TABLE OF CONTENTS Learning Objectives. On completion of this chapter the reader will have a knowledge on:
Inputs and Outputs
Components of Measurement System
Origin of Signals
Transducers and types of transducers
Sensors and Biosensors Definitions
General Signal Conditioning Functions
Analog to Digital Control
Digital to Analog Control
Inputs and outputs of virtual instruments are representations of the loops and case statements of text-based programming languages. So the study of these inputs and outputs along with their characteristic feature is essential in all kinds of applications. LabVIEW inputs and outputs include transducer, data acquisition, signal conditioning, and PC peripheral devices. Sensors are used to measure process conditions and valves to influence process operations are essential for process control. Since successful process control requires appropriate instrumentation, engineers should understand the principles of common sensors and transducers introduced in this section. This section also describes the various components of measuring systems and concentrates on the origin of signals and related devices to acquire signals. A brief explanation is given on analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) converters. This section introduces the fundamentals of using signal conditioning hardware with PC-based DAQ systems. First, the signal conditioning requirements of the most common transducers are discussed. This section also describes some general signal conditioning functions and briefly discusses the role of signal conditioning products such as the National Instruments Signal Conditioning extensions for Instrumentation (SCXI) product line.
PC-based data acquisition (DAQ) systems and...
