Prepare For A Virtual Interface Standard

Look for a "virtual" analog-sensor interface standard sometime this year. It will define the IEEE P1451.4 Working Group's Transducer Electronic Data Sheet (TEDS) to facilitate sensor interfacing via the Web. National Instruments (www.ni.com) is helping to set up this Internet-enabled TEDS database under an open-door Plug & Play Sensor Partner Program. So far, several sensor manufacturers have agreed to participate in the program. Users simply enter the sensor's serial number into the database. Then, they download the TEDS so asset-management and application software programs can work with both legacy and TEDS-enhanced sensors.