Transducer comes from the word "traducere" in Latin, which means change. So that the transducer can be defined as a device that can change a form of energy into another energy. Input from the transducer section called "censorship", because this section may be sensing a certain physical quantity and converts them into another form of energy.
From the pattern of activation, the transducer can be divided into two,
namely:
- Passive transducer, the transducer can work if given the additional energy from outside.
- Active transducers, ie transducers which work without extra energy from outside, but uses the energy that will be changed itself.
For the first type of transducer, for example, is a thermistor. To convert heat energy into electrical energy that is the voltage, the thermistor should be electrified. When the thermistor resistance change due to the influence of heat, the electrical voltage from the thermistor is also changing. As an example for the second type transducer is a thermocouple. When receiving the hot, direct thermocouple voltages generate electricity without the need for energy from outside.
Election transducers
The selection of a transducer is dependent upon the needs of users and the environment around usage. For that in choosing a transducer to note a few things below:
- Strength, endurance or intention on the overload protection.
- Linearity, namely the ability to produce characteristics of the input-output linear.
- High stability, ie the measurement errors are small and not so much affected by environmental factors.
- Good dynamic response, ie immediately following the output and input with the same great shape.
- Repeatability: the ability to produce the same output again when it is used to measure the same magnitude, in the same environmental conditions.
- Price. Although these factors are not related to the characteristics of the transducer before, but in actual implementation is often a serious constraint, so that should also be considered.
Among several characteristics of the transducer above, will be discussed
deeper understanding of linearity.