Unless you’re in the technical mechanical engineering field, the word transducer is not one you will come around too frequently. The transducer itself, however, is something you would be surprised to know that you’re actually already familiar with. In short, a transducer is something that converts transmitted energy from one state into another. Finding their place in many popular mechanical applications, transducers work most effectively when they are taken care of. While their construction is specific to each industry, their care, calibration and repair all require the same great attention to detail. Comprising extremely sensitive and intricate parts, this is how traducers are able to give such accurate conversions. If you want to see some examples of the most sophisticated transducers, visit http://www.
1. Antennas or aerials are electrical devices that are used to convert electrical power to radio waves. Antennas are one of the most essential components of all equipment that use radio technology.
2. Disc read/write heads are the parts of an internal or external drive that move the disc platter itself and turn its magnetic field into an electrical current – or vice versa, where applicable.
Electroacoustic:
1. Headphones are one of the most popular forms of transducers. They amplify electrical audio signals and convert them into an audio format that is more easily processed by the human auditory system.
2. Hydrophones are another example and they combine the traditional ability of microphones into a tool to process and relay sound effectively underwater. Many hydrophones are based on piezoelectric transducers which traditionally emit energy when subjected to a change in pressure.
Electro-optical:
1. We all interact with fluorescent lamps at one time or another, but we may not have known till now that they are transducers. The electricity that passes through them excites the mercury vapor within them. This allows their atoms to emit ultraviolet light, which then causes them to fluoresce. This process creates the visible light that we see.
2. The CRT, or cathode ray tube, is essentially a vacuum tube that contains an electro gun along with a fluorescent screen. It is used to view images. Traditionally used in Televisions, the technology is considered a bit outdated as it has been replaced by LCDs, plasma displays and OLEDs.
While we may not be technically savvy, it’s easy to see that we actually do have contact with transducers in our everyday lives. Some argue that transducers are more of a descriptive term rather than a noun, but either way, they are still a valuable part of how we’re able to be productive daily. With the ability to morph one energy into another outputted energy, we are able to do things like turn a light on or listen to music. Some industries in which transducers are integral parts include medicine, music and sound engineering, media production, vehicular manufacturing, lighting and even banking. Look around you and you’re sure to find more examples of transducers in your life today!