ABSTRACT
An engineering system typically consists of a wide variety of components that are interconnected to perform the intended functions. When two components are interconnected, signals (and power) flow between them, and as the two components interact (i.e., dynamically coupled) their signals (responses) vary with time, depending on the dynamics of both components. When two devices are interfaced, it is essential to guarantee that a signal leaving one device and entering the other will do so at proper signal levels (i.e., the values of voltage, current, speed, force, power, etc.), in the proper form (i.e., electrical, mechanical, analog, digital, modulated, demodulated, etc.), and without distortion (specifically, loading of one component by the other, nonlinearities, and noise have to be eliminated), as required by the specific application. It is clear that considerations of component interconnection, interface between the connected components, signal modification, and signal conditioning are all important in instrumentation of an engineering system.
