Transducers

A transducer is a device that converts one form of energy to another. Usually a transducer converts a in one form of energy to a signal in another.

Transducers are often employed at the boundaries of automation, measurement, and control systems, where electrical signals are converted to and from other physical quantities (energy, force, torque, light, motion, position, etc.). The process of converting one form of energy to another is known as transduction.

Passive sensors require an external power source to operate, which is called an excitation signal. The signal is modulated by the sensor to produce an output signal. For example, a thermistor does not generate any electrical signal, but by passing an electric current through it, its resistance can be measured by detecting variations in the current and/or voltage across the thermistor, LVDT.

Active sensors generate electric signals in response to an external stimulus without the need of an additional energy source. Such examples are a photodiode, and a piezoelectric sensor, thermocouple.

A sensor is a device that receives and responds to a signal or stimulus. Transducer is the other term that is sometimes interchangeably used instead of the term sensor, although there are subtle differences. A transducer is a term that can be used for the definition of many devices such as sensors, actuators, or transistors.

An actuator is a device that is responsible for moving or controlling a mechanism or system. It is operated by a source of energy, which can be mechanical force, electrical current, hydraulic fluid pressure, or pneumatic pressure, and converts that energy into motion. An actuator is the mechanism by which a control system acts upon an environment. The control system can be simple (a fixed mechanical or electronic system), software-based (e.g. a printer driver, robot control system), a human, or any other input.

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