Smart Transducer Network Bus

摘要

A Smart Transducer Network Bus combines two important characteristics: 1) a networking capability and 2) the consolidation of analog signal conditioning and digital signal processing functions at the transducer (i.e. "smart"). The networking function can be very useful for applications where connecting transducers in a multidrop configuration is advantageous. It can significantly reduce the number of interconnecting cables required. Consolidating the signal processing functions at the transducer results in system cost reductions, high reliability and improved performance. Other benefits of a Smart Transducer Network Bus include a standard transducer-to-network interface to accommodate any type of sensor or actuator, a communication protocol which provides for high-speed, synchronized data collection, and flexibility in configuring filters, sampling rates and other characteristics of each transducer in the network. A family of Network Sensors (sensor + electronics) and interface modules (electronics only) are being developed to allow a variety of different transducers to interface to a common network bus.