EC 441 Data Acquisition and Control-I

Lecture-1

Course Overview
&
Introduction

Dr. Nizar Khemri

Spring 2024
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 Class Schedule and Office Hours
• Email : [email protected]

• Class Time : 11:00pm - 12:20pm Sun. & Wed.

• Class Location : Room 2

• Tutorials : Wed. 1:00pm - 2:00pm

• Office hour : Sun. 10:00am 11:00pm

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 Course Learning Objectives
• Study and understand the components of data acquisition systems (DAS)
• Study several types of sensors and transducers used in different
instrumentations and DAS

• Understand different signal conditioning techniques

• Study and understand the impact of bandwidth, noise, and data correction
in DAS

• Study signal processing and data presentation methods

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 Course Learning Outcomes
► Text book: John P. Bently, Principals of
Measurement Systems, 4𝑡ℎ edition, Publication
Date 2005
► Slides will also be provided on MS Teams
► Other references
► Jacob Fraden, Handbook of Modern Sensors
Physics, Designs, and Applications 4𝑡ℎ edition,
Publication Date 2010
► Bruce Carter and Ron Mancini, OP AMPS
For Everyone 3𝑟𝑑 edition, Publication Date 2009
► Maurizio Di Paolo Emilio, Data Acquisition
Systems: From Fundamentals to Applied Design,
Publication Date 2013

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 Course Topics
➢ General Measurement Systems
➢ Static Characteristics of Measurement Elements
➢ Accuracy of Measurement Systems in Steady State
➢ Dynamic Characteristics of Measurement Systems
➢ Loading Effects and two-Port Networks
➢ Signals and Noise
➢ Sensing Elements
➢ Signal Conditioning Elements
➢ Signal Processing Elements and Software
➢ Data Presentation
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 Course Outcomes
▪ By the end of this course, students should be able to
• understand the characteristics and functionality of various
elements of a typical data acquisition system,
• select appropriate sensors or transducers for a given
application,
• analyze the accuracy of a data acquisition system and reduce errors,
• design signal conditioning circuits,
• design signal processing circuits, and
• design and build a complete data acquisition system

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 Assessments

• Final: 50%

• 1st Midterm: 20%

• 2nd Midterm: 20%

• Quizzes: 10%

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 Course Polices
• Don’t be late
• Cell Phones are not allowed
• Please read the material before the lecture
• Quizzes will be held during the last 15 minutes of the lecture time
• The Quiz date will be announced one week prior
• Each student MUST bring his/her own calculator and materials
• Any Academic misconduct will not be tolerated
➢ Cheating, plagiarism, fabrication
• Presentation slides, which will be available before every class, in
class is the main channel of information

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 Introduction

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 DAS Block Diagram

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 DAS Block Diagram

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 General Measurement System

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 What is a measurement System?

Process Input Measurement Output

True value Measurement value
of variable
System
of variable

• Consider a process that generates information: Acceleration, Density, Velocity, Displacement,

Force/Weight, Pressure, Torque, Temperature, Voltage, Level, …..etc.

• A person needs this information from the process called observer

• Measurement system links the observer to the process

Slide 13
 What is a measurement system?

Process Input Measurement Output

True value Measurement value
of variable
System
of variable

• We want → Measured value = true value (Ideal system).

• In practice there is a measurement error (E):
E = measured value − true value, or
E = system output − system input
• Error is the main performance indicator for a measurement system (error ↓,
quality or accuracy ↑)
Slide 14
 Structure of Measurement System

Process Input Measurement Output

True value Measurement value
of variable
System
of variable

• Sensing element: is in contact with the process and gives an output depends on the
variable to be measured, such as
• Thermocouple where millivolt e.m.f. depends on temperature
• Strain gauge where resistance depends on mechanical strain
• Orifice plate where pressure drop depends on flow rate
• Must have a sensor: a device that receives a stimulus and responds with an
electrical signal Slide 15
 Structure of Measurement System
• The term Sensor should be distinguished from transducer
• Transducer: is a device that converts one type of energy into another type of energy
• Example of a transducer: a loudspeaker, a device that translates electrical signal into sound
waves
AC
• A sensor can be a direct or complex:
• Complex sensor consists of one or more transducers and a direct sensor

Slide 16
 Structure of Measurement System

• Signal Conditioning is a circuit that converts electric signal into a

form more suitable for processing
Examples:
• Deflection bridge: a circuit that converts an impedance(
resistance, capacitance, inductance) change into voltage change
• Amplifier: amplifies millivolts or microvolts into volts
• Oscillator: converts impedance change into a variable frequency Slide 17
 Structure of Measurement System

• Signal Processing is a circuit that converts conditioned signal into a form more suitable for data
presentation
• Examples:
• Analog to Digital Converter ADC, converts analog voltage into digital form
• Computer, calculates the measured variable from the incoming stream of digital data

Slide 18
 Structure of Measurement System

• Data Presentation presents the measured variable in a form suitable for the observer
• Examples:

• Pointer Scale indicator

• Chart Recorder

• Alphanumeric display

• Visual display

Slide 19
Examples of Measurement Systems

Slide 20
Block Diagram Symbols

Slide 21