AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Sensors are the core element of a measuring system. Sensors allow an electronic system to properly acquire data that should be stored, transmitted, processed. A touch-screen in a smartphone, a load cell in a weighing instrument , accelerometers and gyroscopes in a drone are only a few examples among the several applications that can be named. 

This course will enable the student to understand and analyze the construction and working principles of measuring systems; the focus will be in particular on sensors and signal conditioning. The teaching form combines lecture and lab actitivities. Lectures will make the student familiar with different types of sensors using a wide range of physical sensing principles. Lab activities consist of practical tasks where the students will use different types of sensor, understand their principles of functioning and process the output data

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching plan is structured as follows. Lectures will enable the student to understand and analyze the construction and working principles of different types of sensors. Lab activities will involve the students in practical tasks concerning the desing of measuring systems.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The lecture plan is structured as follows: 1) measuring electronic systems: design principles and characterization of the sensor as measuring device; 2) Measurement: probabilistic approach, assessing uncertainty; 3) Resistive sensors; 4) Capactive sensors; 5) Piezoelectric sensors; 6) Magnetometers

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lecture notes

Fraden, J. Handbook of Modern Sensors: Physics, Designs, and Applications. 4th ed. Springer, 2010.

Pallás-Areny, R, Webster J.G., Sensors and Signal Conditioning, 2nd Edition, Wiley, 2000