiometer is of resistive type because it
works on the principle of change of resistance of
the wire with its length.
• A potentiometric transducer converts the
measured quantities i.e. displacements,
geometric dimensions, or angles of rotation into
changes in the electrical resistance.
 WORKING PRINCIPLE:
The potentiometer is an electric circuit in which
the resistance can be changed manually by the
sliding contacts. Vs is applied voltage across the
two points of the wire A and B. C is the variable
contact point between A and B. The resistance of
the conductor AC changes as the length of the wire
AC changes.
 THERMISTOR
• A thermistor is a temperature-sensing
element composed of semiconductor material
(typically a mix of metal oxides) that exhibits a
large change in resistance in response to a small
change in temperature .
• Thermistor have a negative temperature
coefficient (NTC) i.e. resistance decreases as
temperature rises.
• High sensitivity to temperature changes
makes the thermistor extremely useful for
precision temperature measurements.
Continued…
The thermistor may be in the form of beads, discs
and rods.
BEAD THERMISTOR:
Smallest thermistors are made in the form of
beads. Some are as small as 0.15mm in diameter.
Its probes are made up of glass and are used for
measuring the temperature of liquid.
 Resistance Thermometer:
1. Resistance thermometers are also known as
resistance temperature devices (RTD).
2. The resistance of a conductor changes when its
temperature changes, this property is utilized in
resistance thermometers to measure
temperature.
3. Resistance thermometers are useful in situations
where a high degree of accuracy is required.
 Difference between Thermistor and
Resistance Thermometer:
THERMISTOR RESISTANCE
THERMOMETER
1. Made up of semi- Made up of metals.
conductors.
2. Have negative temp Have positive temperature
coefficient. Coefficient.
3. Less temperature Greater temperature
range i.e. 180°C range i.e. 660°C
4. Faster response slow response as compare
to thermistor
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APPLICATION OF RESISTIVE
TRANSDUCER

A thermistor can be used to control temperature

inside a green house.
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Behind the dimmer switch (vary brightness of

light)stands the potentiometer (resistive
transducer).
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Thermistors are used for Engine Oil Temperature

Monitoring
 Capacitive Transducer:
Capacitive transducer are those in which the
capacitance change due to the change in some
physical phenomenon into electrical signal.
 Working Principal of
Capacitive Transducer
• Capacitive Transducers measure the
displacement by measuring the change in
capacitance.
  A
• Where capacitance is given by, C 0 r
C = capacitance d
A= area
 12 F 
d= distance between plates   0  8.85  10 

K= εo & εr = dielectric constant m 
 Working Principle of Capacitive
Transducer
Means change in capacitance occurs due to:
• Change in .overlapped area of plates
• Change in distance between the two plates
• Change in dielectric medium.
 Capacitive Transducer(For
Thickness Measurement)
• Capacitive transducer can be used to measure
the thickness of the material.
• Material whose thickness is to be measured is
placed in between the two metal plates forming
a parallel plate capacitor.
C = €A/D
 Dielectric Gauge(For Liquid
Level Measurement)
Capacitive transducers can be used in liquids and
free flowing solids for continuous level
measurement.
 WORKING PRINCIPLE
The principle of capacitive level measurement is
based on change of capacitance. An insulated
electrode acts as one plate of capacitor and the tank
wall (or reference electrode in a non-metallic
vessel) acts as the other plate. The capacitance
depends on the fluid level. An empty tank has a
lower capacitance while a filled tank has a higher
capacitance.
 Advantages Of Capacitive
Transducer
• Construction is very simple.
• Cost of the transducer is low.
• Has very high sensitivity.
BUT
• High impedance output.
• High temperature sensitivity.
• Need for complex electronics
 APPLICATIONS OF
CAPACITIVE TRANSDUCERS:

Capacitive transducers are used in touch screen

mobiles.
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Capacitive transducers are used in Smart beds to detect

postures that are potentially harmful to the spinal column.
Continue…

Capacitive transducers are used in water level detection.