White Papers

A Unifying Standard for Interfacing Transducers to Networks - IEEE-1451.0 Presented at ISA 2005 Expo: Automation + Control., Oct. 27th. Chicago, IL.

Abstract: A committee of industry and government technology experts has completed a three-year effort to develop a set of specifications that consist of a unifying set of functions, communications protocols, a common set of commands, and electronic data sheet formats that will serve as the basis for all future IEEE 1451 smart transducer interface standards. This paper will highlight the key features of the proposed IEEE P1451.0 standard and describe how these features are being used in applications, and how they are beneficial to users in achieving data-level interoperability where multiple wired and wireless sensor networks are connected.
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Using IEEE's Smart Sensor Interface Standard for Web-Centric Equipment Monitoring reprinted from the June 2003, ISA SensorTech Journal - A Supplement to InTech. Houston, TX

Abstract: As the prevalence of network hardware in industrial and commercial facilities continues to grow, our company has become involved in developing sensor interface solutions that utilize existing Ethernet infrastructure to enable monitoring of sensor-rich equipment.
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Smart Sensor Standards and the USB Model reprinted from Sensors Expo 2003. Rosemont, IL

Abstract: Discussions and announcements about smart sensor standards have been appearing in the technical press, at various technical conferences, and at trade shows with increasing regularity during the past five years. Significant progress has been made but there seems to be more to do. This paper will compare and contrast some aspects of the IEEE 1451 family of smart sensor interfaces with the Universal Serial Bus (USB). Although USB is not a competing technology, there are some analogies that may be useful in refining some members of the 1451 smart sensor interface family. Recommendations for making IEEE 1451 easier to implement, less complex to use, and less cost to develop are included.
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NEEM: Network Enabled Equipment Monitor reprinted from Sensors Expo 2002. San Jose, CA

Abstract: This paper explores an application of IEEE 1451.2 Smart Transducer Interface Standard through discussion of Sensor Synergy's Network Enabled Equipment Monitor (NEEM) Product, which works within the framework of this standard. Included is a discussion of the IEEE standard's requirements and how these requirements result in the features of the NEEM product.
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IEEE 1451.2 family of Transducer Interface Standards reprinted from Sensors Expo 2002. San Jose, CA

Abstract: The IEEE-NIST 1451 family of standards is a set of open standards that define interfaces for sensors and actuators to communicate with processors. In fact, this family of standards is much more than a set of specifications associating connector pin positions with various signals. These standards contain a wealth of information and guidelines about connecting sensors and actuators to networks. The problem of developing a universal set of interface standards that will accommodate all sensors, actuators, communication needs, networks, and processor requirements is a very big task – in fact, it may be too big. The efforts by the IEEE standards committees and the U.S. government’s National Institute of Standards and Technology must be praised as an important step in the direction of creating open standards for connecting sensors and actuators to the networks of the future. But, there is a long way to go before we reach the goal of a universal transducer-to-network interface standard.
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Connectivity: Smart Sensors or Smart Interfaces from ISA 2001 Emerging Technologies Conference. Houston, TX

Abstract: Smart sensors devices may not be the universal panacea early proponents have suggested; other technologies, such as smart sensor interfaces, may provide essential tools to help make industrial processes more efficient and better integrate manufacturing operations with the rest of the enterprise.
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Issues Driving Sensor-to-Network Costs from Sensor Expo Fall 2001 proceedings. Philadelphia, PA

Abstract: During the difficult task of selecting which technologies to include in the design of a new product, tangible reasons are frequently sought to justify “gut-feeling” decisions. In determining whether to apply a new technology approach to a product under development, imprecise near-term financial benefits and intangible long-term returns are frequently invoked as adequate justification for selecting and utilizing new technology.

In fact, the economic advantages associated with applying new technology often becomes an extremely important aspect in determining whether this new product will fail or succeed. Curiously, the “true” economic advantage of applying a new technology may be overshadowed by the ability to quantify or articulate the value of this technology.
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Smart Interfaces for Sensors from Sensor Expo 2001 proceedings. Chicago, IL

Abstract: It seems that virtually every technical paper which describes a new technology to "make the world a better place", includes the term "smart" to refer to some aspect of this new technology. The technical literature is filled with smart capacitors, smart resistors, smart rectifiers, smart op-amps, smart memory, smart circuits, smart cards, smart systems, smart networks, smart partners, smart opinions, smart business, smart anything, smart everything and, yes, smart sensors. At the risk of speaking heresy, it seems that "smart" sensors may not always be a desirable goal. One of the issues with "smart sensors" is that, in some cases, it may not make economic sense to design, fabricate, and field smart sensors. Simply put, it may not always be smart to integrate "smart" enabling electronics to sensor components. Maybe what we really need are "smart" interfaces.
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