What is the purpose of signal conditioning?

The purpose of signal conditioning is to modify a signal for further processing. Signal conditioning involves a series of operations that improve the quality of a signal before it is sent to a data acquisition system or a control system. This modification can include amplifying the signal, filtering out noise, linearizing the signal, or converting it from one form to another (like from analog to digital).

This step is crucial in instrumentation because many sensors generate signals that may not be suitable for direct use due to noise or non-linearity. By conditioning the signal, the integrity and accuracy of the data can be preserved, ensuring that subsequent processing and analysis yield reliable and meaningful results.

While measuring accuracy, amplification, and data recording are important aspects of a complete instrumentation strategy, they do not encompass the full scope of what signal conditioning achieves.