测控专业_专业英语原始稿.doc

1.1.2 information signals and systems Intelligent instrumentation involves the use of systems to process information and signals. Three terms and defining. These concepts are a little abstract and are best illustrated (解释)by examples. In a measurement system the information is carried by the instantaneous value of a physical quantity(such as the angle of deflection（角度的偏转） of the pointer representing a fluid level) or by the variation （变量）of a physical quantity with time (such as the instantaneous value of the frequency of an alternating voltage in the output of a variale-frequency motor drive system) the signals are then respectively the pointer deflection and the voltage. Thus information processing and signal processing , terms which are often used synonymously , are different and have precise definitions . control systems and instrumentation systems are examples of information machines . Since intelligent instrumentation uses systems to process information and signals, the concepts(标准) of systems engineering can be applied. To achieve the good design of systems in intelligent instrumentation a styleof engineering is adopted which uses the techniques of digital computation, control systems and digital electronics In various mixes. Consider figure 1.1; this depicts the information paths along which signals flow in the computer control of a process, and shows the complexity of these paths. This computer control example illustrates the fundamental necessity of providing control systems with accurate measurements. It is worth nothing that although the terms plant（设备） and process are often used as synonyms（别名）, their meanings are quite different. A process is the activity of physically or chemically changing matter, which includes combining matter, or of converting（转换） energy. A plant is an installation（设备） in which a processes carried out. Hence（于是） a process cannot exist without a plant! 1.1.3 intelligent versus dumb instrumentation The term intelligent instrumentat