Industrial Communication Guide

COMPONENTS AND STRUCTURE OF AUTOMATION SYSTEMS

2. COMPONENTS AND STRUCTURE OF AUTOMATION SYSTEMS 2.1. OVERVIEW OF COMPONENTS

2.2. SENSORS

A sensor is a measuring device that captures analog physical quan- tities (mechanical, chemical, thermal, magnetic or optical) and transforms them into analog and digital electrical signals. Sensors can be distinguished by signal type (analog sensor, digital sensor), measuring principle (optical sensor, capacitive sensor, etc.), pur- pose (sensors in automation technology, sensors in aerospace, etc.) and quantity measured (power sensor, temperature sensor, etc.).

An automation system consists of sensors (1), actuators (2), a con- trol computer (3) and a communication system (4), which interlinks the other components.

2

4

Physical quantity e.g. Heat

Electric signal

1

e.g. Voltage Current

Magnetic Field Light

Resistance

3

11