4. Architecture of the mass measurement chain

The purpose of a measuring instrument is to express the value of an observed quantity in a way that is comprehensible to the user.

To achieve this, a measuring instrument uses sub-assemblies, constituting the measuring chain, which perform functions that can be summarized as follows:

• interface with the quantity being measured ;

• sensor ;

• transducer ;

• calculator ;

• indicator.

All measuring instruments use this functional structure. However, functions can be so closely interwoven that they cannot be physically separated. They may be reduced to transmitting the same information they receive to the next function.

The flow chart...