Learning objectives
The course aims at providing an in-depth understanding of:
1. operation of quasi-sinusoidal oscillators,
2. fundamentals of the analogue signal conditioning chain in electronic instruments,
3. noise analysis
4. continuous-time active filters
5. physical principles of sensors
6. models of transduction between different energy domains
Moreover, a student who successfully fulfills the course requirements, should be able to do the followings:
1. design quasi-sinusoidal oscillators, filters and signal conditioning circuits
2. design of sensor/transducer elements for physical measureands, their respective interface electronics and precision measurement techniques
Prerequisites
Familiarity with analog circuit analysis (transistor models, small signal circuit analysis, frequency compensation, etc.), building blocks (amplifiers, mirrors, etc.) as taught in Elettronica 2
Course unit content
To introduce students with the fundamentals of modern electronic instrumentation and sensor principles .
Topics include:
1. ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTS
1.1. signal conditioning components such as:
1.1.1. electronic amplifiers
1.1.2. active filters
1.1.3. non-linear circuits
1.2. oscillators
1.3. electronic noise
2. SENSORS
2.1. sensors and actuators: lumped models,
2.2. energy-conserving transducers, linear and non-linear system dynamics
2.3. elasticity, stress and strain tensors, stiffness and compliance matrices. Elements of mechanical structures
2.4. physical principles of sensing, modeling and applications
2.4.1. thermal sensors
2.4.2. strain sensors
2.4.3. capacitive sensors
2.4.4. magnetic sensors
2.4.5. magnetostrictive sensors and actuators
2.4.6. piezoelectric sensors and actuators
Full programme
1. ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTATION (36 h)
1.1. signal conditioning components such as: (Total: 20 h)
1.1.1. electronic amplifiers (11 h)
1.1.1.1. voltage feedback amplifiers (VFA): complements about compensation to handle capacitive loads, photosensor and charge amplifiers, PCB layout issues for ultra-low leakage amplifiers in electrometers (2 h)
1.1.1.2. current feedback amplifiers (CFA): behavioural model and simplified circuit diagram, bandwidth, slew-rate, stability issues, basic circuits (VCVS, VCCS, CCVS, CCCS, integrators) (5 h)
1.1.1.3. transconductance operational amplifiers (OTA): characteristics (1 h)
1.1.1.4. isolation amplifiers, (1 h)
1.1.1.5. differential amplifiers and instrumentation amplifiers (common solutions using VFAs, CFAs and OTAs) (2 h)
1.1.2. active filters (6 h)
1.1.2.1. specifications
1.1.2.2. synthesis of Butterworth and Chebyshev low-pass filters
1.1.2.3. frequency transformations for the synthesis of high-pass and pass-band filters
1.1.2.4. synthesis by Bi-Lin and Bi-Quad sections
1.1.2.5. active RC synthesis
1.1.2.6. sensitivity
1.1.3. non-linear circuits (logarithmic amplifiers, multipliers) (3 ore)
1.2. oscillators (10 h)
1.2.1. positive feedback and negative resistance oscillator concepts
1.2.2. oscillator start-up requirement and transient
1.2.3. amplitude limits, frequency control
1.2.4. RC, LC, crystal oscillators
1.3. Electronic noise (6 h)
1.3.1. noise analysis in passive circuits; diode, BJT and FET noise; 1/f noise;
1.3.2. two-port noise analysis, role of source resistance, equiv. input noise voltage
1.3.3. noise figure, total input noise for cascaded blocks
2. SENSORS (30 h)
2.1. sensors and actuators: introductions, lumped modeling; (1 h)
2.2. energy-conserving transducers, linear and non-linear system dynamics: applications to elctrostatic and magnetic transducers (5 h)
2.3. Elasticity, stress and strain tensors, stiffness and compliance matrices. Elements of mechanical structures (4 h)
2.4. Physical principles of sensing, modeling and applications
2.4.1. Thermal sensors (3 h)
2.4.1.1. thermal expansion, heat transfer, Seebeck and Peltier effects
2.4.1.2. thermocouples,
2.4.1.3. pn junction sensors,
2.4.1.4. RTD (conductor sensors such as PT100), Thermistors NTC and PTC
2.4.1.5. Hot-wire anemometer
2.4.2. Strain sensors (4 h)
2.4.2.1. resistance and specific resistivity, strain sensitivity in conductors, piezoresistive effect
2.4.2.2. signal conditioning for resistive sensors (bridges, linearization)
2.4.3. capacitive sensors (1 h)
2.4.3.1. applications
2.4.4. magnetic sensors (5 h)
2.4.4.1. magnetism (Faraday, Ampère, induction laws),
2.4.4.2. applications (fluxgate, search-coil, LVDT), conditioning (synchronous detector for instance in the fluxgate)
2.4.4.3. Hall effect and magnetoresistors
2.4.5. magnetostriction, applications to actuators and linear, non-contact sensors (1 h)
2.4.6. piezoelectric sensors and actuators (6 h)
2.4.6.1. piezoelectric effect, models
2.4.6.2. signal conditioning at low-frequency and at resonance
Bibliography
A. S. Sedra, K. C. Smith, Microelectronic circuits, Oxford University Press, 6th Ed., 2011
S. Franco, Design with operational amplifiers and analog integrated circuits, 3rd ed., McGrawHill, 2002 (ISBN: 0071207031)
S.D. Senturia, Microsystem Design, Springer, 2001,
(ISBN: 978-0-7923-7246-2) Cap.5-10
R. Pallas-Areny, J. G. Webster, Sensors and signal conditioning, 2nd ed., J. Wiley & Sons Inc., 2001 (ISBN: 0-471-33232-1)
J. Fraden, Handbook of modern sensors, Springer, 3a Ed.
Teaching methods
There will be 33 Lectures of 2 hours each and a number of homework assignments. More details will be available during the semester in the Course website.
Assessment methods and criteria
Grading:
Homework assignments: 25%
Oral examination: 75%
Other information
Address: http://elly.dii.unipr.it
