Experiment No.

8
SENSORS
Course: EE-340 Section: BSEE31S2
Group No.: 2 Date Performed: September 17, 2022
Group Members: Charles, Patrick Bumatay Date Submitted: September 22, 2022
Dexter Bunga, Vince Allen Cruz, Richard Amhir Hamtig,
Timothy Brian Santos, Darwin Villanueva
Instructor: Engr. Marjorie Villanueva

1. Objective(s):
To introduce common applications of sensors using pressure, magnetic field and infrared.

2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

The students shall be able to:
1) Discuss the operations and characteristics of sensors
2) Evaluate the effectiveness of each sensor through experimentation
3. Discussion:
A pressure sensor measures the pressure, typically of fluids. Pressure is an expression of the force
required to stop a fluid from expanding, and is usually stated in terms of force per unit area. A pressure
sensor generates a signal related to the pressure imposed. Typically, such a signal is electrical, but it
might also include additional means, such as optic signals, visual signals and/or auditory signals.

ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR

This sensor measures the pressure relative to perfect Vacuum pressure (0 PSI or no pressure).

GAUGE PRESSURE SENSOR

This sensor is used in different applications because it can be calibrated to measure the pressure relative
to a given atmospheric pressure at a given location.

DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE SENSOR

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This sensor measures the difference between two or more pressures introduced as inputs to the sensing
unit.

4. Equipment:
De Lorenzo 3155E25T
Connecting Wires
Digital Multimeter
5. Procedure:

Activity 1 – Pressure Sensor

General Guideline

Always turn on the base frame first before turning on the DL Student Navigator 2 Software. Turn off the
software after performing one activity and turn it on before performing a new activity to reset the software
and hardware communication.

Pressure sensors contain sensing elements that consist of four piezoresistors buried in the face of a
thin, chemically-etched silicon diaphragm. A pressure change causes the diaphragm to flex, inducing a
stress or strain in the diaphragm and the buried resistors. The resistor values change in proportion to the
stress applied and produce an electrical output.

1. Insert the Module DL 3155E25T in the console and set the main switch to ON;
2. Connect, through two leads, the terminal 4 to the terminal of the inverting input and the terminal 2
to the terminal of the non inverting input of the INSTRUMENTATION AMPLIFIER;

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Figure 8.1

3. Move the piston of the syringe to the initial value of 3ml;

4. Insert the multimeter, set for the measurement of direct voltages, between the terminal Vo of the
INSTRUMENTATION AMPLIFIER block and the earth and measure the voltage;
5. Set the gain of the amplifier to max value (1000), eventually if the output voltage is to high (over
13V) decrease the gain;
6. Write the measurement that you have, i.e the read on the multimeter divided by the gain;
7. Move the piston to next position as wrote in Table 8.1;

Table 8.1
Position of the syringe Sensor Output Voltage
[V]
3
2.5
2
1.5
3.5
4
4.5

8. Write the measurement that you have calculated in Table 8.1;

9. Repeat such measurement for all the positions that are listed in the table;
10. Comment the behavior of the measured voltage as a function of the position of the syringe (piston).

Activity 2 – P.I.R. Sensor

Schematic Diagram

Figure 8.2

1. Insert the Module DL 3155E25T in the console and set the main switch to ON;
2. Connect a multimeter, set as voltmeter, as show in Fig. 8.3
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3. Wait few seconds (the sensor will be warmed up);

4. Now when the sensor will see a movement the led starts flashing, until the movement will stop;
5. Move far from the sensor to check the range (usually some meters);
6. Comment the obtained results.

Figure 8.3

Activity 3 – Magnetic Switch – Reed Sensor

Schematic Diagram

Figure 8.4

1. Insert the Module DL 3155E25T in the console and set the main switch to ON;
2. Connect a multimeter, set as voltmeter, between jack 1 and ground (Fig. 8.5)

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Figure 8.5

3. Adjust the input voltage +V so to read on the voltmeter a voltage of 10V;

4. Bring near the magnet slowly to the switch S1, so to provoke the contact closing and the
consequent switching on of the lamp;
5. Remove slowly the magnet so to provoke the contact opening and the consequent switching off of
the lamp;
6. Repeat more times the previous operations, by spotting the minimum closing distance of the
switch;
7. Comment the obtained results.

Activity 4 – Hall Sensor

Schematic Diagram

Figure 8.6

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1. Insert the Module DL 3155E25T in the console and set the main switch to ON;
2. Connect a multimeter, set as voltmeter, as show in Fig. 8.7

Figure 8.7

3. Approach slowly the magnet to the sensor, so to provoke the sensing. The effect is also identifiable
by a light changing of the led;
4. Remove slowly the magnet;
5. Turn the magnet of 180°, to change the polarization of the magnet, and repeat the last two steps;
6. Comment the obtained results.

6. Observation:
In When it detects movement around it in activity 2, the led continues to blink. When there is no longer any
movement and everything is still, it remains on and switches off when it senses nothing outside.

When the magnet is hooked to the switch S1 in activity 3, which has a 5.3 V input, the led comes on. It
subsequently shuts off when the magnet is 1.5 cm away from the switch.

The hall sensor's steady voltage in activity 4 is 2.6 V. When the first pole of the magnet is attached, the
voltage reduces to 2.32 V. However, when the magnet is rotated 180 degrees and the sensor is coupled to
the opposite side pole of the magnet, the voltage rises to 4.4 V.

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7. Interpretation

If the sensor notices motion, it will immediately start blinking. In addition, the sensor will turn off 
on its own if nothing moves.

8. Conclusion:

- Sensors have the potential to cut production costs, increase product quality, and create
new markets. The use of intelligent sensors is revolutionizing how data is collected and
shared by manufacturers. The advantages of using sensors include the capacity to
speed up and enhance the accuracy of processes; real-time data collection for
processes and assets; the requirement for accurate, consistent, and continuous
monitoring of processes and assets; and an increase in productivity while a reduction in
total cost of ownership.

9. Assessment (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):

10. Assessment Task:

1. Discuss how an infrared sensor performs motion sensing?
- Radar technology is used by active infrared sensors to transmit and receive infrared light. As it
hits nearby objects, this radiation reflects back to the device's receiver. With the help of this
technology, the sensor can determine how far an object is from the device as well as detect
movement in the surrounding area.
2. What is the importance of the instrumentation amplifier in detecting the applied pressure on the
piston?
- An instrumentation amplifier is used to produce a lot of amplification for extremely low-level
signals when there is a lot of noise present. IAs feature a very high common-mode rejection
ratio, a high gain, and a very high input impedance. Other characteristics include extremely
high input impedances, extremely high open-loop gain, extremely low DC offset, extremely low
drift, and extremely low noise. Applications that call for high accuracy and long-term circuit
stability use instrumentation amplifiers.

3. Using the concepts acquired in this experiment, design a simple circuit where a P.I.R sensor is
used to make a security alarm and sense movement onto its surrounding.

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