Proceedings of 3d IFAC Symposium on Intelligent Components and Instruments for Control Applications,

9-11 June, 1997, Annecy, FRANCE, pp.321-325.

TOWARDS INTEGRATION OF INTELLIGENT SENSORS

AND VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASURING
AND CONTROL APPLICATIONS

Sergey Y. Yurish

290013, Lviv, UKRAINE, S. Bandera str., 12

State University Lviv Polytechnic, CAD Department
Phone: (380 0322 ) 27 16 74, Fax: (380 0322 )27 16 41 or 744 300
e-mail: syurish@polynet.lviv.ua

Abstract .The paper reviews the main research results and objectives of future
developments from the point of view of microsystem integration for measuring and
control applications,. The particular solutions for its Hardware/Software (HW/SW)
codesign are discussed. The intelligent sensors with frequency output are offered to
be used in such microsystems. The examples of such sensor are given. The offered
approach permits to simplify the architecture of microsystems considerably due to
easy interface between its components, as well as SW realisation of A/D conversion.

Keywords: control applications, frequency measurements, integration,

microprocessors, microsystems, rotation, sensors, square waves, system integration,
tachometers.

1.INTRODUCTION the metrological performances (accuracy, measuring

Today, the future measuring and control applications
of microtechniques are very numerous. Modern
hardware/software codesign is now moving from a
rather broad overall view of the issues towards a
more detailed view of the particular solutions
(ED&T Conference, 1996). It is necessary to take
into account the technological advances and the
trends in the market for any particular applications:
it is more to one-chip system integration, the need
for simpler architecture, low power consumption,
high reliability, the wish to avoid redesign through
portability, and the need for easy upgrading (CMP
Information, 1996).
The known approach (Valderrama et al., 1995;
Ismail and Jerraya, 1995) addresses the modelling of
communication between the hardware (HW) and
software (SW) modules at different abstraction le-
vels and for different design tools. It is based on the
main contribution to use a multi-view library
concept in order to hide specific HW/SW
implementation details. It is a good formalised
common approach to designing of various mixed
HW/SW systems. However, Holmer et al. (1995)
discovered that too much generalised concept brings
problems in the practical applications.
In case of designing microsystems for use in the
measurements and control applications, it is
necessary to take into account the features, affecting
time and range). Thus, if the HW module design
practically does not undergo the changes at
realisations of the measuring microsystems, the
strategy of SW design should be concretised
essentially. The SW unit, namely, determines the
functional opportunities of such microsystems.
The design SW unit must be implemented in
microcode adapted for a microcontrollers.
Depending on the requirements concerning
accuracy, speed and reliability of measurements and
control, one may choose a measuring system
processor from among the general-purpose means
(microcontrollers, microprocessors) or apply VLSI
specialised processors (Barwich, 1996).
The design technique mentioned above starts from a
modular description for a set of SW components as
C programs for virtual software processors.
However, as the recent researches (Thawiey, 1989)
show, a certain advantage of Assembler for
realisation critical by time execution of tasks is
available. The measuring algorithms, especially for
measurement of frequency-time and phase
parameters of electrical signals, contain the plenty of
time dependent critical fragments.
These and some other aspects of microsystems
design and system integration require the solution in
frameworks of the particular applications.
 Proceedings of 3d IFAC Symposium on Intelligent Components and Instruments for Control Applications,
9-11 June, 1997, Annecy, FRANCE, pp.321-325.
2. THE MAIN CONCEPTUAL BASIS FOR
SYSTEM INTEGRATION
The advent of silicon micromachining enables the
construction of sensors and actuators with intelligent
interfaces and signal conditioning based on
compatible microelectronic circuits on a common
substrate. Solid state sensors that combine integrated
circuits and micromachining technologies as well as
new materials open an avenue that can lead to
custom integrated sensors to meet the new demands
in performance, size and cost (Glesner and Hofman,
1995).
Advanced technologies have matured to form a basis
for the fabrication of reliable and accurate sensors
and actuators, often compatible to one-chip
microcontrollers or microprocessors This is the
economical basis for the broad introduction of
intelligent sensors and actuators in the cost-sensitive
domains as control and measuring applications.
controller-based module for control and measuring
functions. Due to the use of the designed program
methods of measurements (PMM) for frequency-
time parameters of electrical signals (Yurish et al.,
1995a), functions of the analog-digital conversion
are executed by the program way only. It has allowed
to simplify considerably the common architecture of
measuring microsystem in comparison with the
known decisions, for example, described by Gano et
al.,(1992) or Meijer et al., (1996b)
For PMM realisation, it is necessary the parallel
execution of the 4-th elementary procedures: the
forming of the first T 01 and second T02 reference time
intervals; the count of pulses of the reference
frequency f0 and measuring frequency fx. The
forming of the T 01 is possible with the help of the
timer/counter (T/C) or program time delay. The
forming of the T 02 is executed, as a rule, by the
program polling. The count of the pulses fx and f0
can be realised by one of the 3 possible ways: by the
program asynchronous polling; by the interrupts and
Any measuring microsystem includes mixed of
digital and analog conversions with the accounts
physical phenomena. The concept as embedding
intelligent sensors in the measurement loop
(Huijsing et al., 1993) is taken into account at its
design and, as it was mentioned in (Degrauwe et al.,
1995), the new concepts need, however, to be
developed to take into account the specificity of
microsystems.
For reduction of transformations, executed in the
analog form, as well as the reduction of
technological compatibility problems, expediently to
use the specialised sensors oriented to single-chip
implementation, with transformation electrical or
non electrical quantities to frequency, the advantages
of which are well known. Today, there is a large set
of the frequency sensors for almost all physical
quantities and suitable for measurements.
The general architecture of a microsystem is shown
in Figure. 1. This architecture includes also microco-
with the help of the T/C. The PMM are realised like
the SW modules, written in Assembler.
The PMM, required for given realisations, is chosen
according to the integral index of quality Kij
according to Yurish et al., (1995b). So far as
derivation of the mathematical model, which
describes the correlation between the indexes of
quality, in common case is absent, then it is possible
using the weight mean of the geometrical indexes for
forming the integral index of quality as:
 i
  i min   T xi min   iT
 V ROMi
(1)
min 
 iROM

K    
  T    
ji

 ij  ij  ROMij 
V 
where gimin , Txi min , VROMimin , VRAMi min are the
minimal values of the corresponding indexes of
quality according to all allowable PMM; n ij are the
weight coefficients of priority of the indexes; T xi is
period of the measured frequency. For this

0 
(2)
i
and
 ij
 1. (3)
Depending on these weight coefficients of the
indexes of quality that are included in the integral
criterion Kij, it is possible to design the PMM, with
their optimisation according to one of the aforesaid
parameters.
The memory size, necessary for realisation of the
microsystems, can be reduced in 2 twice due to the
use of the suggested by Dudykevich and Yurish,
(1994) modified methods of algorithm merging This
 Proceedings of 3d IFAC Symposium on Intelligent Components and Instruments for Control Applications,
9-11 June, 1997, Annecy, FRANCE, pp.321-325.

method based on the partial matrix scheme and take
into account the multilevel structure of interrupts.
Hardware modules, which will change in
dependence on the particular purpose of the
microsystem are sensor devices. The software
module - it is the PMM, are realised like program
library cells. Such modular architecture makes
possible the quick development of an intelligent
sensor microsystems for a specific application,
without high development costs since part of the HW
design cost is transferred to SW development for
control, calculation and measuring functions.
rotating speed. If the metal tooth of the actuator
comes near to the active element (generator coil), the
logic level “1” (+Ucc) is formed on the sensor
output. When the active sensor part appears between
the teeth, the logic level “0” is formed on the output.
Thus, the active sensor forms the pulsing sequence,
frequency of which is proportional or equal to the
rotating speed.
The sensor is made according to integrated
technology. Its function diagram consists of: the high
frequency generator (f = 1 MHz), sensing element
(generator coil); amplifier, voltage stabiliser and
output forming transistor with the opened collector.

3. INTELLIGENT MICROSENSOR WITH The expansion of the specified measuring range to

FREQUENCY OUTPUT
As a sensor for such microsystems, for example, can
be used the active sensor of rotating speed (ASRS)
developed by Deynega et al., (1995) together with
AUTOELECTRONIC company (Kaluga, Russia). Its
function circuit diagram is shown in Figure. 2. It is
high-reliable, small-sized smart sensor, based on
integrated technology. It was designed in order to
receipt an authentic tachometric information about
motion object in wide range of speed, which works
under harsh condition of operation: increased
vibrations, hostile environments, fouling, operating
temperature range -20 - +100 0C.
The sequence of square waves with constant
amplitude is formed on its output. This sensor does
not require any additional buffer devices for tie-in
measuring system and has very easy interface to be
integrated in the microsystem. Besides, the sensor
meets to requirements of technological compatibility
with other components of the microsystem.
the area of the low frequencies is one more
advantage of the active sensor.
Such proposed approach permits considerably to
simplify the creation of virtual instruments. The
microcontroller, which is built in to the intelligent
sensors, realises the secondary information
processing and the interface with computer with
the help of the common serial or parallel
interfaces, for example RS-232. But first of all, the
microcontroller realised the measuring loop on
virtual level.
The comparative features of the modern non-contact
sensors of different principles of function are
adduced in Table 1.
Table 1 Comparative features of non-contact sensors
of rotating speed

Sensors Freq. Supply Current Type

Range, Voltage, Consu-
kHz V mption,
mA
ASRS 0-200 4.5-24 7-15 active
DZ375 0-200 4.5-16 20-50 magn.
DZH450 0-200 4.5-30 20 hall-ef.
DZR450 0-200 4.5-16 50 hall-ef.
VT1855 0.24-160 27 3 induct.
OO 020 0.24-720 27 100 photo
4TUC 0.3-2 10-30 200 mag/in
4TUN 0.3-2 6.2-12 3 mag/in
45515 0.002-30 25 20 hall-ef.
LMPC max 10 9-17 25 mag/in

In the Table 1 the sensors DZXXXX are made by

The principle of action of the ASRS is based on the
effect of continuos suppression of oscillations of high
frequency generator by passing of each metal plate
of actuator in front of the active sensor element and
subsequent its resumption. Due to that, the
rectangular pulses with constant amplitude (+Ucc)
are continuous formed on the sensor output. The
frequency of these pulses is proportional to the
Electro Corporation (USA); VT1855, OO020 - by
NIIFI (Penza, Russia); 4XXXX- by Trumeter (UK);
LMPC- by Red LION CONTROLS (USA).
The essential reduction of hardware and increase of
reliability in comparison with the usage of the
standard Plug-In Data Acquisition Boards for the
computer (Table 2), proposed by Instrumentation
Refe-
 Proceedings of 3d IFAC Symposium on Intelligent Components and Instruments for Control Applications,
9-11 June, 1997, Annecy, FRANCE, pp.321-325.

Table 2 Performances of the Data Acquisition Boards Except non-contact rotating speed measurements,
the ASRS can be used like angular position sensor,
sensor of vicinity, parts counter and end-switch. The
Type Maximum source Base clock additional the same smart sensor in the microsystem
frequency, accuracy, allows to realise the measurements of acceleration
MHz % for rotating objects.
Enhanced Multifunction I/O Boards for the IBM PC
AT-MIO-16E-2 20 0.01 The research of some features of measuring and
64E-3 20 0.01 control microsystems, in order to single-chip
16E-10 20 0.01
implementation, has allowed to make the following
16SDE-10 20 0.01
16XE-50 20 0.01 conclusions:
High-Resolution I/O Board for the IBM PC
AT-MIO-16X 6.897 0.01 · Design technique of such microsystems will start
Low-Cost I/O Board for the IBM PC from a modular description for a set of SW
PC-LPM-16 8 0.01 components as Assembler programs.
Timing I/O Board for the IBM PC
PC-TIO-10 7 0.01 · An SW unit design must be implemented in
Multifunctional I/O Board for PCMCIA
microcode adapted for a microcontrollers or
DAQ Card-700 10 0.01
Data Acquisition and Control for Parallel Port embedded microprocessors.
DAQPad-1200 8 0.001
SCXI 12-Bit Data Acquisition and Control · Wide use in measuring microsystems could find
SCXI-1200 8 0.005 the microsensors with the frequency output
for various physical quantities.
rence (1995) is thus reached. Due to the usage of the
novel PMM, the accuracy of measurement is · The functional opportunities and metrological
increased up to 0.00002 %, at 0.25 measuring time performances will be determined by the
interval, 20 MHz clock frequency and 2,7 - 3,6 V PMM, realised like the microprocessor
supply. supercells' library. Thus, the analog part of
the microsystems is considerably reduced.
Meijer, et al. (1996a) discovered that one of the
more convenient microcontroller, which can be used · The rate of the data acquisition or the accuracy of
as microcontroller core in the microsystem design is the A/D conversion is increased because of
Intel D87C51FA. It performances are: microcontroller considers it opportune; in
measuring microsystem the measurement
· 3 x 16 bits Timer/Counters; time and resolution are interchangeable.
· Clock-frequency 12, 16, 20, 24 MHz*;
· Programmable frequency output; · The proposed approach permits to lower the
· Programmable Counter Array; duration and considerably to simplify the design
· EPROM 8K x 8; process.
· RAM 256 x 8;
Large chip areas enable manufacturing of sensors
· 7 interrupt vectors;
that together with novel PMM principles
· Power saving modes: Idle and Power Down; implemented in the chip can create the basis for new
· CHMOS-technology; powerful microsystems because of easy sensor’s
· Ucc = 2.7/3.6 V. interface, where the signal processing is mostly
digital.
*
- at Ucc = 5 V.
The given approach allows to provide technical
bridge between European and non European
4. REALISATION AND CONCLUSIONS technology, as well as between existing architectures
and future generations.
As a result of such approach was practical
realisation the multifunctional measuring instrument
of rotating parameters of turbine’s rotor for tuning ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
and testing of the circuit-breaker. The specified
measuring range of the rotation rate for this The author would like to acknowledge the French
tachometer is 12-9999 rpm, a relative error is not Circuits Multi-Project ( CMP ) Service for essential
worse, than 0.07 %, the measuring time is 0.25 s. information support, as well as
This error remains constant in all specified AUTOELECTRONIC company (Kaluga, Russia) for
measuring range. The tachometers can be used in collaboration.
monitoring, control and robotics systems for
turbogenerators on nuclear and thermal electric
power station and others branches of industry. REFERENCES
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