Ever add up all the time you spend plugging in your sensors, setting up your signal conditioning, figuring out exactly where each sensor is in a complex test and measurement setup, tweaking pots to recalibrate sensors, and readjusting signal conditioning-to say nothing of looking for lost paper calibration sheets?

Whatever the figure you come up with, it's too long, given the time-saving technology now available in the form of Plug & Play smart sensors. These sensors carry their specifications and calibration data onboard in the form of a transducer electronic data sheet, or TEDS, burned onto an EEPROM. When you plug in the sensor, a signal conditioner that's compliant with IEEE 1451.4 (governing Plug & Play technology) instantly interrogates the TEDS and automatically sets up and calibrates the signal conditioning for that sensor. The result: You're ready to go far more quickly-and with no time-wasting, money-eating manual data entry errors.

At Honeywell Sensotec, we believe that Plug & Play is a technology whose time has come-and so does the U.S. Navy. For engine testing, they wanted to update an instrumentation package that had outlived its usefulness but keep their Sensotec pressure and load cells. They hadn't actually thought about Plug & Play, but when we explained automatic setup, it sounded great to them. We brought all of the Navy's sensors back to our shop, recalibrated them, inserted a TEDS chip into each one, and programmed the sensors with Plug & Play capabilities. And we provided support software that lets the Navy rewrite their TEDS if something changes in their test and measurement setup. They can write new data to the TEDS either by using the front panel on their instrumentation or by sending the data to the TEDS from a PC. And as an extra benefit, we programmed the Navy TEDS with two identical pages of factory calibration data. They can change the second, but the first is read only, so that if things get a bit scrambled during a recalibration, they can easily revert to the default setup.

The Navy's very happy with Plug & Play technology, and we think you will be, too. We offer IEEE 1451.4 compliant smart sensing for every single one of our pressure sensors, load and torque cells, LVDTs, and accelerometers. And we'll build it into any custom sensor you may need. Learn more at http://www.sensotec.com/idtechnology.asp.

One of the most versatile tools on the test and measurement market, the Model SC500 from Honeywell Sensotec, an operating unit of Honeywell Sensing and Control, offers small size (1/8 DIN), three transducer input options (strain gauge, high-level, and LVDT), and five output options (including RS-232 and RS-485). This microprocessor-based indicator/conditioner also offers four virtual channels configurable at the factory to support custom applications-thereby eliminating the need to purchase and program a dedicated PC to handle signal conditioning. For applications requiring many sensors, this model offers the convenience of Plug & Play technology, which effectively eliminates “cabling and labeling” problems. An AC adapter enables easy use most anywhere in the world, and the large, bright numbers on the vacuum-fluorescent display ensure easy reading. The Model SC500 is compatible with a wide variety of Honeywell Sensotec sensors.

More

IEEE 1451.4: A COMMON PLATFORM

Provides seamless interoperability, reduces system set-up costs
Honeywell smart sensor products and National Instruments (NI) LabVIEW and data acquisition products now operate on a common platform compatible with IEEE 1451.4, the Transducer Electronic Data Sheet (TEDS) standard recently released in final form. As a result, test and measurement customers can now take advantage of seamless interoperability between Honeywell Sensotec smart sensors and signal conditioners and NI data acquisition hardware and software.

Plug and play technology implemented according to IEEE P1451.4 promises to considerably simplify the configurations of automated measuring systems. An important point to keep in mind is that P1451.4 deals only with making sensor self-identification data available in a universally readible format. This deliberately narrow focus means that some important aspects of plug and play technology are not explicitly covered by the standard. You're unlikely to encounter anything that will keep you from using plug and play successfully, but you'll want to plan carefully to make sure that your implementation will go smoothly.

More

• Speed, Position & Current Sensors
• Thermal & Humidity Sensors
• Pressure Force & Flow Sensors
• Relays
• Switches & controls
• Potentiometers & Resistors
• Safety Products for Machine Safeguarding
• Vehicle Controls & Monitoring