12-01-2012, 11:05 AM
Interfacing to the Real World: Review of Electrical Sensors and Actuators
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Transducer
a device that converts a primary form of energy into a corresponding signal with a different energy form
Primary Energy Forms: mechanical, thermal, electromagnetic, optical, chemical, etc.
take form of a sensor or an actuator
Sensor (e.g., thermometer)
a device that detects/measures a signal or stimulus
acquires information from the “real world”
General Electronic Sensor
primary transducer: changes “real world” parameter into electrical signal
secondary transducer: converts electrical signal into analog or digital values
Primary Transducer Types
Resistive Sensors (Potentiometers & Strain Gages)
Inductive Sensors
Capacitive Sensors
Piezoelectric Sensors
Secondary Transducers
Wheatstone Bridge
Amplifiers
