Smart Sensors and Smart Sensor Network Systems

摘要

This paper describes two different approaches to providing Smart Sensor capabilities in a measurement system. One approach incorporates digital memory chips into analog sensors or associated cabling to store information unique to the particular sensor. This information might include sensor model and serial number, manufacturer, sensor type, sensitivity, calibration date and calibration coefficients. Once read by the signal conditioner, the information can be used by the system to automatically identify all sensors, maintain configuration control, automatically set the system gain to normalize output data, and enhance calibration database management. The other approach, a Smart Sensor Network System, is very suitable for applications where connecting transducers in a multidrop configuration is advantageous. The networking capability can significantly reduce the number of interconnecting cables required. The NETWORK SENSOR provides for the consolidation of analog signal conditioning and digital signal processing functions at the sensor, which results in system cost reductions, high reliability and improved performance. Other benefits 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.