A sensor is an electronic or mechatronic component that detects certain physical or chemical properties, such as pressure, temperature, sound, displacement, acceleration, humidity, or pH. It converts this measured quantity—either qualitatively or quantitatively—into a form that can be further processed; in measurement technology, this is typically an electrical signal (e.g., voltage, current, resistance, or charge).
Role in the measurement chain
Sensors are the first step in the Measuring chain: They convert the actual process variable into an electrical output signal, which is then transmitted via wires, transducers, or directly into a measurement or data acquisition system. Depending on the sensor type, this output signal can take the form of, for example, a mV signal, a 0–10 V signal, a 4–20 mA current loop, or a change in resistance (e.g., Pt100).
Signal Conditioning in Delphin Devices
To convert these electrical signals back into meaningful measured values in their original physical units, Delphin devices feature built-in signal conditioning. The analog input stages measure standard quantities such as voltage, current, or resistance and scale them back to their original units—such as °C, bar, m/s², or pH—within the device. There is no need for complex conversions in downstream systems, as the values are already correctly linearized, scaled, and often filtered within the device.
Universal Inputs and Sensor Flexibility
Delphin's measurement and data acquisition systems are designed to accommodate different types of sensors per input. Universal, configurable inputs allow a single device to handle voltage signals, current signals (e.g., 4–20 mA), and resistance sensors (e.g.,. RTD, Pt100/Pt1000) as well as certain specialized signals without having to maintain separate hardware for each sensor type. This increases flexibility for varying measurement tasks and simplifies the setup of cross-application measurement systems.