PH24510 - INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEMS

Module Identifier	PH24510
Module Title	INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEMS
Academic Year	2001/2002
Co-ordinator	Dr Tudor Jenkins
Semester	Semester 2
Other staff	Dr Geraint Thomas
Pre-Requisite	PH15010 , PH15510
Course delivery	Lecture	20 lectures
	Seminars / Tutorials	4 seminars/workshops/exercise classes; 6 tutorials
Assessment	Course work	Examples Sheets Example Sheets 11,12,14,15,16 & 18 Deadlines detailed in the Year 2 Example Sheet Schedule distributed by the Department	20%
	Exam	2 Hours End of Semester Examinations	70%

Module description

Measurement is an essential part of the scientific process. Instrumentation is the technology of measurement. In this course, students are taught the fundamental principles of instrumentation, to design a measurement system which takes due regard of problems such as accuracy, time response and noise of the overall system and of its suitability for particular measurement.

Learning outcomes

After taking this module students should be able to:

understand the basic characteristics of signals.
understand the origins of noise.
understand the operation and limitations of some transducers.
appreciate the limitations of amplifier circuits.
understand the operation of simple filters and differentiate between passive and active filters.
understand some simple signal processing techniques, such as signal averaging and phase sensitive detection.
understand the basic principles of computer interfacing.
appreciate the problems associated with converting analogue to digital systems.

Additional learning activities

Problem solving sessions.
Some group experimental work if time allows.

Outline syllabus

What is an electronic instrumentation system? A top-down approach to system design.
Types of signal encountered by instrumentation systems.
Important terms associated with instrumentation systems.
Comparison of digital and analogue instruments.
Noise in instrumentation systems and its characterisation.
Physical origins of fundamental noise.
Some examples of sensors used in instrumentation systems.
Review of Ohm's Law and Kirchoff's laws in circuit electricity.
Development of equivalent circuits (voltage and current).
Effects of loading.
Review of a.c. circuits. Detailed analysis of simple RC circuit.
Electronic amplifiers and their equivalent circuit.
Input and output resistance, frequency response, noise, and cascading of amplifiers.
General characteristics of filters. Comparison of passive and active filters.
What is a digital system? How digital systems handle numbers.
Analogue to digital conversion - sampling and quantisation.
Types of converters and the errors associated with them.
Electronic counting devices (Systems approach only).

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
P.P.L. Regtien. Instrumentation Electronics. Prentice/Hall 0134735625
** Supplementary Text
A. de Sa. Principles of Electronic Instrumentation. Edward Arnold 0713127996
T.E. Jenkins. Optical Sensing and Signal Processing Techniques. Prentice/Hall 0136381073
W.L. Faissler. An Introduction to Modern Electronics. J. Wiley 0471622427
R. Vears. Microprocessor Interfacing. Newnes 0434923362