A signal conditioner is used to convert an electronic signal that’s tricky to interpret by conventional instrumentation into another type of signal that’s more readable.
Signal conditioning processes
A signal conditioning process involves filtering, amplification, converting, range matching, isolation and other processes that make the sensor output appropriate for signal processing and conditioning.
• Filtering
The most common function is filtering, because not every signal frequency spectrum carries actual data. For instance, 60 Hz AC power lines which is present almost everywhere will generate noise if amplified.
• Amplifying
Signal amplification increases the resolution of the entered signal. It also increases the signal-to-noise ratio. For instance the output of an electronic temperature sensor is too low for any ADC converter to process. It therefore becomes necessary to boost its voltage up to that level as needed by the ADC. Some of the most common amplifiers include hold amplifiers, peak detectors, log amplifiers, antilog amplifiers, instrumentation or programmable gain amplifiers.
• Isolation
Signal isolation passes the signal from the source to the measurement device, thereby isolating any possibilities of signal disruption. Isolation of the potentially expensive equipment is important since it processes the signal after conditioning from the sensor.
During this conversion, other functions also come to effect including electrical isolation, linearization, and excitation. While this process is taking place, repeaters and retimers keep up high signal quality. Signal Retimer/Conditioner meliorates the signal integrity which enhances the performance and reliability of the systems. It removes jitter from the input signal and does away with the inter-symbol interference.
Repeaters and retimers hold diverse complexities. Repeaters generally consist of an input equalizer and an output booster that reduces jitter. On the other hand, retimers set out the resources to interpret signals thereby eliminating deterministic jitter also.
Those higher speeds signal integrity give rise to signal impairments caused by insertion loss, jitter, reflections, and crosstalk. Some of the latest retimers are specifically designed to enhance signal integrity and to double up the transmission range simultaneously. They drive these high-speed interfaces and cope with the signal integrity problems. IN addition, they help minimize unwanted jitter of input signals and are thus absolutely suitable for blade servers, storage or communication systems depended on longer cable lines or backplane traces.
Signal conditioners for back planes, optical modules, and cables are designed using cutting edge technology to deliver the best in signal conditioning performance with lower power consumption on all easy-to-use products. These products fit into server, storage, blade products, as well as consumer electronics and communications applications.