Instrumentation Topics
- Absolute Instrument
- An instrument whose calibration can be determined by means of physical measurements on the instrument.
- Accelerometer
- An instrument for measuring acceleration, as of aircraft or guided missiles.
- Aerometer
- An instrument for determining the weight, density and other properties of air or other gases.
- Alcohol Thermometer
- A liquid-in-glass thermometer containing an alcohol liquid, such as ethanol.
- Altimeter
- An instrument for measuring height above a reference datum.
- Astrolabe
- An instrument that was used to determine the altitude of objects in the sky.
- Atmometer
- An instrument for measuring the rate at which water evaporates, also called an evaporimeter.
- Barograph
- A recording type instrument that provides a continuous trace of air pressure variation with time.
- Barretter
- A type of bolometer characterized by an increase in resistance as the dissipated power rises.
- Bolometer
- A device for measuring minute amounts of radiant energy.
- Bourdon Tube
- Thin-walled tube of elastic metal flattened and bent into circular shape, which tends to straighten as pressure inside is increased.
- Calculator
- A machine for performing arithemtical calculations.
- Calibrate
- To determine the indication or output of a measuring device with respect to that of a standard.
- Calorimeter
- An insulated vessel for measuring the amount of heat absorbed or released by a chemical or physical change.
- Capacitor Microphone
- Microphone whose operation depends on variations in capacitance caused by varying air pressure on the movable plate of a capacitor.
- Carbon Microphone
- Microphone whose operation depends on pressure variation in carbon granules causing a change in resistance.
- Compound Gauge
- Instrument for measuring pressures both above and below atmospheric pressure.
- Console
- An array of controls and indicators for controlling a complex system or sequence of events.
- Coulter Counter
- Instrument used to count the number of small particles in a given volume of a suspension by monitoring decreases in electrical conductivity through a small orifice caused by the particles passing through the orifice.
- Cover Slip
- Very thin square piece of glass or plastic placed over the specimen on a microscope slide.
- Cryometer
- A thermometer for measuring low temperatures.
- Cup Anemometer
- A rotation-type anemometer consists of an array of three, or more, hemispherical cups mounted symmetrically about a vertical rotation axis.
- Deformation-Type Thermometer
- A thermal sensor with a sensing element that bends or deforms by an amount which is a function of temperature.
- Detector
- A device that receives energy in one form and supplies an ouput in another form.
- Dew Point Hygrometer
- An instrument used for determining the dewpoint.
- Differential Pressure Indicator
- An indicator which signals the difference in pressure between two points, typically between the upstream and downstream sides of a filter, valve or expansion element.
- Draft Gauge
- Instrument used to measure air movement by measuring air pressure differences.
- Dropsonde
- A modified radiosonde package that is dropped by parachute from an aircraft to obtain temperature, pressure, and humidity profiles of the atmosphere below flight level.
- Durometer
- An instrument for determining the hardness of synthetic rubber or elastomeric materials, usually on the Shore A scale.
- Echo Sounding
- Measurement of the depth of the ocean by directing a sonic or ultrasonic pressure wave vertically downward and determining the time taken before the echo is received.
- Electric Field Probe
- A short antenna with a coaxial cable lead, used for the detection of high impedance E-field source signals over a very short range.
- Electrodynamic Meter Movement
- A meter movement using fixed field coils and a moving coil; usually used in ammeters and wattmeters.
- Electrodynamometer
- A meter using an electrodynamic movement to measure an electric current.
- Electrostatic Meter Movement
- A meter movement that uses the electrostatic repulsion of two sets of charged plates.
- Encoder Resolution
- Measure of the smallest positional change which can be detected by the encoder.
- G meter
- A meter that indicates acceleration.
- Goniometer
- Instrument for measuring angles.
- Hair Hygrometer
- Measures atmospheric relative humidity by means of the variation in length of a bundle of human hairs as they adsorb atmospheric water vapour.
- Hot-Wire Anemometer
- Uses the wind induced changes in the temperature of a metal wire that is heated by an electric current and cooled by convective heat loss.
- Hygristor
- An electrical instrument designed to measure the water vapour in the atmosphere by using a material whose electrical resistance varies with atmospheric humidity.
- Hygrograph
- A recording-type hygrometer.that produces a permanent hygrogram.
- Indicator
- A substance that undergoes a sharp, easily observable change when conditions in its solutions change.
- Infrared Sensor
- A device that can detect electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths that are greater than the visible radiation.
- Instrument Platform
- Any support structure or vehicle that contains instruments used to make quantitative observations and measurements.
- Maximum Thermometer
- A thermometer designed to automatically register the highest temperature attained during any time interval before it is reset.
- Meteorograph
- A collection of automatic meteorological recording instruments, often times describing the package that is carried aloft on an instrument platform.
- Meter
- A device used to measure a specific quantity, such as current, voltage, or frequency.
- Microphone
- An acoustical-electrical transducer by which sound waves in air may be converted to electrical signals.
- Microscope
- An instrument to see objects too small for the naked eye.
- Minimum Thermometer
- A thermometer designed to automatically register the lowest temperature attained during any time interval before it is set.
- Net Radiometer
- A sensor that measures net flux of downward and upward total solar and terrestrial radiation through a horizontal surface.
- Noise Generator
- A piece of equipment used to produce random electrical noise.
- Off Line Test Equipment
- Equipment that tests and isolates faults in modules or assemblies removed from systems.
- On Line Test Equipment
- Continuously monitors the performance of electronic systems.
- Oscilloscope
- An instrument using a cathode-ray tube for visual display of electric signals.
- Phased Array Radar
- Radar using many antenna elements which are combined in a controlled phase relationship.
- Plan Position Indicator
- A conventional radar display of the location of targets on a horizontal plane.
- Pressure Type Anemometer
- Any instrument that measures the wind speed by measuring the pressure exerted by the wind upon the sensor element of that instrument.
- Probe
- A device used to send back information.
- Psychrometer
- An instrument used to determine the dry and wet bulb temperature of air simultaneously.
- Pyranometer
- An instrument which measures global radiation, the combined intensity of direct solar radiation and diffuse sky radiation.
- Pyrgeometer
- An instrument which measures the effective terrestrial radiation.
- Pyrheliometer
- An instrument which measures the intensity of direct solar radiation.
- Radio Direction Finder
- An instrument that intercepts and uses electromagnetic radiation in the radio portion of the spectrum to determine the direction of the radio transmitter.
- Radio Frequency Telemetry
- A telemetry system that transmits data over a radio frequency.
- Radiometer
- Instrument for detecting and measuring radiant energy.
- Radiosonde
- A small, expendable, balloon-borne instrument package with a radio transmitter used to measure the air temperature, pressure and humidity of the atmosphere above the earth′s surface.
- Rain Gauge
- Instrument used to measure the total amount of precipitation that falls upon a given unit area during a specified time interval.
- Resistance Thermometer
- An electrical-type thermometer that utilzes a thermal element consisting of a material whose electrical resistance varies with temperature.
- RF Telemetry
- Abbreviation of Radio Frequency Telemetry.
- Sferics Receiver
- An instrument which measures, electronically, the direction of arrival, intensity, and rate of occurrence of atmospherics.
- Shore Durometer
- Durometer is typically used as a measure of hardness in polymers, elastomers and rubbers.
- Single Ended Input
- Analog measurements in which the input′s voltage is measured with respect to ground.
- Stadimeter
- An instrument for determining the distance to an object of know dimension by measuring the angle subtended at the observer by the object.
- Stilling Well
- A cylinder installed near a body of water is used to hold and protect hydrological sensors.
- Strain Gauge Pressure Transducer
- A device measuring changes in electrical resistance in response to pressure changes on a diaphragm with an embedded or engraved strain gauge.
- Synchroscope
- A meter that indicates the relative phase angle between an incoming set voltage and the bus voltage.
- Tachometer
- An instrument that measures the rate at which a shaft is turning.
- Telemetry
- Communications between remote sources by wire, radio, or other means.
- Telescope
- Instrument used to focus electromagnetic radiation into an image.
- Test Equipment
- A general term applied to devices used to test electrical and electronic circuits.
- Theodolite
- A theodolite is an instrument used in surveying for measuring horizontal and vertical angles.
- Thermocouple Meter Movement
- A meter movement that uses the current induced in a thermocouple by the heating of a resistive element to measure the current in a circuit; used to measure ac or dc.
- Total Indicated Reading
- The full indicator reading observed when a dial indicator is in contact with the part surface during one full revolution of the part about its axis of rotation.
- Transponder
- A miniature receiver-transmitter that can be tracked by a radio-direction finder.
- Tuning Fork
- A small two-pronged steel instrument which when struck produces a fixed tone.
- Turn Error
- Any error in gyro output due to cross-coupling and acceleration encountered during vehicle turns.
- Variometer
- An instrument for comparing magnetic forces, especially of the earth′s magnetic field.
- Velocimeter
- A continuous-wave reflection Doppler system used to measure the radial velocity of an object.
- Wave-Meter
- An instrument for measuring the frequency of a radio wave.
- Wind Vane
- A sensor used to measure wind direction.
