The Difference Between a Sensor and a Transmitter
In the realm of automatic control and measurement, both sensors and transmitters are of crucial importance. They play indispensable roles in the process of data acquisition and transmission. People have developed the transmitter from the sensor.
They have connected the transmitter and the sensor, but they also have important differences. Let’s explore their features and differences.
Sensor
Coda is a company that has been making environmental and weather monitoring solutions for over ten years. They have seen many changes and improvements in sensor technology. A sensor is a device that turns physical signals into electrical signals. Engineers or designers mainly build it with sensitive parts, conversion parts, circuits, and power supplies.
The sensitive part is an important part of a sensor. It acts like a smart “scout” that finds changes in the environment. This includes changes in temperature, pressure, humidity, and light.
For example, in a temperature sensor, a thermistor is the sensitive part. Its resistance changes a lot with temperature changes. In a pressure sensor, a piezoresistive component changes its resistance based on the pressure applied.
Transmitter
A transmitter is a device that changes non-standard electrical signals into standard ones. It mainly has three parts: a measurement part, an amplifier, and a feedback part. The measurement part detects the input non-standard electrical signal accurately.
Engineers or designers need to endow it with high precision and stability to correctly capture the initial signal. The amplifier then boosts the weak measurement signal to a suitable level for further processing. It is crucial to maintain the signal’s integrity during the amplification process to avoid distortion.
The feedback system constantly checks the output signal. It adjusts the transmitter’s internal settings to meet the required standards. This feedback helps make the transmitter more accurate and reliable.
The Difference Between Sensor and Transmitter
Wiring System and Power Supply
Sensors have different wiring setups. These include two-wire, three-wire, and four-wire systems. The type of wiring system depends on the sensor and its use. Some sensors need extra power to work.
Some high-precision sensors have complex circuits. They require an outside power source to convert and process signals.
On the other hand, some sensors are passive and do not need outside power. These sensors make electrical signals based on the changes they sense. They do this without needing extra energy.
The transmitter usually uses a two-wire system. In this system, the power supply and signal share the same wires. This makes wiring easier and lowers the system’s complexity.
It helps the transmitter perform better for long-distance signals. It does this by using the wiring resources well.
Signal
The output signal from a sensor is often an unusual electrical signal. Engineers design sensors to show the physical changes they find. Because of this, the electrical signals can change in strength, frequency, or other features. This depends on the type of sensor and the physical quantity being measured.
For example, a strain gauge sensor may show a small change in resistance. This change needs more processing to get a useful measurement. In contrast, the transmitter sends out a standard electrical signal.
Engineers and technicians often use standard electrical signals. These include 4 to 20 mA current signals and 0 to 10 V voltage signals in industrial control systems.
These standard signals are easy to connect with other control devices. This includes programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and data acquisition systems. They ensure that different parts of the control system work well together. This helps in integrating and managing the whole system.
conclusion
It is important to know the differences between sensors and transmitters. This knowledge helps you choose the right devices for various uses. These uses can include industrial automation, environmental monitoring, or smart home systems.
We can make better measurement and control systems by using special features of sensors and transmitters.
