96492 - Measuring Circuits for Sensor Techology and Instrumentation

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has the necessary knowledge to carry out the analysis and design of the acquisition channels used in  instrumentation or sensors. Furthermore, the student is able to analyze and process the experimental data to arrive at a correct measurement result, taking into consideration the main nonidealities identified in the instruments, components and electronic circuits of the acquisition chain. In particular, the student: knows and designs the main analog circuits for sensor interfacing and analog signal processing; knows the architectures of analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters and the main algorithms for digital signal processing in the experimental field; understands the specifications of the A/D acquisition channels for sensors and instrumentation, and is able to design and characterize them.

Course contents

- Elements of metrology

• Fundamental elements of metrology
• Measurement uncertainty as from GUM-JCGM
• Law of propagation of uncertainty
• The sensor acquisition chain

- Characterization of electronic components

• Static and dynamic characterization of passive components
• Static and dynamic characterization of the operational amplifier
• Characterization of electrochemical energy storage systems
• Noise in electronic systems

- Analog front-end

• instrumentation amplifier
• Wheatstone bridge
• I/V converter
• Charge amplifier
• Low-noise design
• Lock-in amplifier
• Active filters

- A/D and D/A conversion

• General theory of ADC
• Nonidealities in the A/D conversion
• S&H and T&H
• A/D architectures (Flash, pipeline, SAR, sigma-delta, TDC)
• D/A architectures (R2R, C-DAC, sigma-delta)

- Lab experiences

• Introduction to SPICE simulation
• Design of an analog front-end

Readings/Bibliography

R. B. Northrop, "Introduction to Instrumentation and Measurements", Taylor & Francis, 2005.

"The Data Conversion Handbook", Analog Devices, 2004. Free available online.

M. Tartagni, "Electronic Sensor Design Principles", Cambridge University press, 2021

Teaching methods

Front lessons and exercises in laboratory.

Assessment methods

Oral exam

Office hours

See the website of Marco Crescentini