Course detail

Special Sensors

FEKT-MPC-SPSAcad. year: 2026/2027

The course deals with the issues related to the most commonly used operating principles of semiconductor, optoelectronic, and fiber-optic sensors. It focuses on the typical sensor design, basic technological processes used in their manufacturing, their characteristic properties and parameters, usage, applications, and limitations. Emphasis is also placed on familiarization with circuits for processing and conditioning the output signals from these sensors, as well as on the requirements imposed on smart sensors (e.g., self-diagnostic and self-calibration methods) and MEMS sensors.

Within laboratory exercises, students will gain practical experience with selected types of semiconductor sensors, including sensor implementation and the processing and conditioning of acquired sensor data for evaluation and subsequent use of the data, for example for process control.

 

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

6

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Entry knowledge

A student enrolling in the course should have basic knowledge of semiconductor physics and optics, be able to distinguish the fundamental principles of sensors for physical quantities, and be able to analyze and identify electronic circuits used in sensor and measurement technology. The student should be able to apply basic methods for measuring electrical quantities (voltage, current, resistance, capacitance, inductance) and be capable of independently setting up a measurement workstation using instruments such as an oscilloscope and a function generator, and to program a basic application for signal and data processing (MATLAB).

The student should also be proficient in microprocessor programming (e.g. C language or similar) and understand their general principles, architecture, operation, and the characteristics of typical peripherals (UART, SPI, I2C). The course loosely follows on from bachelor-level courses focused on measurement and sensors and enables students to apply knowledge from courses related to analog and digital signal processing. The student should have sufficient language skills to understand study materials in English as well (datasheets).

 

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Laboratory exercises: 0–40 points. A requirement for receiving course credit is attendance in laboratory exercises, completion of checkpoints during the semester, demonstration of the project’s functionality after completing the laboratory sessions, its presentation and the preparation and submission of the final report.

The final exam is focused on verifying the knowledge (overall understanding) gained in the completed course. It consists of a compulsory written part and an optional oral part. Written part of the final exam: 0–50 points, minimum 25 points. Oral part of the final exam: 0–10 points.

The scope of the assessed instruction and the method of assessment are determined each year by an updated directive issued by the course guarantor. Assessment includes checking the results of independent work on assigned tasks. In the case of excused absence from exercises, the teacher may, in justified cases, set an alternative requirement, usually the completion of an additional partial assignment.

 

Aims

The goal of the course is to introduce students to and deepen their knowledge of selected types of semiconductor, optoelectronic, fiber-optic, MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical) and smart sensors. Students will become familiar with their use in real-world applications, for example in measurement, navigation, robotics, etc. The goal is to provide students with an overview and understanding of the physical phenomena, measurement methods, and concepts used in these sensors.

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to explain the operating principles of semiconductor, optoelectronic, and fiber-optic sensors and define the characteristics of smart sensors. The student will be able to select an appropriate MEMS sensor for a specific application with regard to its properties and will be able to design circuits for signal processing from these sensors and implement a measuring chain for practical measurements using these sensors. The student will test and apply methods for adjusting and processing data from MEMS sensors (sampling, filtering, data correlation).

 

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

ĎAĎO, Stanislav a Marcel KREIDL. Senzory a měřicí obvody. Vyd. 2. Praha: Vydavatelství ČVUT, 1999. ISBN 80-01-02057-6. (CS)
GULDAN, Arnošt. Mikroelektronické senzory. Bratislava: Alfa, 1988. Pokroky v elektronike a elektrotechnike. (SK)
Handbook of silicon based mems materials and technologies. Third edition. Editor Markku TILLI, editor Markku TILLI, editor Mervi PAULASTO-KRÖCKEL, editor Matthias PETZOLD, editor Horst THEUSS, editor Teruaki MOTOOKA, editor Veikko LINDROOS. Amsterdam: Elsevier, [2020]. Micro and nano technologies series. ISBN 978-0-12-817786-0. (EN)
HUSÁK, Miroslav. Mikrosenzory a mikroaktuátory. Praha: Academia, 2008. Gerstner. ISBN 978-80-200-1478-8. (CS)
KREIDL, Marcel a Radislav ŠMÍD. Technická diagnostika: senzory, metody, analýza signálu. Praha: BEN - technická literatura, 2006. Senzory neelektrických veličin. ISBN 80-7300-158-6. (CS)
MEIJER, G. C. M. Smart sensor systems. Chichester, U.K.: J. Wiley, 2008. ISBN 0470866918. (EN)
RIPKA, Pavel a Alois TIPEK, ed. Master books on sensors: modular courses on modern sensors Leondaro da Vinci project CZ/PP-134026. Praha: BEN - technical literature, 2003. ISBN 80-7300-129-2. (EN)
RIPKA, Pavel. Senzory a převodníky. 2. vyd. V Praze: České vysoké učení technické, 2011. ISBN 978-80-01-04696-8. (CS)
Smart sensors and MEMS: intelligent sensing devices and microsystems for industrial applications. Second edition. Editor Stoyan NIHTIANOV, editor Antonio LUQUE ESTEPA. Duxford: Elsevier/Woodhead Publishing, an imprint of Elsevier, [2018]. Woodhead publishing series in electronic and optical materials. ISBN 978-0-08-102055-5. (EN)
TURÁN, Ján. Optické vláknové senzory. Praha: Tesla-Výzkumný ústav pro sdělovací techniku A. S. Popova, 1990. Mikro quo vadis. (CS)

Recommended reading

HARRY N. NORTON. Handbook of transducers. Prentice Hall, 1989. (EN)
SALEH, Bahaa E. A. a Malvin Carl TEICH. Základy fotoniky. Praha: Matfyzpress, 1996. ISBN 80-85863-12-X. (CS)
YEH, Chai. Handbook of fiber optics: theory and applications. San Diego: Academic Press, c1990. ISBN 0127704558. (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MPC-KAM Master's 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme MPC-EVM Master's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme MPC-EKT Master's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

  • Programme MPC-AUD Master's

    specialization AUDM-TECH , 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

The main content of the lectures covered the following areas:
1. Materials for semiconductor sensors, basic technological processes.
2. Radiation sources - basic quantities and types of radiation sources, characteristics and wiring. LED, LD and SLED - parameter and usage.
3. Semiconductor radiation sensors - ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.
4. Semiconductor sensors of mechanical quantities - pressure sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes.
5. Semiconductor magnetic field sensors - Hall effect, magnetoresistive sensors, AMR, GMR, magneto-diode, magneto-transistor.
6. Semiconductor temperature sensors, chemical sensors and biosensors.
7. Introduction to fiber optics - classification and properties of optical fibers. Fiber connections and connectors.
8. Optical fiber sensors - classification, properties, construction, measured quantities.
9. Measurement of physical quantities by using fiber optic sensors.
10. Smart sensors - requirements, properties, methods of linearization, self-diagnostics, calibration, IEEE 1451 standards group.

Laboratory exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

The content of the laboratory exercises of the MPC-SPS course is the application of MEMS inertial sensors in the project of an autonomous car, the collection of measured data from these sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes) and the implementation of signal processing methods for optimal traversal of an unknown path. The evaluated result is a demonstration of functionality , a report on the theoretical part of the project, a report on the practical part of the project and a form of public presentation of the achieved results.