transduceris

Transduceris is a term used to refer to devices that convert energy from one form to another. In general, a transducer is any device that performs transduction, turning input energy into a different form for measurement, control, or actuation. In engineering, transducers are commonly categorized as sensors or actuators: sensors (input transducers) convert physical phenomena such as sound, light, temperature, or pressure into electrical signals; actuators (output transducers) convert electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic energy into motion, force, or a physical change.

Common electrical sensors include microphones (sound to electrical voltage), photodetectors and photodiodes (light to current), thermocouples and resistance temperature detectors (temperature to voltage or resistance), and pressure sensors (mechanical to electrical). Actuators include speakers and buzzers (electrical to sound), piezoelectric actuators and electrohydraulic units (electrical to motion), and electric motors (electrical to mechanical rotation). Some devices, such as ultrasound transducers, perform both roles in different stages.

Performance aspects include sensitivity, linearity, hysteresis, bandwidth, noise, and dynamic range; impedance matching; calibration; reciprocity; energy efficiency. Transducers are often combined with signal conditioning electronics, including preamplifiers, analog-to-digital converters, and filters.

Origins trace to early measurement and telecommunications systems; today they are fundamental in instrumentation, medical imaging, consumer electronics, automotive systems, and industrial automation.