Signal Conditioners Specifications

Help with Signal Conditioners specifications:

Signal Conditioning Type

	Signal Conditioning Type
	Your choices are...
	Encoder and Resolver Signal Conditioners		Encoder and resolver signal conditioners accept encoder and resolver measurements, and convert or condition these signals into digital data or suitable levels.
	LVDT and RVDT Signal Conditioners		Linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) and rotary variable differential transformer (RVDT) signal conditioners are devices that translate the linear or rotary movement of a ferromagnetic armature into an AC voltage that is proportional to the armature position.
	Temperature Signal Conditioners		Temperature signal conditioners accept outputs from temperature measurement devices such as resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), thermocouples, and thermistors. They then filter, amplify, and/or convert these outputs to digital signals, or to levels suitable for digitization.
	Vibration and Acceleration		Vibration signal conditioners and acceleration signal conditioners accept the output of devices that are designed specifically for vibration or acceleration measurement. They convert or condition these signals to digital data, or suitable levels for digitization.
	Bridge Conditioner		Bridge conditioners provide excitation for and support of Wheatstone bridge-style sensors such as quarter, half, or full bridge accelerometers.
	Signal Filter		Signal filters block or decrease (attenuate) unwanted frequencies or signal wave characteristics.
	Signal Isolator		Signal isolation is the separation of any direct electrical contact of a signal. This can be done in various ways, including optical isolation, capacitors, and magnetic induction.
	Instrumentation Amplifier		Instrumentation amplifiers are differential amplifiers that have been optimized for use with DC signals. Typically, they are characterized by high gain, high common mode rejection ratio (CMRR), and high input impedance.
	Isolation Amplifier		Isolation amplifiers are designed specifically to isolate high DC levels from the data acquisition device while passing the relatively small AC or differential signal. The inputs and outputs are electrically isolated.
	Sample-and-Hold Amplifier		Sample-and-hold conditioners "capture" samples of the signal. The signal is quantized to discrete levels and can be sent to conform to any timing parameters of the system. They can use triggers for initiating a sample.
	Other		Other unlisted or specialized signal conversion or conditioning function.
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Application

	Application
	Your choices are...
	General Lab and Industrial		Products are designed for general laboratory and industrial data acquisition systems. Hardening against weather, shock, extreme heat, and other unusual conditions are not necessary.
	Environmental		Products are designed for use in environmental applications such as groundwater monitoring or pollution measurement.
	Vehicular		Products are designed for applications involving vehicular motion, and include provisions for factors such as high speed, shock, etc.
	Marine		Products are designed for use in water or salt water applications.
	Aerospace / Military		Products are designed for use in aviation, aerospace, or other military or defense applications, including associated technical or military standards.
	Seismic / Geotechnical		Products are designed for use in seismic applications such as earthquake or volcano research, or in industries such as mining.
	Weather / Meteorology		Products are designed to handle weather or atmospheric data, and may include weatherproofing.
	Medical / Biomedical		Products are designed for use in medical, biomedical, pharmaceutical, or surgical applications.
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Software

	Application Software Included?		Products include compatible software for control, or for monitoring data acquisition and signal conditioning from a supervisory or host computer.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

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Memory and Storage

	RAM / On-board Memory:		Products use random access memory (RAM) or provide memory for control software or function/program loading.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.
	Data Storage		Products have data storage capacity, typically with a hard drive.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.

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Network Specifications

	Networkable System?		Devices are designed to communicate with or be a node of a digital network.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.
	Network Options:
	Your choices are...
	Beckhoff I/O		Beckhoff I/O is a communications system that couples open fieldbus protocols to Beckhoff's bus terminal I/O. This allows connectivity to a large variety of devices on the bus terminal (K-bus).
	IEEE 1394 (FireWire®)		IEEE 1394 or FireWire® is an interface standard adopted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for very fast digital data transfers such as streaming video. IEEE 1394 connectors are used to transmit and receive data among FireWire devices, and are designed to replace external high-speed peripheral connections to personal computers, including hard disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs, graphics cards, high-speed scanners, direct video, monitors, etc. Tiny, robust FireWire connectors will also become important parts of home entertainment, communication, and appliance networks. FireWire is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
	Other		Other unlisted or proprietary networks.
	Ethernet		Ethernet is a local area network (LAN) protocol that uses a bus or star topology, and supports data transfer rates of 10 Mbps. The Ethernet specification served as the basis for the IEEE 802.3 standard, which specifies the physical and lower software layers. Ethernet uses the CSMA/CD access method to handle simultaneous demands. It is one of the most widely implemented LAN standards.
	CANbus		CANbus is a high-speed serial data network engineered to exist in harsh electrical environments.
	DeviceNet		DeviceNet is a network designed to connect industrial devices such as limit switches, photoelectric cells, valve manifolds, motor starters, drives, and operator displays to PLCs and PCs. The network eliminates hard wiring while providing device-level diagnostics.
	SDS		Smart distributed system (SDS) is an advanced bus system for intelligent sensors and actuators using CAN-based technology.
	Foundation Fieldbus		Foundation Fieldbus is a bi-directional communications protocol used for communications among field instrumentation and control systems.
	PROFIBUS		PROFIBUS is a vendor-independent, open-field bus standard used in a wide variety of manufacturing and process automation applications.
	SERCOS		SERCOS (serial real-time communications system) is an open controller-to-intelligent digital drive interface specification. It is designed for high-speed serial communication of standardized, closed-loop data in real time, over a noise-immune fiber optic cable.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

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Filter Specifications

	Integral Filter?		Integral filters allow certain signal frequencies to pass while attenuating others. These filters can also operate on signal phase.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.
	Filter Architecture:
	Your choices are...
	Analog (RC)		Analog filters are designed with resistors and capacitors. They are used for analog signals only, and are often used in low-noise requirement applications.
	Digital (FIR, IIR)		Digital filters are designed with solid-state components, and used for digital signals and quantized signals from a sample-and-hold amplifier. This category includes finite impulse response (FIR) and infinite impulse response (IIR) filters. Digital filtering can approach ideal bandpass characteristics.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.
	Number of Poles:		Poles are a measure of complexity of the filter circuitry. In general, more poles will provide a steeper roll-off for a given filter type.
	Your choices are...
	2
	4
	6
	8
	Other
	Search Logic:		Products with the selected attribute will be returned as matches. Leaving or selecting "No Preference" will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.
	Filter Function:
	Your choices are...
	Low Pass		Low pass filters block or attenuate signals at frequencies above the specified cutoff frequency.
	High Pass		High pass filters block or attenuate signals at frequencies below the specified cutoff frequency.
	Band Pass		Band pass filters block or attenuate signals at frequencies outside of the specified low pass and high pass cutoff frequencies. This is frequently done by combining or "cascading" low-pass and high-pass filters.
	Band Stop		Band stop filters block a portion of the frequency spectrum, allowing lower and higher frequencies to pass.
	All Pass		All-pass filters allow all frequencies to pass; they can be used to introduce desired phase shifts in signals.
	Other		Other unlisted or specialized filter forms.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.
	Filter Type:
	Your choices are...
	Bessel		Bessel filters have a relatively flat bandpass and slow roll-off. The stopband is fairly monotonic (ripple-free). Their circuitry is complex compared to other filters.
	Butterworth		Butterworth filters provide a very flat response. There is almost no attenuation in the bandpass. The roll-off rate is somewhat slower than other filters.
	Cauer (Elliptic)		Cauer or elliptic filters provide the fastest roll-off for a given order (number of poles). The pass band and stop band will typically have ripples.
	Chebyshev		Chebyshev filters provide a very fast roll-off, but at the expense of a rippled pass band.
	Linear Phase		Linear phase response filters preserve the phase characteristics of a signal by time-delaying the signal components equally.
	Other		Other filter types.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.
	Low Pass Cutoff Frequency		The low pass cutoff frequency is the nominal frequency below which the input signal is passed and above which the signal is blocked.
	Search Logic:		User may specify either, both, or neither of the "At Least" and "No More Than" values. Products returned as matches will meet all specified criteria.
	High Pass Cutoff Frequency		The high pass cutoff frequency is the nominal frequency above which the input signal is passed and below which the signal is blocked.
	Search Logic:		User may specify either, both, or neither of the "At Least" and "No More Than" values. Products returned as matches will meet all specified criteria.
	Anti-aliasing Filter?		Aliasing is the misrepresentation of a signal that comes from an improperly slow sampling of a signal. An anti-aliasing filter generally has a sharper cutoff than a normal low-pass filter to reduce this misrepresentation due to the influence of frequencies higher than desired. It is specified according to the sampling rate of the system and there should be one filter per input signal.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.
	Programmable Filter?		Filter parameters such as cutoff frequencies may be interactively programmed by the user.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

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Amplifier Specifications

	Integral Amplifier?		Amplifiers multiply a signal to the matching scale of the input device. Amplifier gains, or multiplication factors, may be greater than one or fractional for signal reduction.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.
	Programmable Gain?		Amplifier gain may be adjusted according to the application needs. Adjustment may be from a local interface (such as a front panel) or from a computer interface.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.
	Gain Range		Gain is the factor by which the input signal is multiplied. Gains are frequently greater than unity, but may be fractional when a reduction (attenuation) of signal amplitude is desired.
	Search Logic:		User may specify either, both, or neither of the limits in a "From - To" range; when both are specified, matching products will cover entire range. Products returned as matches will meet all specified criteria.
	Maximum Output		This is the limit of output voltage.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.
	Bandwidth		Bandwidth is the difference between the high and low limits of the frequency response, typically defined by a variation from a nominal value by a stated value such as 3 dB.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.
	Input Impedance		Impedance (Z) is the resistance to alternating signal flow and is a result of the resistance, capacitance, and the inductance of the circuitry of a device. Input impedance of an amplifier is the equivalent impedance that the signal input sees. Input impedance is typically specified to be much greater than the impedance of a sensor whose signal it is amplifying. Some applications, such as in the power and acoustic fields, require impedance matching of devices.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.
	Output Impedance		The impedance that the amplifier appears to present to its output terminals, and thus to the impedance of its load.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value less than or equal to the specified value.
	Common Mode Rejection Ratio:		The ability of an amplifier to obtain the difference between two inputs while rejecting the signal common to both is defined by the common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) and the common mode range. The simplest mathematical definition of CMRR is: CMRR = 20 log (differential gain / common mode gain)
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.

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Environment

	Operating Temperature		Full required range of ambient operating temperature.
	Search Logic:		User may specify either, both, or neither of the limits in a "From - To" range; when both are specified, matching products will cover entire range. Products returned as matches will meet all specified criteria.
	Vibration Rating		Maximum vibration that the device can withstand and still meet performance specifications.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.
	Shock Rating		Maximum shock that the device can withstand and still meet performance specifications.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.

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Form Factor

	Form Factor
	Your choices are...
	Printed Circuit Board (PCB)		Devices are printed circuit boards (PCBs) that attach to enclosures or plug directly into computer backplanes.
	Panel / Chassis Mount		Devices attach to a panel or bolt onto a chassis.
	Modular Bay / Slot System		Devices stack in modular bays or slots, and can be interfaced to other units.
	Rack Mount		Devices are rack-mounted and fit inside enclosures such as a standard 19 in. telecommunications rack.
	DIN Rail		Devices mount on a standard DIN rail. DIN is an acronym for Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN), a German national organization for standardization.
	Stand Alone		Devices are benchtop or floor-standing units with a full casing or cabinet, and an integral interface.
	Other		Other unlisted form factors.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

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Device Specifications

	Analog Input Channels:		This is the maximum number of analog channel inputs. The single-ended number is specified when single-ended inputs are available as twice the number of differential inputs. Differential channels use the difference between two signals as an input; common mode is filtered out. In some systems, differential inputs are combinations of two single-ended inputs. When this is the case, twice the number of differential channels are available as single-ended inputs.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.
	Differential Channels		Differential channels have two inputs. The signal to process is the voltage (V) difference between the two inputs. For example, if one reading is 4.93 V and the other reading is 5.16 V, the meaningful value is the 0.23 V difference between the two. Often, this applies to precision measurements where the difference between two low-voltage inputs is small but critical.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.
	Digital I/O Channels		Digital or discrete channels are used for low-level on-off signals used in applications such as communication, user interface, or control.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.
	Accuracy		Accuracy depends on the signal conditioning linearity, hysteresis, temperature considerations, etc. It is represented here as percent full scale of measurement range.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value less than or equal to the specified value.

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Signal Inputs

	Your choices are...
	DC Voltage Input
	DC Current Input?
	AC Voltage Input?
	AC Current Input?
	Frequency Input?		Input for varying frequency, pulse, or other specialized waveform.
	Charge Input?		Charge is the output of a piezoelectric device. A charge signal typically requires filtering and amplification.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

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Sensor Inputs

	Your choices are...
	Accelerometer Input		The inputs are specifically for an accelerometer, such as a piezoelectric or current-fed sensor.
	Thermocouple Input		The inputs are for a thermocouple or thermocouple series.
	Thermistor Input		Inputs for thermistors and potentiometers handle variable resistance as a function of the process being measured.
	RTD Input		The inputs are designed for a resistance temperature detector (RTD).
	Strain Gauge / Bridge Input		The inputs are designed for a Wheatstone bridge, in full, half, or quarter bridge configurations. Strain gauges are sensors which commonly use Wheatstone bridges.
	LVDT / RVDT Input		The inputs are for a linear (LVDT) or rotary (RVDT) variable differential transformer.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

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Specialized & Other Inputs

	Your choices are...
	Encoder Input?		Inputs for an encoder signal such as binary, gray, or binary-coded decimal (BCD).
	Counter / Tachometer Input?		Typically, the inputs from counters or tachometers are one signal per cycle counts.
	Timer / Clock Input?		Inputs for any type of time signal.
	Relay / Switch Input?		Inputs for a discrete, on/off signal from an exterior device.
	Other Input?		Other unlisted or specialized inputs.
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Transducers & Excitation

	Your choices are...
	Voltage Excitation Supply?		Devices have a voltage output that is meant to power or activate the sensor whose signal the device is receiving.
	Current Excitation Supply?		Devices have a current output that is meant to power or activate the sensor whose signal the device is receiving.
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Outputs

	Your choices are...
	Voltage Output?		Variable voltage outputs such as 0-10V, ±5V, etc.
	Current Output?		Variable current level outputs such as 0-20mA, 4-20 mA current loop, etc.
	Frequency Output?		The output is a frequency or pulse signal such as amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), or pulse width modulation (PWM) or control.
	Timer / Counter Output?		The output is a counting or timing of measured events.
	Relay Output?		With switch-type outputs, the contacts are open or closed depending on the state of one or more of the inputs.
	Other Output?		Other unlisted or specialized outputs.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

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User Interface

	User Interface
	Your choices are...
	None		There is no user input or programmability. Instead, there is "black box" style of storage for download or processing elsewhere.
	Front Panel and Display		There are integral controls, a keypad, and/or a display on the panel of the unit.
	Touch Screen		The device's visual display screen is contact-sensitive to allow direct input.
	Hand-held / Remote Programmer		The interface unit is designed specifically to be held in the hand while the user enters program parameters, and may include remote programming.
	Computer Programmable		The device is interfaced to a separate supervisory or host computer.
	Other		Other unlisted user interface methods.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

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