Sensors: A.K.A. Interfacing To The Real World
Sensors: A.K.A. Interfacing To The Real World
Sensors: A.K.A. Interfacing To The Real World
a.k.a.
Interfacing to the Real World:
Sensors p.1
Transducers
Transducer
a device that converts a primary form of energy into a
corresponding signal with a different energy form
Primary Energy Forms: mechanical, thermal, electromagnetic,
optical, chemical, etc.
sensor
actuator
intelligent
feedback
system
Sensors p.2
Sensor Systems
Typically interested in electronic sensor
convert desired parameter into electrically measurable signal
primary
transducer
analo
g
signal
sensor
secondary
transducer
usable
values
sensor
sensor data
analog/digital
microcontroller
signal processing
communication
network
display
Sensors p.3
sensor
sensor
signal timing
memory
keypad
display
handheld instrument
sensor interface
e.g., RS232
A/D, communication
signal processing
PC
comm. card
sensor bus
PC
sensor bus
comm. card
sensor
processor
comm.
Sensors p.4
Primary Transducers
Conventional Transducers
Microelectronic Sensors
Sensors p.5
photodiode
light I
Sensors p.6
Displacement Measurements
Measurements of size, shape, and position utilize
displacement sensors
Examples
Secondary Transducers
Wheatstone Bridge
Amplifiers
Sensors p.7
Thus
piezoresistive effect
Sensors p.8
Thermocouples
based on the Seebeck effect: dissimilar metals at diff. temps. signal
Sensors p.9
Sensors p.10
Microaccelerometer
cantilever beam
suspended mass
Electrodes
Rotation
Ring
structure
gyroscope
Pressure
5-10mm
Sensors p.11
Thermistor Half-Bridge
voltage divider
one element varies
Wheatstone Bridge
R3 = resistive sensor
R4 is matched to nominal value of R3
If R1 = R2, Vout-nominal = 0
Vout varies as R3 changes
VCC
R1+R4
Sensors p.12
Operational Amplifiers
Properties
Sensors p.13
Voltage Follower
buffer
Non-Inverting Amp
Inverting Amp
Sensors p.14
Differential Amp
Integrating Amp
Differentiating Amp
ECE 480, Prof. A.
Sensors p.15
Converting Configuration
Current-to-Voltage
Voltage-to-Current
Sensors p.16
Instrumentation Amplifier
Robust differential
gain amplifier
gain stage
Input stage
input stage
Gain stage
Overall amplifier
2 R2 R1 R4
Gd
R1 R3
high input impedance suitable for biopotential electrodes with high output
impedance
Sensors p.17
instrumentation amplifier
HPF
non-inverting amp
With 776 op amps, the circuit was found to have a CMRR of 86 dB at 100 Hz and a noise level of 40
mV peak to peak at the output. The frequency response was 0.04 to 150 Hz for 3 dB and was flat
over 4 to 40 Hz. The total gain is 25 (instrument amp) x 32 (non-inverting amp) = 800.
Sensors p.18
sensor
sensor
signal timing
memory
keypad
display
instrument
Digital
serial I/O
must match baud rate and bit width, transmission protocol, etc.
frequency encoded
Sensors p.19
RS232 Serial Port on PCs uses UART format (but at +/- 12V)
can buy a chip to convert from UART to RS232
Sensors p.20
Sensor Calibration
Sensors can exhibit non-ideal effects
r
linea
Compensation
offset
T = a + bV +cV2,
ar
non-line
T1
T2
T3
Sensors p.21