Department Of Mechanical/Mechatronics Engineering

Faculty Of Engineering And Information Technology

An-Najah National University

Transducer and
Interfacing Lab.
Dr. Mohammad Abuabiah Eng. Waleed Abuzainah
m.abuabiah@najah.edu w.abuzaina@najah.edu

Office: 11-4-130 Office: 11-2-150

 Part 1

Introduction

Industrial Temperature Transducer

Definition
❑ A transducer is a device that converts energy from one form to
another. Usually a transducer converts a signal in one form of
energy to a signal in another. “Wikipedia”
❑ 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.

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Structure of measurement systems
• The purpose of the measurement system is to link the observer to
the process,

• The measurement system consists of several elements or blocks.

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Systematic characteristics
• Sensing element: This is in contact with the process and gives an output
which depends in some way on the variable to be measured. For
example, thermocouple where millivolt e.m.f. depends on temperature.

• Signal conditioning element: This takes the output of the sensing

element and converts it into a form more suitable for further processing,
usually a d.c. voltage, d.c. current or frequency signal. For example,
Amplifier which amplifies millivolts to volts.

• Signal processing element: This takes the output of the conditioning

element and converts it into a form more suitable for presentation. For
example, Analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) which converts a
voltage into a digital form for input to a computer.

• Data presentation element: This presents the measured value in a form

which can be easily recognised by the observer. For example,
Alphanumeric display
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Structure of measurement systems

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Systematic characteristics
• Range: The input range of an element is specified by the minimum
and maximum values of I, i.e. 𝑰𝑴𝑰𝑵 to 𝑰𝑴𝑨𝑿 . The output range is
specified by the minimum and maximum values of O, i.e. 𝑶𝑴𝑰𝑵 to
𝑶𝑴𝑨𝑿 . Thus a pressure transducer may have an input range of 0 to
104 Pa and an output range of 4 to 20 mA; a thermocouple may
have an input range of 100 to 250 °C and an output range of 4 to
10 mV.
• Span: is the maximum variation in input or output, i.e. input span is
𝑰𝑴𝑨𝑿 – 𝑰𝑴𝑰𝑵 , and output span is 𝑶𝑴𝑨𝑿 – 𝑶𝑴𝑰𝑵 . Thus in the above
examples the pressure transducer has an input span of 104 Pa
and an output span of 16 mA; the thermocouple has an input
span of 150 °C and an output span of 6 mV.

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Systematic characteristics
• Ideal straight line:

𝑂𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 = 𝐾𝐼 + 𝑎
𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑋 − 𝑂𝑀𝐼𝑁
𝐾 = 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 =
𝐼𝑀𝐴𝑋 − 𝐼𝑀𝐼𝑁
𝑎 = 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑔ℎ 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 = 𝑂𝑀𝐼𝑁 − 𝐾𝐼𝑀𝐼𝑁
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Systematic characteristics
• Non-Linearity: In many cases the straight-line relationship defined
previously is not obeyed and the element is said to be non-linear.
𝑁 𝐼 = 𝑂 𝐼 − 𝐾𝐼 + 𝑎
𝑂 𝐼 = 𝐾𝐼 + 𝑎 + 𝑁(𝐼)
• Non-linearity is often quantified in terms of the maximum non-
linearity 𝑵; ෡ expressed as a percentage of full-scale deflection
(f.s.d.), i.e. as a percentage of span. Thus:
෡
𝑁
𝑁𝑀𝐴𝑋 = × 100%
𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑋 − 𝑂𝑀𝐼𝑁
𝑁𝑀𝐴𝑋 : Max. non-linearity as a percentage of f.s.d

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Systematic characteristics
• Hysteresis:
𝐻 𝐼 = 𝑂 𝐼 𝐼↓ − 𝑂 𝐼 𝐼↑
෡
𝐻
𝐻𝑀𝐴𝑋 = × 100%
𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑋 − 𝑂𝑀𝐼𝑁

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Systematic characteristics

• Sensitivity.
• Environmental effects.
• Resolution.
• Wear and ageing.
• Error bands.

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Experiment 1:

Potentiometer Position Transducer

and Signal Conditioner (G22)

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 Introduction
• Potentiometers are used for
measuring those displacements
whose width is high; they are also
used when a higher accuracy
value in measuring is required.
• These mechanisms are formed by
a resistor where a resistance R is
generated, which is proportional
to the distance L between one of
the ends and the mobile slider. The
resistor can be shaped into a
rectilinear form for measuring
linear displacement or shape like
the arc of a circle with a constant
radius for measuring angular
displacement

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Types of potentiometer

Rtotal R
**Where K1 = and K2 = total
Ltotal 360
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 Example:
• If the slid of linear potentiometer vary as
shown in the fig, where Ltotal = 30mm:
• Calculate:
• 1- Voutput.
• 2-Displacement (L).

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Feature of the position transducer and feature of
the measurements that can be carried out by the
transducer are as follows:
• 1. It provides the standard resistance range A 10 KΩ potentiometer has
been chosen in our case.

• 2. It shows the linearity, whose value is about 1% of the full scale

deflection (f.s.d.).

• 3. It gives the Max. Power the transducer can dissipated (0.55watt).

From this value and from the resistance value 10 KΩ, it is possible to
establish the potentiometer maximum input voltage.

• V = √𝑃.𝑅 = √0.55∗104 = 74volts

• 4. It provides both the mechanical and the electric strokes. It must be

pointed out that both values coincide and correspond to 30mm.

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Experiment 2:

Position Transducer with Linear Variable

Differential Transformer (LVDT) and Signal
Conditioner Trainer (G27)

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Introduction
• The linear variable differential
transformer (LVDT) consist of two
windings: a primary winding (AC
power supply) and tow equal
secondary windings (connected in
opposition) are wound on a non-
ferromagnetic support; and
ferromagnetic core moves inside
this system see fig

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Principle of LVDT work

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21
22
Characteristic curve of LVDT:

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Signal conditioners for LVDT
• The signal conditioners for LVDTs
are very complex. In fact, they
must include
• 1-Sin-wave generator (for
power-supplying the primary of
the LVDT
• 2-Synchronous demodulator
(for converting the output
amplitude and phase of the
LVDT into a position information)
• 3-output amplifier for the gain
and filtering.

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Experiment 3:

Position Transducer with Encoder

and Signal Conditioner Trainer
(F09)

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 Introduction:
• Incremental encoder delivers a
series of output pulses. Each
pulse corresponds to the
displacement of a mechanical
device. This device may be a
disk (for angle rotations) or a
shaft (for linear displacement).
• In the case of angular
rotations, the shaft of
transducer is connected to a
disk, divided into several
sectors; this disk rotates in front
of a fixed reading device,
which provides an electric
output signal for each sector
passing in front of it.

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Basic incremental encoder

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Actual Incremental encoder

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Principle work of actual encoder

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Principle work of actual encoder

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Output signal of actual encoder

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Experiment 4:

Proximity Sensors (G29)

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Introduction:
• The proximity sensors are the position transducer in which there is no mechanical contact
between sensor and actuator.

• There are two main types of proximity sensor, that is:

• 1- Inductive proximity sensor.

• 2- Capacitive proximity sensor.

• The different consist in operation principle of the sensor and the material that is sensing, the
inductive just sense the metal material and capacitive sense all object.

• The inductive sensor can be subdivided into:

• 1- Linear inductive sensor.

• 2- Inductive sensor with two level output.

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Output signal for linear inductive sensor:

• So the relationship between the distance and Voutput is linear.

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35
Output signal for ON\OFF inductive sensor :
• Assume it’s status is Normally close

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Output signal for ON\OFF Capacitive sensor :
• Assume it’s status is Normally open.

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Experiment 5:

Level - Pressure Transducer (G30A)

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The Pressure Sensor :
• Under static condition, the level of a liquid is linked to pressure, according to a law of proportionality. If
"L" represents the level, which is the height, of a liquid in a tank, the pressure at the bottom will be given
by:

• P = L. g. MS
• where:

• p = pressure (in Pa = Pascal = N.m-2 = 10-5 bar)

• L = level (in m)

• g = acceleration of gravity (g = 9,81 m·s-2)

• Ms = specific mass of liquid (kg·m-3).

• Consequently, it is sufficient to measure the a pressure to obtain the level. Among the different
available pressure transducers, the STRAIN GAUGE ones have become the mostly used. The operating
principle of these transducers is the piezoresistivity (property of the materials which change their
resistance as function of the deformation to which they are subjected). The four resistors connected at
Wheatstone's bridge are taken from a silicon diaphragm 2

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Strain Gauge:
• The strain gauges are
resistors, whose resistive
value depends on the
deformations they are
subjected. In the sensor
used, the resistors are
connected with a Wheat
stone's bridge, so the
output voltage V varies
proportionally with
pressure

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Connect between Stain Gauge and
LCD 7-segment:

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