GLOSSARY OF TRANSDUCER TERMS
	Absolute	The pressure measured relative to vacuum.
	Acceleration	A vector quantity equal to the time rate of change velocity, with respect to a reference system.
	Acceleration Error	The maximum difference, at any measured value within the specified range, between output reading taken with and without the application of a specified constant acceleration along specified axes.
	Acceleration Sensitivity	Acceleration error expressed in percent of full-scale output per g. The term is indicative of the response of a system due to the acceleration input.
	Accelerometer	A device that measures the acceleration of moving body and translates it into a corresponding electrical quantity.
	Accuracy	The extent to which the measured value deviates from the true value of the measured.
	Active Element	A device capable of controlling voltages/ currents, to produce a gain or switching action in circuit.
	Ambient Conditions	The conditions of the medium surrounding the transducer. This includes temperature, humidity, pressure, radiation and vibration.
	Amplifying Transducer	A transducer with an integrally packaged amplifier.
	Analog Output	Transducer output which is a continuous function of the measured (except as modified by the resolution of the transducer
	Attitude	The relative orientation of a vehicle or object represented by its angles of inclination to three orthogonal reference axes.
	Attitude Error	The error due to the orientation of the transducer relative to the direction in which gravity acts upon the transducer.
	Bellows	A mechanical element of generally cylindrical shape with cylindrical walls having deep convolutions.
	Best Fit Straight Line	A line midway between two parallel straight lines close together and enclosing all output versus measured values, on a calibration curve.
	Bondable Transducer	A transducer which is designed to be permanently mounted to a surface by means of adhesives.
	Bonded Strain Gauge	A resistance train transducer, permanently attached over the length and width of its active element.
	Bourdon Tube	A pressure sensing element consisting of a twisted or curved tube of noncircular cross section which tends to get straightened on the application of internal pressure.
	Burst Pressure Rating	Maximum pressure which may be applied to the sensing element or the case of a transducer, without rupture of either the sensing element or the case.
	Calibration	A test during standard values measured are applied to the transducer and the corresponding output reading are compared with the standard values.
	Calibration Curve	A graphic representation of the calibration record (plot of calibration of the data).
	Calibration Cycle	The application of known values of the measured and calibration of the readings of the corresponding output values, over the full (or specified) portion of the range of a transducer, in an ascending or descending order.
	Calibration Traceability	The relation of a transducer calibration, through a specified step by step process, to an instrument or group of instruction calibrated by a national standard agency.
	Calibration Uncertainty	The maximum calculated error in the output values shown in a calibration record, due to causes not attributable to the transducer.
	Capsule	A pressure-sensing element consisting of two corrugated metallic diaphragms joined along their circumference.
	Centre Of Seismic Mass	The point within an acceleration transducer where acceleration forces are considered to be summed.
	Compensated Temperature Range	The operating temperature range of a transducer incorporating temperature compensation.
	Compensation	The utilization of supplemental device, materials, or process to minimize known sources of error.
	Conduction Error	The error in a temperature transducer due to heat conduction between the sensing element and the mounting of the transducer.
	Conformance, Conformity	The closeness of a calibration curve to a specified curve.
	Continuous Rating	The rating applicable to a specified operation for a specified uninterrupted length of time.
	Creep	A change in output occurring over a specified period of time with the measured applied and all the environmental conditions and other variables remaining constant.
	Critical Damping	The degree of damping required to give the most rapid transient response without overshoot or oscillation. It lies between underdamped and overdamped conditions.
	Cross Sensitivity	The maximum sensitivity of a transducer to a specified value of transverse measured applied in a direction orthogonal to the primary axis, expressed in percent of the sensitivity in the designed major axis.
	Damping	The energy dissipating characteristics which together with a natural frequency determines the limit of frequency response and the response characteristics of a transducer. Any action or influence that extracts energy from a vibratory system in order to suppress the vibration or oscillation.
	Damping Factor	The ratio of amplitude of any one series of damped oscillations to that of the following one- also called decrement.
	Damping-Magnetic	Damping effect (by use of current in electrical conductors) by changes in magnetic fields.
	Damping Ratio	The ratio of the degree of actual damping to the degree of damping required for critical damping.
	Damping-Viscous	Damping effected by use of the viscosity of liquids and gases.
	Dead Band	The range of values over which a measured variable can change without affecting the output.
	Dead Time	The time during which a device a or system is insensitive after receiving a stimulus, to any other impulse or stimulus.
	Dead Volume	The total volume of internal cavity between the sensing element and the external portion of the pressure port of a pressure transducer.
	Diaphragm	A sensing element consisting of a thin flexible circuit plate which can be actuated by a pressure differential applied across the plate.
	Directivity	The solid angle or the angle in a specified plane over which sound energy or radiant energy , impinging on a transducer, is measured.
	Displacement	The extent of special distance through which an object or a point is moved.
	Displacement Transducer	A transducer that convert a linear  or angular movement into a corresponding electrical signal.
	Differential Transformer Transducer	A transducer in which movement of the ferromagnetic core of a transformer varies the output voltage across two series opposing secondary windings.
	Drift	The random change in output under constant measured and normal operating conditions.
	Dynamic Calibration	A calibration during which the measurement varies with time in a specified manner and the output is recorded as a function of time.
	Dynamic Characteristics	Characteristics of a transducer which relate to its response to variations of the measurand with time.
	Elastic Member	The element or element within the transducer to which a number of sensing elements are attached.
	Electro-Magnetic Transduction	The conversion of the measurand into an induced voltage in a conductor by a change in magnetic flux without any excitation.
	End Point	The output at the specified upper or lower limit of the range.
	End Point Line	The straight line between the end points.
	Environmental Conditions	Specified external conditions (shock vibration temperature, and humidity) to which a transducer may be exposed during operation, storage, or shipping.
	Error	The algebraic difference between the indicated or observed value and the true value of the measurand.
	Error-Band	The band of maximum deviation of output values from a specified reference line or curve, due to those causes attributable to the transducer, as measured over two consecutive calibration cycles.
	Error-Curve	A graphical representation of error obtained from a specified number of calibration cycles.
	Excitation (Electrical)	The external electrical voltage and / or current applied to a transducer.
	Fatigue Life	The number of load cycles at a specified measurand value, before deterioration of electrical characteristics occurs.
	Field Of View	The solid angle or angle in a specified plane over which radiant energy incident on a transducer is measured within stated to tolerances.
	Flow Rate	The time rate of motion of a fluid quantity unit time.
	Flow Meter	A device that measures/ indicates the rate of flow of a liquid or gas.
	Fluid	A gas or liquid.
	Fluid Damping	See viscous damping.
	Force	The vector quantity necessary to cause a change in momentum.
	Frequency, Natural	The frequency of free oscillations of the sensing element of a fully assembled transducer.
	Frequency, Resonant	The measurand frequency at which the transducer responds with maximum output amplitude.
	Frequency Response	The range of frequencies over which the faithful reproduction of the measurand is obtained.
	Friction Error	The maximum change in output before and after minimizing friction within the transducer by dithering.
	Friction -Free Calibration	Calibration under conditions minimizing the effect of static friction obtained by dithering.
	Full-Scale Output	The algebraic difference between the end poits of the range of the device.
	Gauge Factor	A measure of the ratio of the relative change of resistance to the relative change in length of a resistive strain transducer (strain gauge).
	Gauge Pressure	Pressure measured relative to ambient pressure.
	Gyro (Gyroscope)	An initial device having a spinning mass, the tendency of which is to remain fixed in its angular relationship to inertial space.
	Hall Effect	The development of a transverse electric potential gradient between the two edges of a current carrying conductor or semiconductor whose faces are perpendicular to an applied magnetic field.
	Harmonic Distortion	The distortion in a transducer's in the form of harmonious other than the fundamental component.
	Harmonic Motion	A motion whose instantaneous amplitude varies sinusoidal with time.
	Heat Conduction	The transfer of heat energy by diffusion through solid material or through stagnant fluids.
	Heat Convection	The transfer of heat energy by the movement of a fluid between two points.
	Heat Flux	The time rate flow of heat energy per unit area.
	Heat Radiation	The transfer of heat energy by electromagnetic waves.
	Hysteresis	The maximum difference in output for the same measured value within the transducer's range, on obtained by increasing from zero and the other by decreasing from a higher value of the measurand.
	Hysteresis, Thermal	The maximum difference in output, at a given measurand value within the specified range and at a given temperature when this temperature is approached in the increasing and in the decreasing portion of a temperature cycle whose maximum temperature is substantially beyond the given temperature.
	Impact Pressure	The pressure in moving fluids exerted parallel to the direction of flow due to the velocity of the flow.
	Inductive Transduction	Conversion of the measurand into a change of the self-inductance of a single coil.
	Input Impedance	The impedance presented to the excitation source, measured across the excitation terminals of a transducer.
	Insulation Resistance	The DC resistance measured between specified insulated portion of a transducer (when a specified DC voltage is applied).
	Integrating Transducer	A transducer whose output is a time integral function of the measurand.
	Intermittent Rating	The rating applicable to a specified operation over a state number of time intervals of specified duration.
	Ionizing Transduction	Conversion of the measurand into a change in ionizing current, such as that through a gas between two electrodes.
	Jerk	A vector unit that specified the time rate of change of acceleration.
	Leakage Rate	The maximum rate at which a fluid at a specified pressure in leaking through specified scaled portion of transducer.
	Least Square Line	The straight line for which the sum of the squares of the residual deviation is minimized.
	Life Cycling	The specified minimum number of full range excursion s or specified partial changing its performance beyond specified tolerances.
	Life, Operating	The specified minimum length of time over which the specified continuous or intermittent rating of a transducer applies without changing its performance beyond specified tolerances.
	Life, Storage	The specified minimum length of time over which a transducer can be exposed to a specified storage condition without changing its performance beyond specified tolerances.
	Linearity	The maximum deviation of any calibration point, obtained for either increasing or decreasing input, from the best fit straight line having overall minimum deviation.
	Linearity, Endpoint	Linearity, referred to a straight line between the end points.
	Linearity, Independent	Linearity referred to the best straight line passing through zero.
	Linearity, Least Square	Linearity referred to a straight line for which the sum of the squares of the residuals is minimized.
	Linearity, Terminal	Linearity, referred to the terminal line.
	Load Cell	The device, which generates an output signal proportional to the applied force or weight.
	Lead Impedance	The complex impedance presented to the output terminals of a transducer by the associated external circuitry or load.
	Loading Error	An error introduced due to the effect of the load impedance on the transducer output.
	Magnetostriction	The change in dimension of a ferromagnetic object when the object is placed in a magnetic field.
	Magnetoresistive Effect	The change in the resistance of a conductor or semiconductor due to the application of a magnetic field.
	Mass	The quantity of matter in body. Mass is a measure of inertia and determines resistance to acceleration, independency of gravitation force.
	Mean Output Curve	The curve through the mean values of output during any one-calibration cycle of a different specified number of calibration cycles.
	Measurand	The physical quantity, property, or condition that is to be measured.
	Measurand Medium	The medium, which comes in contact with the sensing element.
	Mechanical Impedance	The complex ratio of force to velocity during simple harmonic motion.
	Motion	The change in position of a body or point with respect to a reference system.
	Mounting Error	The error resulting from mechanical deformation of the transducer caused by mounting the transducer.
	Null	A condition of balance, which results in a minimum absolute value of output.
	Non-Linearity	(See linearity).
	Output	The electrical quantity (useful energy) produced by a transducer. The magnitude is a function of the applied measurand.
	Output Impedance	The impedance across the output terminals of a transducer presented by the transducer to the associated external circuitry.
	Output Noise	The unwanted component (typically of broad frequency spectrum) of the output of a transducer.
	Output Rated	The algebraic difference in value between the outputs at no input and rated input of measurand.
	Overload	The maximum magnitude of measurand that can be applied to a transducer without causing a change in performance beyond specified tolerance.
	Over Range	(See Overload).
	Overshoot	The amount of output measured beyond the final steady output value in response to a step change in the measurand.
	Photoconductive Transduction	Conversion of a measurand into a change in resistance or conductivity by a change in the magnitude of illumination incident upon the material.
	Photoemissive Transduction	Conversion of the measurand into a change of emission of electrons due to a change in the incidence of photons on a photocathode.
	Photovoltaic Transduction	Conversion of the measurand into a change in voltage generated when a junction between dissimilar materials is illuminated.
	Piezoelectric Transduction	Conversion of the measurand into a change in electrostatic charge or voltage generated by certain materials when mechanically stressed.
	Piezoresistive Transduction	Conversion of the measurand into a change in the resistance of a conductor or semiconductor by a change in the mechanical stress applied to it.
	Potentiometric Transduction	Conversion of the measurand in to a voltage ratio by a change in the position of a movable wiper on a resistance element across which excitation is applied.
	Precision	The degree reproducibility among several independent measurements of the same true value under reference conditions.
	Pressure	Force acting on a surface measured as force per unit area (this may be absolute pressure, differential pressure, gauge pressure, or reference pressure).
	Pyroelectric Effect	The generation of charge in certain crystals when unequally heated or cooled.
	Random Vibration	Non-periodic vibration described only in statistical terms (mean vibration characterized by a normal amplitude distribution) within prescribed limits.
	Range	The measured value over which transducer is intended to measure, specified by upper or lower limits.
	Recovery Time	The time interval after a specified event after which a transducer again performs within its specified tolerances.
	Reference Pressure	The pressure relative tops which a differential pressure transducer is used.
	Reference Standard	A transducer or a device whose characteristics are precisely known relative to a primary standard.
	Relative Humidity	The ratio of the water vapour pressure actually present to the water vapour required for saturation at a given temperature expressed in percentage.
	Reliability	A measure of the probability that a transducer / device will continue to perform within specified limits of error a specified length of time under specified conditions.
	Repeatability	The ability of a transducer to reproduce output reading when the same measurand value is applied to it repeatedly under the same environment condition and in the same direction.
	Resolution	The magnitude of discernable (detectable) output changes as the measurand is continuously varied over the range.
	Response Time	The time required for the output of a transducer to reach a specified percentage of its final value as a result of a step change of measurand.
	Rise Time	The time required for the output of a transducer to rise from 10% to 90% of its final value.
	Sensing Element	That part of the transducer, which responds directly to the measurand.
	Sensitivity	The ratio of the change in transducer output to a corresponding change in the value of the measurand.
	Sensitive Axis	The axis along which the input measurand is applied or mounted.
	Shock	A short non-periodic or transient excitation of a mechanical system.
	Source Impedance	The impedance presented to the transducer 's excitation terminals by the excitation source.
	Span	The algebraic difference between the limits of the range.
	Stability	The ability of a transducer to retain its repeatability and other characteristics throughout its specified operating life and storage life.
	Stagnation Pressure	Sum of the static pressure and the impact pressure in a fluid flow.
	Static Calibration	A calibration preformed by application of the measurand tot he transducer at discrete amplitude intervals.
	Static Error Band	The error band applicable are room conditions and in the absence of any vibration shock or acceleration. It is cumulative effect of non-linearity, hysterisis and non-repeatability.
	Strain	The deformation in a body or object resulting from a stress measured as the ratio of the dimensional change to the total value of the dimension in which the change occurs.
	System Accuracy	Difference between the value as measured on the system and the true value.
	Temperature Error	The maximum change in output at any measured value within the specified range, when the temperature of the transducer is changed from one value to another.
	Terminal Line	A theoretical slope for which the theoretical end points are 0% and 100% of both measurand and output.
	Thermal Co-Efficient Of Resistance	The relative change in resistance of a conductor or semiconductor per unit change in temperature over a stated range of temperature.
	Thermoelectric Transduction	Conversion of the measurand into a change in emf generated by a temperature difference between the junction of two selected dissimilar metals.
	Threshold	The smallest change in the measurand that produces a detectable change in the transducer output.
	Time Constant	The time required for the output of a transducer to rise to 63.2% of its final value as a result of a step change in the measurand.
	Torque	The moment of force.
	Transfer Function	A mathematical relationship between the input and the output expressed as a ratio of two polynomials.
	Traceability	The step transfer process by which the transducer calibration can be related to the reference standards.
	Transducer	A device, which provides a usable output in response to a specified measurand.
	Transduction Element	The part of the transducer in which the information originates.
	Transient Response	The response of a transducer to step/ fast change in meausrand.
	Transverse Acceleration	acceleration perpendicular to the sensitive axis of transducer.
	Transverse Sensitivity	The sensitivity of a transducer to specified value of inputs applied in an axis orthogonal to the designed sensitive axis.
	Triboelectric Effect	The generation of electric charge by friction between surfaces.
	Velocity	A vector quantity equal to the time rate of change of displacement with respect to a reference system.
	Warm-Up Period	The period of time, starting with the application of power to the transducer, required to assure that the transducer will perform within specified tolerance.
	Zero Shifts	A change in output over a specified period of time at specified ambient conditions with input held constant.