Course detail

Processing and digitizing of analogue signals

FEKT-BPC-ZDAAcad. year: 2023/2024

The course deals with challenges of the design of analog circuits for processing signals from sensors including presentation of tools for simulation and analysis of electronic circuits, data acquisition, signal processing, and hardware resources for the practical design of electronic circuits. Students will learn basic signal conditioning circuits for active and passive sensors - the use of bridges, current sources, amplifiers and filters. Further, electronic circuitry for resistive, capacitive and inductive sensors, conditioning and processing of signals from thermocouples, photodiodes and sensors with piezoelements are analyzed in detail. Sensors with current loop output, mixed and isolated interface, and circuits for digitization of analog signals including specific sensors with digital output are also considered.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

6

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Entry knowledge

The student who enrolls this course should be able to explain principle of operation of basic passive and active electronic components, define their general parameters and use them in basic electronic circuits. He should also be able to list basic laws and rules for solving linear electronic circuits and use them. He should define the basic transmission parameters of passive two-ports, calculate and illustrate their frequency characteristics. He should explain the principle of simple operational amplifier and illustrate its basic internal structure. He should be able to enumerate basic types of A/D converters and describe the functional principle of D/A converters. He should be able to define a measurement system based on virtual instrumentation and describe the basic possibility of creating such a system using LabVIEW environment.
Student should have such language skills to understand some educational materials in English.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Up to 40 points for the laboratory exercises in the following composition:
- up to 5 points (2+3) for two short practical tasks in the Multisim environment,
- up to 5 points (2+3) for two short practical tasks when using the NI Elvis platform,
- up to 10 points for test of theoretical knowledge related to operation of simulation, development and prototype software tools for electronic circuit design, signal acquisition and processing,
- up to 10 points from an individual theoretical design of electrical circuit involving simulation in Multisim,
- up to 10 points from practical realization and evaluation of parameters of electrical circuit using NI Elvis platform.
To get course-unit credit and the possibility to access the final exam at least half points from laboratory exercises is required, i.e. 20 points.
Up to 60 points for the written exam.
Mandatory participation in laboratory exercises, in case of absence the exercise work can be supplemented with alternative exercise in same week or with a self-study of additional literature. Two excused absences are tolerated.

Aims

The main aim of the course is to get basic theoretical and practical skills for unaided design of analog circuits, especially for processing signals from sensors. Get practical experience with software for theoretical design and simulation of analog circuits, hardware and software resources for processing and digitization of analog signals from sensors and basic methods for processing and analysis of measured data.
The student is able to design independently and realize practically the basic electronic circuit for signal conditioning and processing from sensors of the most commonly measured physical quantities, he can also describe basic procedures for collecting and processing data using virtual instrumentation. He can identify specific circuit design for each type of physical transducers and apply it to a theoretical design. He is able to analyze basic circuit solution for processing signals from sensors with operational amplifiers with computer support in the Multisim environment. He can control the simulation environment and use fundamental analysis to determine and verify the properties of the solved electronic circuit. He can describe development platform NI Elvis and can use it to prototype design and verification of electronic circuit with basic electronic components and operational amplifiers. He can test created electronic circuit and compare the results with the simulation model and illustrate the basic static and dynamic parameters of the circuit (operating point, frequency response, etc.). He is able to describe common electrical interfaces of sensors and explain the basic principles of A/D converters used in electronic circuits of sensors of physical quantities.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

KESTER, W. Practical design techniques for sensor signal conditioning. Analog Devices, Inc., USA, 1999. ISBN 0-916550-20-6. (EN)
PUNČOCHÁŘ, J. Operační zesilovače v elektronice. BEN - technická literatura, Praha, 5. vydání, 2002. 288 s. ISBN 80 7300-058-X. (CS)
JURÁNEK, A. MultiSIM - Elektronická laboratoř na PC. BEN - technická literatura, Praha, 1. vydání, 2008. 288 s. ISBN 978-80 7300-194. (CS)
VEDRAL, J., SVATOŠ, J. Zpracování a digitalizace analogových signálů v měřicí technice. Nakladatelství ČVUT Praha, 1. vydání, 2018. ISBN 978-80-01-06424-5. (CS)

Recommended reading

SHEINGOLD, D. H. Transducer Interfacing Handbook - A Guide to Analog Signal Conditioning. Analog Device, Inc., USA, 1. vydání, březen 1980. 231 s. ISBN 0 916550-05-2. (EN)
KABEŠ, K. Operační zesilovače v automatizační technice. SNTL - Nakladatelství technické literatury n. p. Praha, 1. vydání, 1989. 260 s. (CS)
KŘIŠŤAN, L., VACHALA, V. Příručka pro navrhování elektronických obvodů. SNTL - Nakladatelství technické literatury n. p. Praha, 1. vydání, 1982. 400 s. (CS)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-EKT Bachelor's, any year of study, winter semester, elective
  • Programme BPC-AMT Bachelor's, 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1) Introduction to the design of analog circuits for processing signals from sensors.
2) Tools for simulation and analysis of electronic circuits. NI Multisim.
3) Tools for practical design of electronic circuits and acquisition of analog and digital signals. NI ELVIS.
4) The basic chain of preprocessing and digitization of analog signals.
5) Sensors of nonelectrical quantities as electronic circuit elements (active, passive).
6) Sensors interfacing - use of bridges, current sources, amplifiers and filters.
7) Amplifiers (operational, instrument, charge).
8) Sensors in impedance bridges (resistive, capacitive, inductive).
9) Passive sensors - circuit solutions for temperature and position sensors. High impedance sensors. Circuit solutions for resistance sensors of mech. deformation, force, pressure and flow.
10) Active sensors - circuit solutions for thermocouples, photodiodes. Circuit solutions for position, velocity and acceleration sensors.
11) Converters for digitizing analog signals.
12) Current loops, mixed and isolated interfaces. Sensors with a digital interface (I2C, SPI,...).
13) Recapitulation of the important subject topics. 

Laboratory exercise

39 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1) Design of electronic circuits using the SPICE simulator. Hands-on introduction to NI Multisim.
2) Hands-on familiarization with the NI ELVIS hardware platform and available virtual instruments for circuit development and analysis.
3) Basic circuits using operational amplifier, its static parameters.
4) Dynamic parameters of the operational amplifier in the real circuit.
5) Bridge circuits for evaluating signals from resistance sensors. Use of OA for processing/amplifying the signal from the bridge. Temperature measurement with thermistor.
6) Use of OA for high-impedance sensors. Photodiode signal processing.
7) Frequency filters with OA. Design of filter with Sallen-Key topology.
8) Design of a signal rectifier with operational amplifier.
9) Features of the instrument amplifier. Assembling an instrument amplifier from OA.
10) Theoretical test - knowledge of NI Multisim simulation platform and NI ELVIS development platform.
11) Project No. 1 - theoretical design of an amplifier with OA and its simulation in NI Multisim.
12) Project No. 2 - theoretical design of an amplifier with OA and its practical assembly and verification of parameters using the NI ELVIS platform.
13) Evaluation of the results of practical projects and example of the correct solution.