What is a Transducer Used For. Image credit: AdobeStock
Transducers get used and find applications at the boundaries associated with measurement, control systems, and automation. It does so for a few specific cases and instances. It is when an electrical signal gets converted from and to some other form of a physical quantity. It can consist of motion, light, energy, force, position, torque, etc.
A transducer can get classified into several types and kinds depending on various parameters. The first factor can be the type of work it does or how it operates. In such cases, the two different and distinct varieties of transducers consist of the following:
A mechanical transducer converts and transforms physical quantities and values into mechanical ones. A few examples entail ring balance manometer, capsules and bellows, membranes, and metallic diaphragms.
The mechanical value that they convert varies. The first three examples transform displacement, while the last one works on both displacement and strain.
An electrical transducer converts and transforms physical quantities and values into electrical ones. A few examples of it comprises microphones and loudspeakers. In addition to them, a thermocouple that converts temperature difference into a limited amount of voltage falls under this category.
Besides the mechanical transducers and the electrical transducers, two other types of electrical appliances or devices exist. They consist of the input transducer and the output transducer.
An input transducer is also called a sensor. It takes and uses a form or type of physical energy and transforms it into a readable signal. An example of this kind of transducer is a microphone. The electrical device takes the generated sound waves and converts them into an electrical signal. It can then get transferred through a connection of wires and sent to the amplifier.
Another example of an input transducer is a pressure transducer. It turns physical force like pull and push. It can convert it into a value or a number that can get measured and comprehended.
An output transducer is also called an actuator. It operates and performs an action that is the exact opposite of what an input transducer does. It takes and uses electrical signals, transforming them into some other form or type of energy. An example of this type of transducer is a lamp. The electrical appliance takes electricity and converts it into light energy.
Another example of an output transducer is a motor transducer. It takes electricity and converts it into motion. It can be wheels, mobility vehicles, blades, or any other object that needs a movement of any sort to operate and work.
A few specifications and parameters get used for the purpose and intention of characterizing and rating a transducer. A few of such factors consist of the following:
Dynamic range refers to the ratio between the highest amplitude signal that a transducer can generate and translate effectively and its smallest value.
In typical cases, the transducer becomes more precise and sensitive. It happens when the value of the dynamic range is higher.
All transducers include and add some degree and value of random noise to the output that it generates. For example, it may be in the form of electrical noise in electrical transducers. In such cases, it can get created because of the thermal motion and movement of charges in a particular circuit. Such noises corrupt and damage small signals. Their effect gets significantly reduced for the larger ones.
Repeatability refers to the ability and capability of any transducer to generate and produce an output that is identical or similar. It can do so when it gets stimulated by the unchanged and same input.
Hysteresis is a unique and notable feature or property of a transducer. It dictates that its output depends on and varies with the previous and current input. Let us take the example of an actuator that utilizes a gear train. It can face and experience some backlash. It indicates that a dead zone exists before the actuator’s output reverses. It happens in the cases where the direction of the device’s motion or movement becomes the opposite.
A transducer can get used in multiple sectors, domains, fields, and industries. The following consists of a few applications:
Under the category of electromagnetic applications, a transducer gets used in magnetic cartridges, Hall Effect sensors, antennas, etc.
A transducer gets used in hydrogen sensors, pH probes, and electro-galvanic sensors that detect oxygen under the list of electrochemical applications.
A transducer gets used in accelerometers and tactile sensors. A few other applications include galvanometers, rotary motors, and airflow sensors.
The electrical device can also get utilized in electroactive polymers. Other than that, tactile sensors, potentiometers, load cells, and generators powered by vibrations get included.
A transducer gets used in earphones, loudspeakers, gramophone pickups, geophones, piezoelectric crystals, and ultrasonic transceivers. All of them fall under the category of electroacoustic applications. It can also get utilized in microphones, hydrophones, and sonar transponders.
Under the category of electro-optical applications, a transducer gets used in fluorescent lamps. Other uses consist of photodiodes, photodetectors, phototransistors, photoresistors, and photomultipliers. It can also get utilized in incandescent lamps, laser diodes, and CRTs (Cathode-Ray Tubes).
A transducer gets used in thermocouples, thermistors, and RTDs (Resistance Temperature detectors. They fall under the list of thermoelectric applications.
Under the category of radio-acoustic applications, a transducer gets used in radio transmitters, Geiger-Müller tubes, and radio receivers.
A transducer finds application in an electrometer.