Interfacing Strain sensors with ADC

[Dawnlo]

I have several questions concerning strain sensors being interfaced with Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC) and was wondering if you could enlighten me.

1. What are the issues that a designer can face when interfacing a strain sensor to an ADC?

2. How would you describe the use and value of simulation in electronic circuit design and what applications are available?

Thank you in advance for you time.

Best Regards

[ManLongAtNI]

Hello Dawnlo,

Keep in mind a strain gage, is a device whose electrical resistance varies in proportion to the amount of strain in the device. This would typically return a voltage back to the ADC. Typically, the only concern a designer would need to get the appropriate values returned from a strain sensor would be a device with the appropriate signal conditioning prior to the ADC. I'm not clear on what you mean by the use and value of a simulation in electronic circuit design but the actual design of the circuitry becomes a little more complicated. You may be interested in the following Developer Zone tutorial, Measuring Strain with Strain Gages that explains strain measurements and recommends some hardware for implemenation.

Hope this helps.