Sensor
Computer-Process Interface
•To implement process control, the computer must collect data from and transmit
signals to the production process
•Components required to implement the interface:
Sensors to measure continuous and discrete process variables
Actuators to drive continuous and discrete process parameters
Devices for ADC and DAC
I/O devices for discrete data
ENT471 Automation
, Sensor
• A sensor is a device or transducer that detects information about the process and
its surroundings and transmits it to the process controller
• A sensor is a transducer that converts a physical stimulus from one form into a
more useful form to measure the stimulus
• Two basic categories:
Analog
Discrete – Binary, Digital (e.g., pulse counter)
• A sensor produces a signal for purposes of determining or measuring a property
such as position, force, torque, pressure, temperature, humidity, speed,
acceleration and vibration.
• Sensor technology is essential to data acquisition, monitoring, communication and
computer control of machines and systems
ENT471 Automation
, Sensor
• Automated systems should be able to sense, evaluate, make decisions, and
interact with their environment. By perfection of sensors, modern automated
system will be able to achieve their full potential.
• Sensors can help automated machine to:
Detect position and orientation of parts
Ensure consistent product quality
Discover variations of shape and dimensions of parts
Identify unknown obstacles
Determine and analyse system malfunctions
ENT471 Automation
Computer-Process Interface
•To implement process control, the computer must collect data from and transmit
signals to the production process
•Components required to implement the interface:
Sensors to measure continuous and discrete process variables
Actuators to drive continuous and discrete process parameters
Devices for ADC and DAC
I/O devices for discrete data
ENT471 Automation
, Sensor
• A sensor is a device or transducer that detects information about the process and
its surroundings and transmits it to the process controller
• A sensor is a transducer that converts a physical stimulus from one form into a
more useful form to measure the stimulus
• Two basic categories:
Analog
Discrete – Binary, Digital (e.g., pulse counter)
• A sensor produces a signal for purposes of determining or measuring a property
such as position, force, torque, pressure, temperature, humidity, speed,
acceleration and vibration.
• Sensor technology is essential to data acquisition, monitoring, communication and
computer control of machines and systems
ENT471 Automation
, Sensor
• Automated systems should be able to sense, evaluate, make decisions, and
interact with their environment. By perfection of sensors, modern automated
system will be able to achieve their full potential.
• Sensors can help automated machine to:
Detect position and orientation of parts
Ensure consistent product quality
Discover variations of shape and dimensions of parts
Identify unknown obstacles
Determine and analyse system malfunctions
ENT471 Automation
