What is an Inductive Pressure Transducer?
As more and more of today’s industrial processes become automated, the demand for sensors that are capable of meeting the challenge has greatly increased. One important sensor in many modern electrical controls is the inductive pressure transducer. While the name may sound a bit intimidating, in reality, it’s a sensor that works on a relatively simple principle.
How it Works
An inductive pressure transducer works on the principle of proximity. Having the ability to detect metallic objects without having to touch them, this sensor has five basic elements including:
- Field Sensor
- Oscillator
- Demodulator
- Flip-Flop
- Output
Each sensor contains an induction loop, which changes based upon the material it contains, when a magnetic field is generated from the electrical current, the inductance within the loop changes. Because metals are basically the best inductors, the current that flows through the induction loop increases. When the increase in current is detected by sensing circuitry, it then sends a signal to another device to let it know metal has been detected.
Uses for Inductive Transducers
Inductive transducers are used in a variety of applications. Many industries use them to automate a process, and they are also used in such applications as:
- Traffic Lights
- Metal Detectors
- Car Washes
As traffic signals become more dependent upon complex electronic circuitry, the inductive pressure transducer has become relied upon to ensure these lights work as intended. Metal detectors, also becoming more technologically advanced, rely on these transducers to help them detect treasures beneath the ground’s surface. Welding equipment may also contain these transducers, allowing the machine to better calibrate the correct temperature needed for the job.
Measuring and Calibrating
Inductive pressure transducers also play a pivotal role in many areas of automated processing. Some of the most popular uses for these transducers are:
- Calibration
- Leakage Monitoring
- Voltage Measurement
- Programmable Logic Controllers
The field of instrumentation has come to depend on these inducers to help with calibration, temperature sensing, pressure sensing, and more. Most transducers are made to be universally compatible with the equipment and assist with analog to digital converter cards, data acquisition cards, and programmable logic controllers. As the need for technology increases within manufacturing and other areas, inductive pressure transducers will be expected to play an even more important role in keeping machinery and other equipment running smoothly.
