Experiment 8: Tranducers and Operational Amplifiers

Lia Crisitina S. Mabaquiao, Hazelle P. Mamugay

Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute
University of the Philippines Diliman
Quezon City, Philippines

Abstract – The main goal of this experiment is to familiarize Figure 1 shows a more specific view of the
the students of the operations of commonly-used temperture vs resistance curve. Both graphs show
transducers and sensors and perform measurements that as the temperature increases, the resistance
involving these components. Also, this experiment aims to decreases.
show the students of the usage of an operational amplifier
as a voltage comparator. B. LM35 Centigrade Temperature Sensor
In this part of the experiment, an LM35
I. INTRODUCTION temperature sensor is connected to a +5V DC single
Transducers are devices that converts different power supply. This sensor is then exposed to the
physical quantities like temperature and lighting into electrical same levels of temperature mentioned in part A
signals. In this experiment, the proponents were tasked to output, but this time, the ouput voltage is measured
explore different types of transducers such as thermistors, instead of the resistance. The tabulated results can
temperature sensors and light dependent resistors, and know the be seen in Figure 2.
operations of each components.
This experiment also aims to familiarize the
proponents of the other usage of an operational amplifier which
is to voltage comparator. A DC and an AC signal will be
compared in this experiment

II. EXPERIMENT, RESULTS, AND DISCUSSION

A. Thermistor
In this part of the experiment, the proponents exposed
a thermistor in three different levels of temperature. These
levels of temperature are ambient temperature, normal body
temperature and, and heating temperature, approximately 25º C,
37º C, and 120º C respectively. In each temperature, the time
the resistance stabilizes is recorded. The data gathered can be Figure 2. Voltage versus Temperature Plot for LM35 Centigrade
Temperature Sensor
seen in Figure 1.
Figure 2. Voltage versus temperature plot for the LM35
temperature sensor

It can be seen from Figure 2 that the

proponents were abe to get the values of 0.273V for
2 sec in an ambient temperature of 25º C, 0.317V
for 25 sec in a human temperature of 37º C, and
1.33V for 5.27 sec in a heated temperature of 120º
C. In comparison with Figure 3, it can be seen that
the voltage and temperature level of the
temperature transducer has a direct relationship,
such that the voltage increases as the temperature
rises.

Figure 1. Resistance versus Temperature Plot of Thermistor

In Figure 1, it can be seen that the proponents got

38.9Ω for 6 sec in an ambient temperature of 25º C, 30.4Ω for
1.97 sec in a human temperature of 37º C, and 0.4Ω for 3.54 sec
in a heated temperature of 120º C. In comparison with Figure 3,
there’s not much difference between the two graphs except that
 Figure 5. The initial setting of the voltage sources.

Figure 3. Typical response curve – temperature versus resistance of UEI447

NTC Thermistor .

C. Light Dependent Resistor

Unlike the first two parts where temperature is the
variable used, the component in this part is exposed to different
types of lighting. These types are ambient or room-light,
partially covered or shadow, completely covered or dark, and
room lights or light. The tabulated results can be seen in Figure
4.

Figure 6a. The DC offset of the AC source is increased.

Figure 4. Resistance versus Lighting Plot of LDR

In Table III, it can be seen that as the lighting gets

darker, the resistance increases.
Figure 6b. The DC offset of the AC source is increased and near
D. Operational Amplifier used as a Voltage Comparator its limit.
In this part of the experiment, an op amp is connected
to a DC and an AC voltage source. The initial setting of the AC III. CONCLUSION
voltage is 3Vpp with 1kHz frequency while the DC voltage is Tranducers have different type and each
5V. The waveform of this setting is seen in Figure 5. may be used for different activities. Some of these
In Figure 6a and Figure 6b, it can be seen that the are the thermistor which can be used to plot the
output signal widens. This happens as the DC offset of the AC resistance versus the temperature, the LM35
voltage source is increased. The circuit operates as a voltage temperature sensor which may be used to plot
comparator by variation of the DC offset of the AC voltage voltage against the temperature, and the LDR which
source. may be used to check for the resistance against
different types of lighting.
 Operational amplifiers may be used as voltage
comparators. And by decreasing or increasing the DC offset of
the AC voltage source whic is connected to a circuit with an op
amp, the widening of the signal output as seen in a oscilloscope
may be observed.

IV. REQUIRED DISCUSSION

1. Briefly explain the theory involved in the operation of each
transducer used in this experiment.
A thermistor is a semiconductor thus the resistance
decreases - and the voltage increases - as the temperature
increases. An LDR has an increasing resistance when there’s
lesser light, because the free electrons - responsible for the
increase in current - produced from the light energy decreases.

2. Compare the thermistor and the LDR in terms of linearity,

sensitivity and response time. What type of applications is each
suited to and why?
The thermistor is for temperature aplications, because
it is most sensitve to temperature, while the LDR is for lighting
applications, since it is most sensitive to light energy. In case of
linearity, both are the same.

3. Think of and list down other applications of the transducers

used in this exercise.
Transducers may also be used for soundwaves and
pressure.

4. Research on three (3) transducers not used in this experiment

and briefly discuss the theory behind their operation and cite
their applications.
-Pressure transducer: converts pressure to electrical
signal. This happens when there is deflection of the diaphragm
due to the pressure.
-
5. In Part D., what are the peak levels of output voltage? How is
this related to the supply voltages VCC+ and VCC-?