"Plug and play" sensors simplify system setup

RDP Electronics has joined forces with National Instruments and six European sensor manufacturers to co-ordinate the introduction of "plug and play" sensors.

RDP Electronics has joined forces with National Instruments and six European sensor manufacturers to co-ordinate the introduction of "plug and play" sensors.

The group's aim is to establish a common technical standard between sensors and data acquisition hardware and software so reducing the amount of custom setup and interfacing required with existing measurement systems.

RDP has established a reputation for manufacturing high-quality transducers and associated electronics, and developing special expertise in the measurement of physical parameters, over the past 35 years.

National Instruments is a world leader in computer-based data acquisition, software and virtual instrumentation including the industry-standard LabView application.

The benefits afforded by "plug and play" systems means that compatible transducers from the RDP range can now communicate directly with the software to ensure that the system is automatically set up for any transducer used.

Central to the system is an embedded memory chip holding technical data specific to its host sensor.

The information is stored in what is known as a transducer electronic datasheet (TEDS), defining the sensor type and characteristic details of sensitivity and similar setup data.

The TEDS file can be read by, and acted on by, any compatible software such as LabView, thus creating a very efficient and accurate means for calibration, configuration and diagnostics.

The data are also available via the Internet to upload when using specific transducers, and this offers "plug and play" users immediate savings in setup time.

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