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A signal conditioner is a device used for amplification, filtering, converting, and other processes to provide the output in a more easily read format. Signal conditioners are usually used for data acquisition, where sensor signals are normalized and filtered to levels required for analog-to-digital conversion, which is read by computerized devices.
The various functions og signal conditioner are as follows:
- Amplification
Signal amplifier is capable of amplifying overall magnitude of the signal. For instance, signal amplifier is capable of amplifying a 0-5mV signal to a 0 -5V.
- Electrical Isolation
Electric isolation is used to prevent ground loops.
Signal conditioner provides electrical isolation by breaking the galvanic path between the input and output signal, disconnecting physical wiring between the input and output. Thus, using signal conditioner, unwanted signals on the input line are prevented from passing through to the output. The output is obtained in the form of optical or magnetic signal, which is reconstructed further to bring it back to its form as transferred by input.
- Linearization
Converting a non-linear input signal to a linear output signal. This is common for thermocouple signals.
-Cold Junction Compensation
Signal conditioning is used for thermocouples, where the thermocouple signal is adjusted to change fluctuations in room temperature.
- Excitation
When strain gages and RTDs are used as sensors, signal conditioner is used to provide excitation for them to operate.
Parameters for selecting signal conditioner
Signal conditioner has to be selected based on following parameters:
Signal conditioning type, form factor, device specifications, signal inputs, sensor inputs, specialized inputs, transducers and excitation, outputs and user interface, software, memory and storage, network specifications, filter specifications, amplifier specifications, and environmental parameters.
Applications
Signal conditioners are used in various devices such as signal filters, instrument amplifiers, sample-and-hold amplifiers, isolation amplifiers, signal isolators, multiplexers, bridge conditioners, analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, frequency converters or translators, voltage converters or inverters, frequency-to-voltage converters, voltage-to-frequency converters, current-to-voltage converters, current loop converters, and charge converters.
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