TRANSDUCER:

•Transducers convert non electrical quantity to electrical quantity.

INVERSE TRANSDUCER:

• Inverse transducers convert electrical quantity to a non electrical quantity

Resistive transducers :

• Resistive transducers are those transducers in which the resistance change due to the
change in some physical phenomenon.

• The resistance of a metal conductor is expressed by a simple equation.

• R = ρL/A

• Where R = resistance of conductor in Ω

L = length of conductor in m

A = cross sectional area of conductor in m2

ρ = resistivity of conductor material in Ω-m.

RESISTIVE TRANSDUCER:
There are 4 type of resistive transducers.
1. Potentiometers (POT)
2. Strain gauge
3. Thermistors
4. Resistance thermometer
Potentiometers:
What is a Potentiometer?
• A potentiometer is also called as pot. It is variable resistor that has 3
terminals. Two fixed terminals and one variable terminal. In this device the
current flow is controlled by varying the resistance manually.
Potentiometer does the function of an adjustable voltage divider.
• Basically, a resistive potentiometer, or simply a pot, (A potentiometer used
for the purposes of voltage division is called a pot) .consists of a resistance
element provided with a sliding contact.
• This sliding contact is called a wiper. The motion of sliding contact may be
translatory or rotational.
• Some pots use the combination of the two motions, i.e. ttanslational as well
as rotational.
• These potentiometers have their resistive element in the form of helix and
thus, are called helipots.
• Linear Potentiometer
Linear Potentiometer

• The figure-1 depicts linear potentiometer. It contains electrical

resistance in the form of straight section of track. The track may consist
of strip of resistive polymer or insulator with coil of nichrome wire
wrapped around it.
• For sensing application, potentiometer is wired as voltage divider. For
the same, fixed potential is applied across its full length as shown in the
figure-1.
• As shown wiper slides along the track, hence sensing voltage
varies linearly with position of the wiper. Hence it is known as
linear potentiometer.
• It can be used directly to control analog indicator in a analog
meter. It can also be processed by ADC (Analog to Digital
Converter) for further processing.
• Example: Linear potentiometers from companies such as
Bourns.
• Advantages: Simple, inexpensive, compact, requires few
components.
• Disadvantages: Though the track contains lubricant, some
wear occurs as a result of motion of the wiper contact. Life
expectancy is reduced by vibration or by contamination due to
dirt/moisture.
• Rotary Potentiometer
Rotary Potentiometer

Rotary potentiometer is categorized into arc-segment rotary potentiometer and

multiturn rotary potentiometer.
• The figure-2 depicts rotary potentiometer of arc segment type. This type is most
common compare to multiturn type.
• As shown, it contains resistor in the shape of an arc, referred as track. It may be
strip of resistive polymer or may consist of insulator with coil of nichrome wire
wrapped around it.
• Wiper slides along the track, sensing a voltage that varies linearly with angular
position of the wiper.
• The advantages and disadvantages of rotary potentiometer is same as mentioned
for linear potentiometer.