Sensor Lect5
Sensor Lect5
Sensor Lect5
Example; if the input of a circuit is modeled as a parallel connection of input resistance (R) and
input capacitance (C), the complex input impedance is;
At very low frequencies, a circuit having a low input capacitance and resistance has an input
impedance, which is almost equal to the input resistance: ZR.
Assume that a 1% accuracy in the amplitude detection is required, then the maximum
stimulus frequency is;
Operational Amplifiers:
By using OpAmps and discrete components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, etc.), you
may create an infinite number of useful circuits, such as; amplifiers, summers,
integrators, differentiators.
where;
Reqv : is the equivalent resistance at the input (a combination of the sensor’s output
resistance and the input resistance of the amplifier),
eo : is the input offset voltage, and
io : is the input bias current.
To avoid offset voltages, select an amplifier with low bias current, high input resistance,
and low offset voltage. Chopper-stabilized amplifiers are especially efficient for
reduction of offset voltages.
Voltage follower provides a buffering function between the sensor and the load. The
following points should be considered;
1. For the current-generating sensors, the input bias current of the follower must be at
least 100 times smaller than the sensor’s current.
2. The input offset voltage must be smaller than the required LSB.
3. The temperature coefficient of the bias current and the offset voltage should not
result in errors of more than 1 LSB over an entire temperature range.
It is important to assure high input resistances for both inputs, so that the amplifier
can be used in a true differential form.
The IA should have a high common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR); i.e. its output
signal should be insensitive to the value of V + or V- but responsive only to their
difference.
An example: IA type (INA118) from Burr-Brown/Texas Instruments, it offers low
offset voltage of 50 mV, high CMRR (110 dB), and its gain is programmed by a
single resistor.
Charge-to-voltage converter :
A capacitor (C) is connected into a feedback
network of an OpAmp. Its leakage resistance (r)
must be substantially larger than the impedance
of the capacitor at the lowest operating
frequency. A transfer function of the converter
is;
The sensor generates current (i) which has two ways to outflow:
io : to the sensors leakage resistance (r),
iout:, to the interface circuit i/p impedance (ZL).
Since voltage at the inverting input is almost equal to that at the non-inverting input
(which is grounded), then the sensor operates at nearly zero voltage and its current
defines the output voltage of the OpAmp;
The advantage of the virtual ground is that the output signal does not depend on the
sensor’s capacitance.
Note: When converting currents from such sensors, the resistor Rb may be required on
the order of tens or even hundreds of gigohms. (!!!)
VOUT = ipR
R 100 MΩ
It is imperative to generate the signal with such accuracy that the overall performance
of the sensing system is not degraded.
where; fFS and VFS are the full-scale frequency and input voltage, respectively.
For a given linear converter, ratio fFS/VFS= G is constant and is called a conversion
factor, then
Operation: The integrator generates a saw-tooth voltage that results in a transient at the
comparator’s output. That transient enables a one-shot generator, which produces a
square pulse of a fixed duration (tos).