F. Y. B.Sc. Electronics of B.Sc .

(Computer
Science)

SEMESTER - II
PAPER I
ELC 121: Instrumentation Systems

Pallavi Kadam
Modern College of Arts, Science
and Commerce College, Pune
  Unit 1
Introduction to Instrumentation System
•The term “system” refers to a set of components that are
connected to form and act as an entire unit.

•An instrumentation system is collection of

instruments used to measure, monitor, and control
a process.

•There are many applications of instrumentation

systems, within technological areas such as
communications, defense, transportation, education,
industrial manufacturing , research and development,
numerous scientific and technical disciplines, chemical
and other process industries have made the widespread
application of instrumentation systems possible.
Block diagram of Instrumentation system
Sensor: -
Here, the physical quantity (such as temperature, pressure etc.) are
sensed and then converted into analogues signal.
Transducer:-
It converts the output of Sensor into suitable form without changing
information.
The output of transducer may be electrical signal i.e. voltage, current or
other electrical parameter..
Signal Conditioning:-
Signal conditioning is stage of Instrumentation system used for
modifying
the transduced signal into usable format for the final stage.
•Signal conditioning is a process of manipulating an analog signal in
such way that it is optimized for further processing.

•The O/P of the first stage of sensors has to be modified before it

becomes usable and sufficient to drive the signal indicating stage
which is the last stage.
•General-purpose conditioning functions to improve the quality,
flexibility and reliability of your measurement system.
• Signal conditioning is typically categorized into three stages:
Amplifying, Filtering, Isolation.

Analog to digital Converter: -

Analog to digital Converter uses convert the data in to digital form.

Output Device: -
Finally the output is recorded or given to the controller to perform action. It
performs different functions like indicating, recording or controlling.
Definitions of Sensors ,Transducers and Actuators :
Sensor:
“A device detecting the presence of a parameter or measured
variable and converting it into suitable form is called as a sensor”
A sensor is a device that receives and responds to a signal.
This signal must be produced by some type of energy, such as heat,
light, motion, or chemical reaction
Example:
Temperature Sensor
Proximity Sensor
Accelerometer
IR Sensor (Infrared Sensor)
Pressure Sensor
Light Sensor
Ultrasonic Sensor
Smoke, Gas and Alcohol Sensor
Touch Sensor
Humidity Sensor
Tilt Sensor
Flow and Level Sensor
Electrical Sensor is used to convert energy of one kind into energy of
another kind

Example:- a microphone (input device) converts sound waves into

electrical signals for the amplifier to amplify (a process), and a
loudspeaker (output device) converts these electrical signals back
into sound waves and an example of this type of simple Input /
Output (I/O) system is given below.
Simple Input / Output System using Sound Sensor

There are many different types of sensors and transducers available

in the marketplace, and the choice of which one to use really depends
upon the quantity being measured or controlled, with the more
common types given in the table below:
Transducer:
“A Transducer Converts the Non electrical quantity into an analog
electrical signal”.
Eg. Thermometer is a sensor it converts temp into disp. of mercury

A transducer is any device which converts one form of energy into

another.

Example:

1] A solar cell converts light into electricity and a thermocouple

converts thermal energy into electrical energy.
2] An incandescent light bulb produces light by passing a current
through a filament. Thus, a light bulb is a transducer for converting
electrical energy into optical energy.
3] An electric motor is a transducer for conversion of electricity into
mechanical energy or motion.
Actuator:
“Actuator is a device which converts electrical signal into
mechanical form”
actuator is a specific type of a transducer
An actuator is a device that actuates or moves something. An
actuator uses energy to provide motion.

Example:

Stepper Motor
Electric Motor
Screw Jack
Classification of Sensors
In the classification of the sensors, they are divided in to Active and
Passive.

Active Sensor:-
i) Active sensors are self generating type of sensor.
ii) They do not require any external source or power for their
operation.
iii)These sensors develop an electrical parameter (i.e.
voltage/current) proportional to the physical parameter under
measurement.
iv)Eg:-Thermocouple, photocell, piezoelectric sensor etc..

Active Sensors
Passive Sensors:-

i) Passive sensors are not self generating type of sensor.

ii) They require any external source or power for their operation.
iii)These sensors develop an electrical parameter such as inductance,
resistance and capacitance in response to the physical parameter
under measurement.
iv)Eg:- Thermister , RTD, LDR, LVDT, Phototransistor etc..
Passive Sensors
Specifications of Sensors:

 Accuracy:
“The closest reading of a value of the quantity being measured by an
instrument”
That is how good the data is when compared with a recognized
standard
Example:
A temperature sensor accurate to 0.001º C is expected to agree within
0.001º C with a temperature standard

Range
“The range of an instrument or sensor is defined as the difference
between the largest and the smallest measured value”

It is the maximum and minimum value range over which a sensor

works well.
Example:
If a Temp sensor can give variation for temp 5 degree celcius to 105
degree celcius then the range is 100 degree celcius . It will not work
outside the range.

 linearity
“It is the closeness to which a curve approximates a straight line.
Linearity is am indicator of the consistency of measurements over the
entire range of measurement”.
Linearity tells us how well the instruments measurement corr. to
reality

Sensitivity
“It is the ratio of change in output magnitude to the change in input
magnitude”
Sensitivity of an instrument may also vary with temp or external
factor this is known as sensitivity drift
 Resolution:
“It is the smallest change in measureable input change”
The smallest increment in input which can be detected with
certainty by an instrument
Example: a temperature sensor may have a resolution of 0.000,01º
C, but only be accurate to 0.001º C. That is you can believe the
size of relative small changes in temperature, which are smaller
than the accuracy of the sensor.

 Reproducibility
“The Closest measurement of output for the same value of input”
Precision indicates the repeatability of reproducibility of an sensor or
instrument
This is the ability of a sensor to repeat a measurement when
put back in the same environment.
 Difference between active and Passive Sensor
Active Sensor
• Active transducers generate
electric current or voltage directly
in response to environmental
stimulation.
• Active sensors provides their
own energy source for
illumination.
• Active sensors are able to
obtain measurements
anytime (Day &Night).
Passive Sensor
• Passive transducers produce a
change in some passive electrical
quantity, such as capacitance,
resistance, or inductance, as a
result of stimulation. These usually
require additional electrical energy
for excitation.
• Passive sensors can only be used
to detect energy whenthe naturally
occurringenergy is available.
• Passive Sensors can obtain
measurements only in the
Day time.
Thank You…