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 (voltage and current feedback amplifiers, transconductance amplifiers), isolating amplifiers, differential and instrumentation amplifiers, charge amplifiers
1.1.2. active filters
1.1.3. non-linear circuits (logarithmic amplifiers, multipliers)
1.1.4. sample&holds amplifiers
1.2. voltage reference
1.3. oscillators
1.4. electronic noise
2. sensors
2.1. sensors and actuators: introductions
2.1.1. lumped modeling, energy-conserving transducers, linear and non-linear system dynamics
2.2. Elasticity, stress and strain tensors, stiffness and compliance matrices. Elements of mechanical structures
2.3. Physical principles of sensing, modeling and applications
2.3.1. resistance (specific resistivity, temperature sensitivity in RTD and NTC, strain sensitivity and piezoresistance, moisture sensitivity), signal conditioning (bridges, linearisation)
2.3.2. capacitance
2.3.3. magnetism (Faraday’a law, Ampère law, induction), applications (fluxgate, search-coil, LVDT), conditioning (synchronous detection method applied to fluxgate sensor)
2.3.4. Hall effect and magnetoresistance
2.3.5. magnetostriction, applications (actuator and position sensor)
2.3.6. Thermal expansion, heat transfer, Seebeck and Peltier effects, thermocouples, pn junction sensors, hot-wire anenometer
2.3.7. piezoelectric effect, signal conditioning in practical sensor design (at low-frequency and resonance)
Full programme
1. ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTATION (33 hours)
1.1. signal conditioning components such as: (Total: 16 hours)
1.1.1. voltage and current feedback and transconductance amplifiers (3 hours)
1.1.2. isolating, differential, instrumentation, and charge amplifiers (4 hours)
1.1.3. introduction to filters, active filters (6 hours)
1.1.4. non-linear circuits (logarithmic amplifiers, multipliers) (2 hours)
1.1.5. sample&holds amplifiers (1 hours)
1.2. voltage reference (1 hours)
1.3. sinusoidal oscillators (8 hours)
1.3.1 Positive feedback and Negative resistance oscillator concepts
1.3.2 Oscillator start-up requirement and transient
1.3.3 Amplitude limits, frequency control
1.3.5 RC, LC, crystal oscillators
1.4. electronic noise (8 hours)
1.4.1 noise analysis in passive circuits; diode, BJT and FET noise; 1/f noise;
1.4.2 two-port noise analysis, role of source resistance, equiv. input noise voltage
1.4.3 noise figure, total input noise for cascaded blocks
2. SENSORS (33 hours)
2.1. sensors and actuators: introductions, lumped modeling; (1 hours)
2.2. energy-conserving transducers, linear and non-linear system dynamics (6 hours)
2.3. Elasticity, stress and strain tensors, stiffness and compliance matrices. Elements of mechanical structures (4 hours)
2.4. Physical principles of sensing, modeling and applications
2.4.1. resistance (specific resistivity, temperature sensitivity in RTD and NTC, strain sensitivity and piezoresistive effect, moisture sensitivity), signal conditioning (bridges, linearisation) (4 hours)
2.4.2. capacitance (1 hours)
2.4.3. magnetism (Faraday’a law, Ampère law, induction), applications (fluxgate, search-coil, LVDT), conditioning (synchronous detection method applied to fluxgate sensor) (4 hours)
2.4.4. Hall effect and magnetoresistance (2 hours)
2.4.5. magnetostriction, applications to actuators and position sensors (1 hours)
2.4.6. thermal sensors (4 hours)
2.4.6.1. thermal expansion, heat transfer, Seebeck and Peltier effects
2.4.6.2 thermocouples,
2.4.6.3 pn junction sensors,
2.4.6.4 hot-wire anenometer
2.4.7. piezoelectric sensors (6 hours)
2.4.7.1 piezoelectric effect, modeling
2.4.7.2 signal conditioning in practical sensor design 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 home page (lea.unipr.it).
Assessment methods and criteria
Grading:
Homework assignments: 25%
Oral examination: 75%
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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