Abstract: A networkable smart sensor senses an analog signal and converts this to a digital signal output. A processed signal is then communicated to a network. The sensor can be a stand-alone electronic signal processor sensor or can be networked for operation with a controller and/or other sensors. Sensors can operate in a master-slave or peer-to-peer communication mode. The sensors are for use in industrial applications including vehicle engines and processes.

Abstract: A stable pressure transducer system is disclosed. The transducer system includes a variable capacitor having conductive plates with one of the conductive plates being associated with a diaphragm variable under pressure changes to vary the capacitance of the variable capacitor. The system also includes a reference capacitor. Circuitry for applying signals to the pressure variable and the fixed reference capacitor is used to obtain outputs from each of the capacitors with the output from the variable capacitor varying in amplitude with its capacitance. Circuitry for differentially combining the outputs from the variable and fixed capacitors provides an output voltage indicating the pressure applied to the diaphragm. In order to stabilize the output of the transducer, an isolating capacitor having a capacitance value at least several times greater than the capacitance of the variable and reference capacitors is coupled in series with one or both of the variable and reference capacitors.