Faculty Course Booklet

Session

: 2015-16

Branch-Sem-Section

: EEE - 5th

Year

: 2015

Course Name

: Sensors and Transducers

Course Code

: ETEE - 305

Faculty Name

: Prof K P Chaudhary

Department

: Electrical & Electronics

Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering SENSORS AND

TRANSDUCERS (Syllabus)
Paper Code: ETEE-305

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Objective:-To provide the basic understanding about operational characteristics and

applications of various sensors and transducers.
UNIT I [Introduction to Sensors]
Definition and differences of sensors and transducers, Classification, static and dynamic
characteristics, electrical characterization, mechanical and thermal characterization including bathtub curve.
Different Sensors:
Mechanical & Electromechanical: Potentiometer, Strain gauges, Inductive sensors Ferromagnetic
type, Transformer type, Electromagnetic, Capacitive sensors parallel plate, variable permittivity,
electrostatic, piezoelectric, Introduction to PZT family.
[T1][T2][No. of Hrs:11]
UNIT-II
Thermal sensors: Gas thermometric sensors, Dielectric constant, refractive index thermosensors, nuclear thermometers, resistance change type thermometric sensors, Thermoemf sensors.
Magnetic sensors: Basic working principles, Magnetostrictive, Hall effect, Eddy current type,
SQUID sensors.
Radiation sensors: Photo-detectors, Photo-emissive, photomultiplier, scintillation detectors.
[T1][T2][No. of Hrs:11]
UNIT-III
Electroanalytical sensors: Electrochemical cell, SHE, Polarization, Reference electrode, Metal
electrodes, Membrane electrodes, Electroceramics. Advancement in Sensor technology:
Introduction to smart sensors, Film sensors, Introduction to semiconductor IC technology and Micro
Electro Mechanical System (MEMS), Nanosensors. Bio Sensors.
[T1][T2][No. of Hrs:11]
UNIT-IV
Different Transducers: LVDT, RTD, Thermisters, Wire anemometer, piezoresistors, Variable
diaphragm capacitance transducers, Angular movement transducers, seismic mass transducer,
interferometer transducer.Feedback transducer system: Inverse transducer, Self-balancing transducer,
Servo-operated manometer, Feedback pneumatic load cell, integrating servo.
[T1][T2][No. of Hrs:12]
Text Books:
[T1]
D. Patranabis, Sensors and Transducers, PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd., 2nd
edition [T2] D V S Murty, Transducers and Instrumentation, PHI Learning Pvt.
Ltd.
Reference Book:
[R1]
E.O.Doebelin,Dhanesh N Manik, Measurement Systems,6th Edition,Mcgraw Hill Edu.

[R2]

John P. Bentely, Principles of Measurement System, 4th Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall

Course Objective: To provide the basic understanding about operational characteristics and
applications of various sensors and transducers.
Course Outcomes: After successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:
1.

Differentiate between sensors and transducers & interpret physical principles applied in
sensors.

2. Describe different types of sensor.

3.

Get familiar with the advances in sensor technology & analyze the working & applications
of electrochemical cell & electroceramics, smart sensors, semiconductor IC sensors,
microelectro mechanical systems, nanosensors and bio sensors.

4. Describe and interpret different principles applied in transducers & feedback transducers.

Lecture Plan
(w.e.f. 2015-2016)
Subject: SENSORS AND TRANSDUCERS

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Sub. Code: ETEE-305

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No. of
UNIT I
hours
Definition and differences of sensors and transducers, classification, Static and
Dynamic characteristics
Electrical characterization, Mechanical and Thermal characterization including bathtub curve.
11
Different Sensors: Mechanical & Electromechanical: Potentiometer, Strain gauges.
Inductive sensorsFerromagnetic type, Transformer type, Electromagnetic.
Capacitive sensors Parallel plate, variable permittivity, Electrostatic, piezoelectric,
Introduction to PZT family.
UNIT II
Thermal sensors: Gas thermometric sensors, Dielectric constant.
Refractive index thermo-sensors, Nuclear thermometers, Resistance change Type
thermometric sensors, Thermo emf sensors.
(Unit II to continue)
11
(Unit II to continued)
Magnetic sensors: Basic working principles, Magnetostrictive, Hall effect, Eddy
current type, SQUID sensors.
Radiation sensors: Photo-detectors, Photo-emissive, photomultiplier, scintillation
detectors.
FI R S T M I N O R E XAM
UNIT III
Electroanalytical sensors: Electrochemical cell, SHE, Polarization, Reference
electrode, Metal electrodes, Membrane electrodes, Electroceramics.
Advancement in Sensor Technology: Introduction to smart sensors, film sensors.
11
Introduction to semiconductor IC technology and Micro Electro Mechanical System
(MEMS), Nano-sensors, Bio-Sensors.
UNIT IV
Different Transducers: LVDT, RTD, Thermistor.
Wire anemometer, Piezoresistors.

Variable diaphragm capacitance transducers, Angular movement transducers.

(Unit IV to continue)
(Unit IV to continued)
16
Seismic mass transducer, Interferometer transducer.
Feedback transducer system: Inverse transducer, Self-balancing transducer, Servo17
operated manometer, Feedback pneumatic load cell, Integrating servo.
SECOND M I N O R E X A M
Total
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Department of Electrical Engineering

Subject: Sensors &Transducer (5th Sem-ETEE-305)
Assignment No:1
Q.No.1. Explain the basic elements of measuring system.
Q.No.2 Differentiate between Sensors and Transducer.
Q.No.3 Discuss how sensors are classified.
Q.No.4 Explain Static and Dynamic characteristics of sensor.
Q.No.5 Explain the Electrical, Mechanical and Thermal characteristics of a sensors

Department of Electrical Engineering

Subject: Sensors &Transducer(5th Sem-ETEE-305)
Assignment No: 2
Q.No.1. (a) Explain the working of potentiometer Show that a wire wound resistance
potentiometer can be used for measurement of Linear and Angular displacement.
Q.No.1. (b) Explain the loading effect on the accuracy of a resistance potentiometer transducer
when used for measurement of displacement
Q.No.2 (a) Define the gauge factor of the resistance strain gauge. Obtain the expression of the
same in terms of other constants.
Q.No. 2(b). Distinguish between bonded and unbounded strain gauge and comment on their
suitability for the measurement of physical quantities and explain why semiconductor strain
gauges have high values of gauge factor.
Q.No.2 (c) Why resistance strain gauges are used in pairs.
Q.No.3

Explain why inductive transducers are mostly iron cored.

Q.No.4
Show that parallel plate capacitors serves the most suitable transducers
for measurement of linear displacement.
QNo.5

Describe the capacitive transducer used for water level measurement.

Department of Electrical Engineering

Subject: Sensors &Transducer (5th Sem-ETEE-305)
Assignment No:3
QNo.1.
Explain how conductivity changes in a metal or in a semiconductor with
change in temperature.
QNo.2.

Why Platinum is preferred to other materials for making resistance

thermometer. QNo.3.

Differentiate RTD and thermisters.

QNo.4(a) what is seebeck effects. How does it develop and how has it been commercially
exploited.
Q.No.4 (b) what different material-pairs are used for making commercial thermoemf generators?
How are they designated?
QNo.5.
Explain Hall Effect and suggest its applicability for measurement of
physical quantities.
QNo.6.

Define Hall Coefficient and state the factors on which it depends.

QNo.7.
Explain Photoelectric Effect and show how this phenomenon enables
measurement of electromagnetic radiations.
QNo.8.
Distinguish between photovoltaic, photo emissive, and photoconductive cells
and suggest the range of wavelengths of radiations for which they are suitable.

Department of Electrical Engineering

Subject: Sensors &Transducer (5th Sem-ETEE-305)
Assignment No: 5
Q.1
Q.2
Q.3
Q.4

Describe the constructional features of LVDT.Discuss the factors limiting the

sensitivity of a LVDT and Variable capacitive transducers Diaphragm.
Explain wire Anemometer & seismic trandducers
Describe how a feedback transducer system is made up and explain how
its performance is improved by using negative feedback?
Define inverse transducers and explain their role in feedback measuring systems.

Q.5.
Explain how automatic balancing of dc Wheatstone bridge can be achieved
by using negative feedback. Show that self balancing is done i) mechanically, and ii)
electronically
Q.6
what is pneumatic load cell? And what is it used for? Can it be used with liquids
in place of air?

Senors & Transducers (ETEE-305) Sem:5th (EEE)

Quiz 1
Mark ( ) for correct answer.
1. Which of the following statements is correct?
a) Sensors and transducers are both examples of actuators
b) Actuators and transducers are both examples of sensors
c) Sensors and actuators are both examples of transducers
2. What term describes the maximum expected error associated with a measurement or a sensor?
a)
b)
c)
d)

Precision.
Resolution.
Range
Accuracy.

3. A photodiode is an example of a photovoltaic sensor.

a) A photodiode can be used as either a photoconductive or a photovoltaic sensor.
b) A photodiode can be used as either a photoconductive or a photovoltaic sensor.
c) photodiode is an example of a photoconductive sensor
4. Which of the following forms of temperature sensor produces a large change in its resistance
with temperature, but is very non-linear?
a)
b)
c)
d)

A thermistor.
A pn junction sensor
A platinum resistance thermometer
Thermocouple

5. The image below shows a strain. With the device oriented as shown, what is the direction of
sensitivity of the device?

a) Vertical.
b) Horizontal.

6. Which of the following statements is correct?

a) Velocity can be determined using a position transducer by integrating its output signal
b) Integration tends to amplify high-frequency noise present in a signal
c) Velocity can be determined using a position transducer by differentiating its output signal
7. Strain gauge, LVDT and thermocouple are examples of
a) Active transducers
b) Passive transducers
c) Analog transducers
d) Primary transducers
8. A strain gauge is a passive transducer and is employed for converting
a) Mechanical displacement into a change of resistance
b) Pressure into a change of resistance
c) Force into a displacement
d) Pressure into displacement
9. Resolution of a transducer depends on
a) Material of wire
b) Length of wire
c) Diameter of wire
d) Excitation voltage
10. The sensitivity factor of strain gauge is normally of the order of
a) 1 to 1.5 b)
1.5 to 2.0 c)
0.5 to 1.0
d) 5 to 10
11. In wire wound strain gauges, the change in resistance is due to
a) Change in diameter of the wire
b) Change in length of the wire
c) Change in both length and diameter
d) Change in resistivity

12. Bonded wire strain gauges are

a) Exclusively used for construction of transducers
b) Exclusively used for stress analysis
c) Used for both stress analysis and construction of transducer
d) Pressure measurement
13.

Certain type of materials generates an electrostatic charge or voltage when mechanical force

is applied across them. Such materials are called

a) Piezo-electric
b) Photo-electric
c) Thermo-electric
d) Photo-resistive
14.
of piezo-electric materials

Quartz and Rochelle salt belongs to

a) Natural group
b) Synthetic group
c) Natural or Synthetic group
d) Fiber group
15. Which of the following are piezo electric substances?
1. Barium titanate
2. Lead titanate
3. Lead Zirconate
4. Cadmium and sulphate
a) 1,2 and 4
b) 1,3and4
c) 1,2and 3
d) 2,3and 4
16. The draw backs of strain gauges are
S1: Low fatigue life
S2: They are expensive, brittle and sensitive to temperature S3:
Poor linearity
a) S1 and S2
b) S2 and S3

c) S1 and S3
d) S1 only
17. Piezo-electric transducers are
a) Passive transducers
b) Inverse transducers
c) Digital transducers
d) Pulse transducers
18. Piezo electric transducers work when we apply

to it.

a) Mechanical force
b) Vibrations
c) Illuminations
d) Heat
19. Which of the following can be measured with the help of piezo electric crystal?
a) Force
b) Velocity
c) Sound
d) Pressure
20. S1: Transducer is a device which converts physical into electrical quantity
S2: Transducer is also called as sensor.
a) S1 is true & S2 is false
b) S2 is true & S1 is false
c) Both S1 & S2 are true
d) Both S1 & S2 are false
21. Pick the correct statement regarding functions of a transducer
S1: Sense the magnitude, change in & / or frequency of same measurand
S2: To provide electrical output that furnishes accurate, quantitative data about the measurand
a) S1 is true & S2 is false
b) S2 is true & S1 is false
c) Both S1 & S2 are true
d) Both S1 & S2 are false

22. The principle of operation of variable resistance transducer is

a) Deformation leads to change in resistance
b) Displacement of a contact slider on a resistance
c) Coupling of two coils changes with displacement
d) Movement of magnetic field produces variation in resistance of material
23. Pressure transducer for measuring blood pressure is
a) Strain gauge transducer only
b) Strain gauge or capacitive transducer
c) Resistive transducer
d) Fiber optic transducer
24. The change in resistance of a metal wire owing to strain is due to
S1: Change in dimension of wire expressed by factor (1-2)
S2: Change in resistance ??
a) S1 is true & S2 is false
b) S2 is true & S1 is false
c) Both S1 & S2 are true
d) Both S1 & S2 are false
25. In foil strain gauge the thickness of foil varies from
a) 2.5 micron to 6 micron
b) 25 micron (or) less
c) 25 micron to 60 micron
d) 2.5 micron to 5 micron
26. Photo conductive cell consists of a thin film of
a) Quartz
b) Lithium sulphate
c) Barium titanate
d) Selenium
27.
a) LDR

is the example of photo emissive cell

b) Photo diode
c) Photo transistor
d) Photo multiplier
28. In a graded index fiber, the total reflected light takes a
a) Straight line path
b) Parabolic path
c) Elliptical path
d) Circular path
29. Photo multiplier consists of
a) 1 Photo emissive cathode & 2 dynodes
b) 2 Photo emissive cathodes & 2 dynodes
c) 2 Photo emissive cathodes & 1 dynode
d) 1 Photo emissive cathode & 1 dynode
30. The resistance of LDR

when exposed to radiant energy.

a) Remains unaltered
b) Increases
c) Reaches maximum
d) Decreases
31. What causes the piezoelectric effect?
a) a magnetic field
b) heat or dissimilar metals
c) pressure on a crystal
d) water running on iron
32. What does a hall effect sensor sense?
a) pressure
b) magnetic fields
c) moisture
d) temperature
33. What type of application would use a photovoltaic cell?
a)
b)

an automobile horn
a magnetic field detector

c)
d)

a TI 92 calculator
a remote power source

34.A transducers function is to:

a)
b)
c)
d)

prevent current flow

produce mechanical energy
convert energy
transmit electrical energy

35. The gauge factor is defined as a)

(L/L)/(R/R)
b)

(R/R)/(L/L)

c)

(R/R)/(D/D)

d)

(R/R)/(P/P)