Dictionary
an artifact (or system of artifacts) that is instrumental in accomplishing some end the act of providing or using the instruments needed for some implementation the instruments called for in a musical score or arrangement for a band or orchestra the act of arranging a piece of music for an orchestra and assigning parts to the different musical instruments
|
Wikipedia
dablink This article is about instrumentation, the physical science. There is an article on Instrumentation (music)musical instrumentation. dablinkThere is also an article on the instrumentation amplifier, an integrated circuit sometimes used in measurement instruments. Instrumentation is defined as "the art and science of measurement and control". Instrumentation can be used to refer to the field in which Instrument technicians and engineers work, or it can refer to the available methods of measurement and control and the instruments which facillitate this.
Measurement - Instruments are devices which are used to measure attributes of physical systems. The variable measured can include practically any measurable variable related to the physical sciences. These variables commonly include: pressureRate_of_fluid_flowflow temperature level density viscosity radiation current (electricity)current voltage inductancecapacitance frequencychemical composition chemical properties various physical propertiesetc. Instruments can often be viewed in terms of a simple input-output device. For example, if we "input" some temperature into a thermocouple, it "outputs" some sort of signal. (Which can later be translated into data.) In the case of this thermocouple, it will "output" a signal in millivoltage.
Output - Instruments communicate with some sort of signal, often adhering to a standardizationstandard. This signal may be defined by standards associations, or it may be a proprietary standard. Some standards include:Analog (signal)Analog*Pneumatics (Signal lines/tubes)**3-15PSI**20-100 kPa**6-30PSI*voltage**1-5V**0-5V**0-10V*current (electricity)Current **4-20mA**8-40 mA**10-50 mADigital*HART Protocol_(computing)Protocol*SMAR Protocol_(computing)Protocol*Fieldbus*Modbus*Profibus*Industrial Ethernet*Various wireless communications
Control - These devices are generally connected to some sort of control system which responds to the instrument's measurement. The response programmed into the control system manipulates control devices attached to the process. This cycle of changing of manipulated variables, measurement of controlled variables, and proper response is the basic concept behind process control. The control systems used are often considered part of the field of instrumentation, and can include simple !Programmable_Logic_Controller< bara>Programmable Logic Controllers(PLCs) or Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), to more advanced Distributed Control Systems (DCSs). Inputs can vary from a few measured variables, to thousands of measured variables.
Related professions - Instrumentation Engineers largely design control and measurement systems primarily for industrial processes, although instruments are present in almost any modern technology today including vehicles, computers, appliances etc.Instrumentation Technologists largely troubleshoot, repair, and install instruments and instrumention systems. This trade is so intertwined with electricians, pipefitters, power engineers, and engineering companies, that one can find his/herself in extremely diverse working situations.
External links - instrumentationews.com - Instrumentation News - a site for sensors, measurements, data acquisition, automatic cotrol and related news.
|
|
Websites
First Directory
A UK based search engine of industrial companies
http://www.1stdirectory.com
Progeco tech
Lien vers DDINS / Link to DDINS
http://www.progecotech.ca/
ect engineering consultancy & trading co.ltd.
ect engineering consultancy & trading co.ltd. brings you productivity,efficiency,reliability and safety
http://www.ectltd.com/
Calibaration & Controls
Calibration & Control Instrumentation for Process Automation, Testing & Calibration
http://www.caltrols.com/
CCSi Testing Instruments, Equipment, Physical Testing, Calibration & Related Services
CCSi provides the rubber, plastic, and textile processing industries with laboratory instrumentation, processing and test specimen preparation equipment, physical testing, instrument calibration and related services.
http://www.ccsi-inc.com/
Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
Provides multidisciplinary leadership and programs that enhance the ability of the professions, health care institutions, and industry to understand, develop, manage, and use medical instrumentation and related technologies safely and effectively.
http://www.aami.org
ISA, the International Society for Measurement and Control
ISA is an organization of engineers, technicians, and others who work in the field of instrumentation, measurement, and control of industrial processes.
http://www.isa.org
Intelligent Instrumentation
Supplies PC and Ethernet data collection and acquisition.
http://www.instrument.com/
ScienceDirect
Research papers published on the net , subscription required for some sections.
http://www.sciencedirect.com
NASA Astrophysics Data System
Search system for abstracts in astrophysics, planetary sciences and solar physics.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/
|
|