This comprehensive INVOLVE® interactive multimedia training program was produced in association with the Instrument Society of America (ISA) This program consists of two individual lesson CD's that train participants in the principles of digital instrumentation and signal transmission.

Smart Transmitters


Single Loop Digital Controllers

This lesson introduces digital electronics and teaches the principles of operation, the functions of the electronic components, and the signal characteristics. The lesson also demonstrates operation of the hand-held interface for system configuration.

• Describe the principles of analog and digital signal theory
• Describe the benefits of digital signal transmission
• Describe and identify the signal processing capabilities of smart transmitters
• Describe the major features and characteristics of smart transmitters
• Describe the characterization function, special installation requirements, and signal conditioning of a smart transmitter
• Describe the function of a hand-held interface device
• Describe configuration parameters and demonstrate configuration of a smart transmitter
• Describe the test functions of smart transmitters
• Demonstrate the procedure for doing a loop test with a hand-held interface
• Describe the use of a smart transmitter in a temperature, flow, or pressure measurement loop

This lesson introduces the principles of operation, characteristics, and capabilities of single loop digital controllers, including controller components and signal processing capabilities. In addition, the lesson demonstrates the configuration and tuning of single loop digital controllers.

• Describe digital controller principles and capabilities
• Recognize alarm conditions and solve self-diagnostic errors
• Identify and use the features on a display panel
• Identify and state the function of various controller boards
• Demonstrate how the controller processes analog and digital input signals
• State the purpose of function blocks
• Demonstrate the procedure for diagramming a controller configuration
• Read PID, feedforward, and cascade controller diagrams
• Identify different programming devices
• Label configuration keypad buttons and use them to enter configuration data
• State the purpose of the lockout function and locate the lockout switches
• Label and use the portable configurator to enter data
• State the purpose of tuning and list the different tuning methods
• Explain self-tuning principles
• Explain when an adaptive control is needed
• Explain automatic tuning principles