IEEE 1451: A standard in support of smart transducer networking

The IEEE 1451 smart transducer interface standards provide the common interface and enabling technology for the connectivity of transducers to microprocessors, control and field networks, and data acquisition and instrumentation systems. The standardized TEDS specified by IEEE 1451.2 allows the self-description of sensors and the interfaces provide a standardized mechanism to facilitate the "Plug and play " of sensors to networks. The network-independent smart transducer object model defined by IEEE 1451.1 allows sensor manufacturers to support multiple networks and protocols. Thus, transducer-to-network interoperability is on the horizon. The inclusion of P1451.3 and P1451.4 to the family of 1451 standards will meet the needs of the analog transducer users for high-speed applications. In the long run, transducer vendors and users, system integrators, and network providers can all benefit from the IEEE 1451 interface standards.