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Functional elements of an Instrument
Components of Instruments:
• Sensors
• Transducers
• Signal Processors
• A/D and D/A Convertors
• Amplifiers
• Hookup Wires
• Recorders
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Measured Medium
Convert Detect
Sensor
Measure Infer
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A good sensor:
Is sensitive to the measured property
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𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑆𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑙
𝑆𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑦
◦ Sensors that measure very small changes must have very high
sensitivities.
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If the sensor is not ideal, several types of deviations
can be observed:
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The sensor may to some extent be sensitive to
properties other than the property being
measured. For example, most sensors are
influenced by the temperature of their
environment.
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The resolution of a sensor is the smallest change it
can detect in the quantity that it is measuring.
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Acoustic, Sound, Navigation
Vibration Optical, Light, Imaging
Environment, Pressure
Weather, Moisture, Position, Angle,
Humidity Displacement, Distance,
Composition, Weight Speed, Acceleration
Electric Current, Proximity
Electric Potential, Thermal, Heat,
Magnetic, Radio Temperature
Flow, Fluid Velocity
Force, Density, Level
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A transducer is a device that converts one type of energy
to another.
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Input transducer:
◦ Converts a physical signal to electric signal
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Filtering - removes some unwanted component or
feature from a signal
Smoothing - capture important patterns in the data,
leave out noise or other fine-scale structures/rapid
phenomena
Modulation - varying one or more properties of a high-
frequency periodic waveform
Types:
Analog Signal Processors
Digital Signal Processors
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• Electrical connections provided between the
instrument and other electronic devices.
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a) Chart Recorders
b) Data Loggers
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A chart recorder is a device that records an
electrical or mechanical input trend onto a piece
of paper (the chart).
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Strip chart recorders
Circular chart recorders
Roll chart recorders
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Instant visual feedback is required
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Ability to automatically collect data on a 24-
hour basis.
Upon activation, data loggers are typically
deployed and left unattended to measure and
record information for the duration of the
monitoring period.
This allows for a comprehensive, accurate picture
of the environmental conditions being monitored,
such as air temperature and relative humidity.
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Unattended weather station recording (such as wind speed /
direction, temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation).
Unattended hydrographic recording (such as water level, water
depth, water flow, water pH, water conductivity).
Unattended soil moisture level recording.
Unattended gas pressure recording.
Process monitoring for maintenance and troubleshooting
applications.
Process monitoring to verify warranty conditions
Tank level monitoring.
Load profile recording for energy consumption management.
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