Module Identifier PH24520  
Module Title INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEMS  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator Dr Tudor E Jenkins  
Semester Semester 2  
Other staff Dr Geraint O Thomas  
Pre-Requisite PH15010 , PH15510  
Co-Requisite None  
Mutually Exclusive None  
Course delivery Lecture   15 Hours 15 Lectures  
  Seminars / Tutorials   2 Exercise Classes, 3 Seminars  
  Practical   10 Hours  
Assessment Semester Exam   2 Hours   50%  
  Semester Assessment   (Labview report and example sheets)   50%  

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module the student should be able to:

1 describe the basic characteristics of signal
2 describe the origins of noise
3 describe the operation and limitation of some transducers
4 appreciate the limitations of amplifier circuits
5 describe the operation of simple filters and differentiate between active and passive filters
6 describe some simple signal processing techniques, such as signal averaging and phase sensitive techniques
7   describe the basic principles of computer interfacing
8 appreciate the problems associated with converting analogue to digital signals
9 describe and apply the basic principles of digital signal processing
10 interface a simple experiment using the LabView system

Brief description

Measurement is an essential part of the scientific process. Instrumentation is the technology of measurement. In this module, 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 its suitability for a particular measurement

Content

What is an electronic instrumentation system? A top-down approach to system design.
Types of signal encountered by instrumentation systems.
Important terms assocaited with instrumentation systems.
Comparison of digital and analogue instruments.
Noise in instrumentation systems and its characterisation.
Physical origins of fundamental noise.
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 AC circuits and 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 including 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).

A ten hour practical session will take place throughout the semester to introduce LabView.

Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
A. deSa. Principles of Electronic Instrumentation. Edward Arnold
T E Jenkins. Optical Sensing and Signal Processing Techniques. Prentice-Hall ISBN 0136381073
** Recommended Text
P.P.L. Regtien. Instrumentation Electronics. Prentice/Hall