What is a smart sensor?
Release Time：2015-03-12
One of the biggest advances in automation is the development and widespread use of smart sensors. But what exactly is a "smart" sensor? Below, experts from six sensor manufacturers define the term.
According to the definition of the Honeywell Industrial Measurement and Control Department Product Manager TomGriffiths: "A good 'smart sensor' is a microprocessor-driven sensor and instrument suit, and has functions such as communication and on-board diagnostics for the monitoring system and/or The operator provides relevant information to improve work efficiency and reduce maintenance costs."
Fault-free communication
"The advantage of smart sensors," said BillBlack, product manager for controllers at GEFanuc Automation, "is the ability to collect a lot of information from the process to reduce downtime and improve quality." MTS Sensors Temposonics (Magnetostrictive Displacement Sensors) Product Manager DavidEdeal added: "The basic premise of distributed intelligence is to have all the knowledge about the state of the system, subsystem or component at the appropriate location and time to make 'optimal' process control decisions."
"For a truly 'smart' (machine vision) sensor, it should not require the user to understand machine vision," continued JohnKeating, product marketing manager, Checker Machine Vision, at Cognex."
Smart sensors must have communication capabilities. "At the very least, in addition to the feedback signal to meet the most basic application, the 'smart' sensor must be able to transmit other information." Edeal stated. This can be a HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer Open Communication Protocol) signal superimposed on a standard 4-20mA process output, bus system, or wireless arrangement. A growing factor in the field is IEEE1451-a series of smart sensor interface standards designed to provide plug-and-play capabilities for sensors from different manufacturers.
Diagnostics and procedures
Smart sensors can self-monitor every aspect of their operation, including "camera contamination, out-of-tolerance limits or inability to switch," says Black of GEFanuc Automation. Pepperl Fuchs intelligent systems manager HelgeHornis added, "(In addition), there is a coil monitoring function, the target is out of range or too close." It can also compensate for changes in operating conditions. "'Intelligent' sensors," says DanArmentrout, director of strategy and creative at Omron Electronics, "must first be able to monitor themselves and their surroundings before deciding whether to automatically compensate for changes or warn the people involved."
Many smart sensors can be reinstalled in the control field by providing "settable parameters so that users can replace some 'standard' sensors," Hornis said. "For example, typical sensors are generally set to normally open (NO) or normally closed (NC), while smart sensors can be set to any of these states."
Smart sensors have many advantages. As the cost of embedded computing functions continues to decrease, more "smart" devices will be used. Independent in-house diagnostics can avoid costly downtime, allowing you to recover your investment quickly.
The two-stage automatic temperature compensation technology is adopted to solve the problem of temperature change of precision instruments and electronic devices and ensure the stability of long-term operation.
● The sensor output signal is isolated from the measured high current and high voltage to ensure the safe operation of the current stabilization system, control system, protection system and display.
The unique magnetic core structure design solves the interference of stray magnetic field and ensures the accuracy of the sensor.
All core components are military grade devices, improve product reliability.
● The output signals are isolated from each other and do not interfere with each other, which makes the matching of the high-current DC control system more convenient.
The two-part docking mode of the opening type is very convenient for installation, use and maintenance.
● Full epoxy resin encapsulation, to avoid the corrosion of the circuit in the harsh environment, improve the service life and stability of the sensor.
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