Part 4 Data Acquisition and Signal Processing
Part 4 Data Acquisition and Signal Processing
Humidity
Temp Real Signal
Pressure Transducer Analog
World Conditioning
…… (sensors) Mux
Measure
Signals
Signals are physical quantities that are functions of an
independent variable (such as time) and contain information
about a natural phenomenon
Two types of signals may be defined; digital and analogue.
Digital signals provide information regarding
the voltage state (typically hi or low) and/or
the rate of change of these states
An analogue signal typically provides voltage
level, shape or frequency content information.
ADC - analogue to digital converter, which converts the analogue signal into a
digital signal which can be read by a computer
DAC - digital to analogue converter, which converts a digital signal to an analogue
signal
TTL - transistor to transistor logic
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MCE 4407 Instrumentation and Measurements
Signal Conditioning
Transducer output is usually computer ready and must be
conditioned, either using hardware or software:
Signal Grounding
Two types of signal sources
Grounded: signals which are referenced to a system ground
ex:110V outlets, signal generators, power supplies
Floating: signals which are not connected to an absolute reference
ex: battery powered sources, thermocouples transformers
LM 741
Inverting Amplifier
Non-inverting Amplifier
The voltage at node C is Vin because the inverting and non-inverting inputs are
at the same voltage. Therefore, applying Ohm’s law to resistor R,
−𝑽𝑽𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊
𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 = ⇒ 𝑽𝑽𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 = 𝒊𝒊𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 𝑹𝑹 (KCL at node C 𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 = −𝒊𝒊𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 )
𝑹𝑹
𝑽𝑽 −𝑽𝑽
Applying it to resistor RF, 𝒊𝒊𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 = 𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 ⇒ 𝑽𝑽𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 = 𝒊𝒊𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 𝑹𝑹𝑭𝑭 + 𝑽𝑽𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊
𝑹𝑹𝑭𝑭
𝑽𝑽𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 𝒊𝒊𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 𝑹𝑹𝑭𝑭 + 𝑽𝑽𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 𝒊𝒊𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 𝑹𝑹𝑭𝑭 + 𝒊𝒊𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 𝑹𝑹 𝑹𝑹𝑭𝑭
= = = 𝟏𝟏 +
𝑽𝑽𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 𝑽𝑽𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 𝒊𝒊𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 𝑹𝑹 𝑹𝑹
Summer
Buffer or Follower
Figure 1 Figure 2
Difference Amplifier
e-
e+
Instrument Amplifier
If the input signals are very low level and include noise, the difference
amplifier is unable to extract a satisfactory difference signal.
The solution to this problem is the instrumentation amplifier. It has the
following characteristics:
Very high input impedance
Large common mode rejection ratio (CMRR). The CMRR is the ratio of
the difference mode gain to the common mode gain (𝐴𝐴𝑑𝑑�𝐴𝐴𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶).
The difference mode gain is the amplification factor for the difference between the
input signals
The common mode gain is the amplification factor for the average of the input
signals
Capability to amplify low-level signals in a noisy environment, often a
requirement in differential-output sensor signal-conditioning applications.
Consistent bandwidth over a large range of gains.
Instrumentation Amplifier Explained
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MCE 4407 Instrumentation and Measurements
Integrator
If the feedback resistor of the inverting op amp circuit is replaced
by a capacitor, the result is an integrator circuit.
Differentiator
If the input resistor of the inverting op amp circuit is replaced by a
capacitor, the result is a differentiator circuit.
Integrator Differentiator
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MCE 4407 Instrumentation and Measurements
OP-Amp: Differentiator &
Integrator
Voltage Comparator
Conversion
Factor
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MCE 4407 Instrumentation and Measurements
Resolution
Resolution: The number of bits used to represent the analogue signal
Device Range
device range: minimum and maximum analogue signal levels that the ADC
can convert.
The device range should be matched to the range of the analogue input
signal to best take advantage of the available resolution!
Example: If a 3-bit ADC (having 8 divisions) is used over a range of 0 to 10 volts,
voltage changes of 1.25V can be measured.
However, if the range is increased to -10 to 10V, then the smallest voltage change
which can be measured rises to 2.5V
Example: a 12 bit DAQ device with a 0 to 10V range can detect a 2.4 mV
change.
Unipolar signals range from 0 to a positive value
Bipolar signals range from a negative to a positive value.
Sampling Rate
Sampling rate: the rate at which the DAQ device samples an incoming
analogue signal
Determines how often an analogue to digital conversion takes place.
Computing the proper sampling rate requires knowledge of the max
frequency of the incoming signal and the accuracy required for digital
representation.
In general, a fast sampling rate acquires more points per unit time and
results in a better representation of the incoming signal.
Tracking Converter
Is an improved version of the staircase ADC
If VA increases over previously converted value the counter will
count up
If VA decreases over previously converted value the counter
will count down
Conversion time is Not Constant
Successive-Approximation Example
6-bit A/D with range
0V – 5V
Step Size =
5/26 =
0.078
Successive-Approximation Example
Error =
4.16 – 4.141 = 0.019
Example
A 6-bit DAC has an analog output range of -2.5 to 5.0V.
Calculate the analog output when input is 010101 (i.e. decimal
21)
Solution:
1. Offset = -2.5
2. Span = 5 – (-2.5) = 7.5V
3. Step Size = 7.5V/26 = 0.1172V
4. Analog Output = (digital number x step size) + offset
= (21 x 0.1172) – 2.5V = -0.039V
Example
A temperature sensor has a measurement range of -10⁰C to 140⁰C.
The output range is -2.5 to +5mv. It has a resolution of 0.5⁰C.
1. Determine the # of bits in ADC?
2. What is the reading of the ADC when the output of the sensor is
-1.0 mv?
Solution:
1. Span = 140 – (-10) = 150⁰C (or) 5 – (-2.5mv) = 7.5mv
Dynamic Range = 150⁰C / 0.5⁰C = 300
DR = 300 = 2n n = log2 (300) = 8.22 9 bits
Example
Given an analog signal with range -5V to +5V and an 8-bit
ADC
Determine: Offset, Span, Step Size, %Resolution
Solution:
1. Offset = -5V
2. Span = 5 – (-5) = 10V
3. Step Size = 10V/28 = 10/256 = 39.1mv
4. % Resolution = 0.391%