Intelligent sensor
An intelligent sensor is a sensor that takes some predefined action when it senses the appropriate input (light, heat, sound, motion, touch, etc.).
Description
[edit]The sensor has to do the following tasks:
- Give a digital signal.
- Be able to communicate the signal.
- Be able to execute logical functions and instructions.
Elements of intelligent sensors
[edit]An intelligent sensor integrates both analogue and digital subsystems, combining sensing, signal conditioning, conversion, compensation, and communication functions in one unit. Each element contributes to transforming a physical quantity into reliable digital information suitable for higher-level processing.[1]
The main components are:
- Primary sensing element – the core transducer that converts a physical quantity (such as temperature, pressure or acceleration) into an electrical signal.
- Excitation control – provides the necessary stimulus or bias to the sensing element and can vary depending on the sensing principle and application.
- Amplification – increases the weak signal from the sensing element.
- Analogue filtering – removes unwanted noise and prevents aliasing before the signal is converted to digital form.
- Data conversion – converts the conditioned analogue signal into digital form.
- Compensation – corrects variations in sensor behaviour.
- Digital information processing – compresses, validates and interprets data, checking the integrity and consistency of measurements before transmission.
- Digital communication processing – handles addressing, protocol management and error checking during data exchange with external systems.
Technical capacities
[edit]Because the tasks are performed by microprocessors, any gadget which mixes a sensor and a microprocessor is usually called an intelligent sensor.
To qualify as an intelligent sensor, the sensor and processor must be part of the same physical unit. A sensor whose only function is to detect and send an unprocessed signal to an external system which performs some action is not considered intelligent.
Ubiquitous Sensor Networks (USN)
[edit]Ubiquitous Sensor Networks (USN) is used to describe a network of intelligent sensors that could, one day, become ubiquitous.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Powner, E.T.; Yalcinkaya, F. (1995-09-01). "Intelligent sensors: structure and system". Sensor Review. 15 (3): 31–35. doi:10.1108/02602289510795978. ISSN 0260-2288.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2008-12-07. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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