Use of XML in transducer electronic data sheets

Transducers, both sensors and actuators, have traditionally been, and for the most part still are, analog devices. In recent years a number of digital devices have been introduced with digital outputs where the market could support the additional cost. Digitization and communication through a bus, as opposed to individual analog connections, introduced the term "smart sensors". The IEEE p1451.3 standard attempts to define a minimum level of intelligence which includes self describing TEDS (Transducers Electronic Data Sheets) besides digitization and addition of a bus. TEDS are designed to be stored in the sensor itself. Since many sensors are very small we have limited memory. Use of XML and Binary XML proved to be the most practical way of describing datasheets for IEEE p1451.3.