Automotive transducers: an overview

The ability of an electronic control system to communicate effectively and accurately with the real-world system it is trying to control, is proving to be the most important factor in determining its utility and reliability. The paper gives details of many of the transducers (sensors and actuators) required to make the computerised electronic control of engine, transmission, suspension and driver instrumentation practical in massproduced cars. Emphasis is placed on the need for high accuracy and reliability, wide operating temperature range and low cost of the devices concerned. Specific examples are given of critical transducers and details of specifications for a range of powertrain sensors are shown, and the paper concludes with a look at possible future developments.