Displacement Transducer
A Displacement Transducer is a measuring transducer that converts a linear or angular displacement into an electric, mechanical, pneumatic, or other signal suitable for recording, long-distance transmission, or further conversion. Capacitance sensors, inductance sensors, transformer, resistive, stringed, photoelectric, jet, induction, and electrodynamic transducers, as well as coding disks, can be used as displacement transducers.
A distinction is made between displacement transducers for small displacements from several microns to several centimeters, and for large displacements from tens of centimeters to several meters. Greater displacements are measured by means of traveling transducers. The greatest sensitivity for the measurement of small displacements is provided by photoelectric sensors, capacitance sensors, and some types of inductance sensors. Displacement Transducers provide contact less measurement of absolute piston position in hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders and other applications. Their robust construction, large insensitivity to shocks and very long life (due to no moving parts and therefore no wear of components) make them both cost effective and very reliable. Linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT) is a very basic transducer which is always useful in the field of instrumentation. LVDT works under the principle of mutual induction, and the displacement which is a non-electrical energy is converted into an electrical energy. Displacements associated with deformations in mechanical components are measured by strain gauges, which usually have amplifiers.