Position transducers are electronic devices that detect movement or position in mechanical devices and transform it into a voltage or current signal to activate or deactivate the mechanism. Different types include encoders and inductive sensors, commonly used in fluid power applications.
A transducer is an electronic device most commonly used as a sensory mechanism to tell a mechanical machine when to operate as intended. It is usually implemented in automated processes. Different types of position transducers are available for different uses.
The main function of the position transducer is to detect the movement or position of a certain part within a mechanical device and process the information it receives. It then transforms the information into a voltage or current signal that feeds or cuts the power supplied to the power source for the mechanism. If the part is at a certain point or at a certain pressure, the transducer sends a signal to the mechanism’s power source. This, in turn, activates or deactivates the mechanical function of the apparatus to which the transducer has been applied.
There are several types of position transducers, each with its own name based on its primary function. For example, encoders are the type of position transducer used in applications where the information gathered is encoded and transformed into a power or voltage signal. These types of transducers are most commonly used in non-contact applications. This means they typically use a digital diode that collects information through a stimulant, such as light, allowing the transducer to create an output signal whenever the diode is triggered.
Another type of position transducer is called an inductive sensor, which is another form of non-contact sensor. These types of position transducers collect information from the magnetic field created by a coil inside an electrical device or element. When a voltage or power signal is applied to the coil, a natural magnetic field is generated. Whenever the device is in close proximity to a conductive substance, the inductive sensor monitors any change in the amount of field strength generated by the coil.
Most of these types of sensors and transducers are used in fluid power applications as a means of monitoring the amount of displacement occurring within a fluid mechanism. The inductive sensor is most typically used in large transformer circuits, as coils that create magnetic fields often experience impedance from external conductive elements. In such cases, the transducer allows the circuit to compensate for the variation in the magnetic field generated.
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