Difference Between Active & Passive Transducer

The most crucial difference between the active and passive transducer is that the active transducer does not use any external power source for producing the output, whereas the passive transducer requires the additional energy source for working. The other differences between active and passive transducer are explained below in the comparison chart.

The physical forces like pressure, humidity, displacement etc. are difficult to measure. For measuring the physical quantities, the device is required, which converts the physical quantities into easy measurable energy. The conversion of physical forces or non-measurable energy into measurable energy can be done with the help of the transducer.

Content: Active Vs Passive Transducer

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis For Comparison	Active Transducer	Passive Transducer
What is	The transducer which generate the output in the form of voltage or current, without any external energy source is known as active transducer.	The passive transducer means the transducer whose internal parameters like capacitance, resistance & inductance changes because of the input signal.
Additional Energy Source	Not Require	Require
Working Principle	Draw energy from the measurand source.	Take power from the external source which changes the physical properties of transducer.
Design	Simple	Complicated
Resolution	Low	High
Output signal	Produces from the signal to be measured.	Output obtains by receiving the signal from the external power source.
Examples	Tachogenerator, Thermocouple, Photovoltaic cell etc.	Thermistor, Differential transformer, Photomultiplier tube, Photovoltaic cell.

Definition of Active Transducer

The transducer whose output is obtained in the form of voltage or current without any additional auxiliary source is known as the active transducer. It works on the principle of conversion of energy from one form to another. The active transducer is also known as the self-generating transducer because they self-develop their electrical output signal. The energy requires for generating the output signals are obtained from the physical quantity which is to be measured.

Example: The Piezo electrical crystal is the example of the natural active transducer. The crystal has the property of producing the output voltage when the external force applied to them. The piezoelectric crystal is placed between the two metallic electrodes. When the force applied to the crystal, the voltage induces across it.

Definition of Passive Transducer

In passive transducer, the output is obtained by changing the physical properties (resistance, inductance, and capacitance) of the material. In other words, the passive transducer takes power from the external energy source for transduction. The word transduction means conversion of energy from one form to another.

Example: The linear potentiometer is the examples of the passive transducer. It is used for measuring the displacement. The POT requires the external power source e_i for work. It measures the linear displacement x_i.

Consider the L is the length of the potentiometer. R_i is their total internal resistance and x_i is their input displacement. The output voltage is calculated by the formula shown below.

Conclusion

The active and passive transducer both converts the physical forces into easy measurable energy. The active transducer converts the energy without taking the auxiliary energy supply. And in the passive transducer, the external power source is required for energy conversion.