transzduktor

Transzduktor, or transducer, is a device that converts energy or information from one form to another. The term comes from Latin trans- “across” and ducere “to lead” and denotes devices that convert physical quantities to electrical signals or vice versa. Transducers are fundamental in measurement, control systems, and human–machine interfaces.

Transducers are commonly divided into input sensors and output actuators. Input sensors convert quantities such as pressure, temperature, light, or sound into electrical signals. Examples include microphones (acoustic to electrical), thermocouples (temperature to voltage), and photodiodes (light to current). Output actuators convert signals into actions, such as loudspeakers, motors, and piezoelectric actuators.

Transduction uses several mechanisms. Electromagnetic induction powers many microphones and speakers; piezoelectric, resistive, capacitive, and electrochemical effects appear in various sensors; optical transducers use photoconductive or photovoltaic processes. MEMS devices often combine mechanisms in compact form. The transduction method influences sensitivity, bandwidth, linearity, temperature dependence, and noise.

Key performance metrics include sensitivity, linearity, offset, hysteresis, dynamic range, bandwidth, response time, and temperature stability. Calibration and signal conditioning are often required to obtain meaningful data.

Applications span scientific instrumentation, medical imaging (ultrasound transducers), industrial automation, automotive sensors, consumer electronics, and environmental monitoring. Advances in materials science and microfabrication continue to expand transducer capabilities toward smaller, more accurate, and energy-efficient devices.