”Hello, I’m a sensor and here’s my spec sheet”

''Hello. I’m a smart sensor from ABC Co., this is my model, serial number, specifications, and calibration information.'' Would it be handy if a sensor introduced itself and gave the software you were using its electronic business card? That can happen now to save time and data-entry errors related to rekeying information.

By Control Engineering Staff August 28, 2003

”Hello. I’m a smart sensor from ABC Co., this is my model, serial number, specifications, and calibration information.” Would it be handy if a sensor introduced itself and gave the software you were using its electronic business card? That can happen now to save time and data-entry errors related to rekeying information. Sensors using IEEE P1451.4 specification can have transducer electronic data sheets (TEDS) info built into EEPROM. Software such as National Instruments’ LabView can ”ping” the sensor and download information. NI has an online database.

Honeywell Sensotec offers a TEDS-compliant pressure sensor, among others.

Lion Precision Inductive sensors are TEDS-enabled allowing data sheet retrieval from the sensor or from a serial number, through the Internet, without reading directly from the sensor.

In addition, for retrofit operations, companies like Honeywell Sensotec also have info on servers that can be copied into the software you’re using for data acquisition. Sensotec offerings include sensors for pressure, torque, load, temperature, force, vibration, and displacement. Sensotec

Wilcoxon is among other companies introducing TEDS-compliant sensors; one is the PC-420 vibration sensor, which can be used to trend the health of industrial machinery.

—Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering editor-in-chief, MHoske@cfemedia.com