C8: Sensor and Sensor Technology
C8: Sensor and Sensor Technology
C8: Sensor and Sensor Technology
*All sensors are transducers but not all transducers are sensors
In this lecture we also discuss
• A controller, which evaluates the deviation, i.e. the difference between the
measured value and the desired value of the controlled condition (the set
point value) and determines the output control signal, i.e. the setting of the
actuator at any given time. Types and actions of controllers are discussed
later.
• An actuator or other similar final controlling element, which performs the
necessary correcting action, such as an electric motor to open or close a
valve.
Sensors
Classification of Sensors
• Mechanical quantities: displacement, Strain, rotation
velocity, acceleration, pressure, force/torque, twisting,
weight, flow
• Thermal quantities: temperature, heat.
• Electromagnetic/optical quantities: voltage, current,
frequency phase; visual/images, light; magnetism.
• Chemical quantities: moisture, pH value
Sensors
• USE: To understand and interpret the environment.
• IN-SITU (vs. Remote): a) detectors at sight
b) higher resolution
c) means to ground truth
• DETECTION:
a) physical – heat, pressure, humidity, light,
sound
b) chemical – gas, liquid, solid, organics /
inorganics
c) biological – gas signature, DNA, protein,
acoustics
Categorization of Sensor
• Sensor technology;
• Sensor data collection topologies;
• Data communication;
• Power supply;
• Data synchronization;
• Environmental parameters and influence;
• Remote data analysis.
Measurement
Physical Measurement
phenomenon Output
Measurement output:
• interaction between a sensor and the environment surrounding
the sensor
• compound response of multiple inputs
Measurement errors:
• System errors: imperfect design of the measurement setup and
the approximation, can be corrected by calibration
• Random errors: variations due to uncontrolled variables. Can be
reduced by averaging.
Specifications of Sensor
• Accuracy: error between the result of a
measurement and the true value being
measured.
• Resolution: the smallest increment of measure
that a device can make.
• Sensitivity: the ratio between the change in the
output signal to a small change in input physical
signal. Slope of the input-output fit line.
• Repeatability/Precision: the ability of the
sensor to output the same value for the same
input over a number of trials
Accuracy vs. Precision
• Capacitive accelerometer
– Good performance over low frequency range, can measure
gravity!
– Heavier (~ 100 g) and bigger size than piezoelectric
accelerometer
– Measurement range up to +/- 200 g
– More expensive than piezoelectric accelerometer
– Sensitivity typically from 10 – 1000 mV/g
– Frequency bandwidth typically from 0 to 800 Hz
– Operating temperature: -65 – 120 C
• Linear Potentiometer
– Resolution (infinite), depends on?
– High frequency bandwidth (> 10 kHz)
– Fast response speed
– Velocity (up to 2.5 m/s) Photo courtesy of Duncan Electronics
– Low cost
– Finite operating life (2 million cycles) due to contact
wear
– Accuracy: +/- 0.01 % - 3 % FSO
– Operating temperature: -55 ~ 125 C
Displacement Transducer
Pneumatic Retraction No
Repeatability 0.1um Courtesy of Microstrain, Inc.
• Shock Accelerometer
– Measurement range up to +/- 70,000 g
– Frequency bandwidth typically from 0.5 –
30 kHz at -3 dB
– Operating temperature: -40 to 80 C
– Light (weighs ~ 5 g)
Angular Motion Sensing (Tilt Meter)
- valves, pumps,
– receives data, processes it, micro-fluidics
decides what to do based
on data
(brains)
http://www.gmu.edu/departments/seor/student_project/syst101_00b/team07/components.html
MEMS Technology
• What is MEMS?
– Acronym for Microelectromechanical Systems
– “MEMS is the name given to the practice of making and
combining miniaturized mechanical and electrical components.”
– K. Gabriel, SciAm, Sept 1995.
• Synonym to:
– Micromachines (in Japan)
– Microsystems technology (in Europe)
• Co-location of sensing,
computing, actuating, control,
communication & power on a
small chip-size device
• High spatial functionality and fast
response speed
– Very high precision in manufacture
– miniaturized components improve
response speed and reduce power
consumption
MEMS Fabrication Technique
• Miniaturization
– micromachines (sensors and actuators) can handle
microobjects and move freely in small spaces
• Multiplicity
– cooperative work from many small micromachines may be
best way to perform a large task
– inexpensive to make many machines in parallel
• Microelectronics
– integrate microelectronic control devices with sensors and
actuators
Fujita, Proc. IEEE, Vol. 86, No 8
MEMS Accelerometer
• Capacitive MEMS
accelerometer
– High precision dual axis
accelerometer with signal
conditioned voltage outputs, all
on a single monolithic IC
– Sensitivity from 20 to 1000
mV/g
– High accuracy
– High temperature stability
– Low power (less than 700 uA
typical)
– 5 mm x 5 mm x 2 mm LCC
package
– Low cost ($5 ~ $14/pc.)
• BIOCOMPLEXITY
– Understanding patterns & processes across
a) levels of organization: molecular global
b) across space and time: arctic tropical
Terrestrial
- http://www.lotek.com/
• FUNCTION: Organism tracking & Sensing
• APPLICATION: Birds, Bats, Fish, Reptiles, Mammals
• PRINCIPLE: Micro-sensors (position, pressure, temp),
Radio & Acoustic waves
http://www.holohil.com/lb2pic.htm
• PROS: Wireless, Small, Long use history, No calibration,
Real-time option
• CONS: Intrusive, Power limitations
• COMPANY: Lotek, Telonics Inc, Holohil Systems Ltd
• COST: $135 - $350+
Minirhizotron
http://www.bartztechnology.com/products.htm
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
http://www.uwec.edu/jolhm/research/Brian/what_is_ground_penetrating_radar.htm
Aquatic Environments
http://www.dsl.whoi.edu/DSL/dana/abe_cutesy.html
Video Plankton Recorder
http://science.whoi.edu/users/sgallager/vprwebsite/vprdraft.html
http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/press/01/pr0130_progress.htm
Digital Whale Tag
http://dtag.whoi.edu/tag.html
Copyright, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, The DTAG Project. Mark Johnson and Peter Tyack, funded by ONR, NMF
Micro-hygrometer
• FUNCTION: Pressure, Temperature,
Micro-hygrometer, Radiation
Densitometer, Laser Doppler
anemometer
• APPLICATION: in-situ microclimate data
• PRINCIPLE: Micro-sensor clusters
• PROS: Accuracy, Fast response, Low mass &
Volume, Cheap
• CONS: not yet available
• COMPANY: JPL, GWU
JPL - http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/technology/
• COST: will be relatively cheap
MANUFACTURABLE FOR LESS THAN $500
MICROCONTROLLER
MICRO-SENSOR
CLUSTER
WIND GAGE
(Temp, Pressure
& Humidity)
ANTENNA
INSIDE
BATTERY BATTERIES DRAIN
COMPARTMENT
http://www.sandia.gov/media/NewsRel/NR2000/labchip.htm
Electronic Nose (s)
zNose ©
http://www.estcal.com/Products.html
http://www.alpha-mos.com/proframe.htm http://www.businessplans.org/Vusion/Vusion00.html
Sensor Webs
• Nano-scale size
• Constructed atom / molecule at a time
• Self-repairing
• Self-assembling – ex. carbon nanotubes
• Molecular switches (transistor) - UCLA
• Model – nature
• Still in development phase
Home Interior Flowchart
MCU USB
USB Endpoint
Level 1/ Base TI MSP430F169
Station Block
Diagram RS-485 Transceiver
USB
RS-485 Bus
Optional USB
Quadrature alternative to RS-
Encoders 485 / Base Station
USB Endpoint
RS-485 Transceiver
1 Mb
Touch Sensors
Digital Flash
LCD Display
Potentiometer
Areas of Opportunity
• Technological overlaps with NASA, DoE, DoD
• Technological outlook
– Micro-technology: Present - 5+ years
– Nano-technology: 5 - 10+ years:
Future Directions
Power
•
Decreased costs
• Maintenance-free
–
Long-term
–
Increased miniaturization
•
RF Telemetry
Smart Sensor Web Macro-organisms
Instrumenting the Environment
Sensor Clustered
MEMS Insects
Minirhizotron
Array
Multiparameter
Soil Probes
• INDUSTRY:
a) Over 100 properties can be sensed
b) Over 2300 sensor suppliers . . .
Major Areas of Sensor Development
• Governmental Focus
– DoD - miniaturization
– DoE - automation
– NASA - bio / chem detection
– NOAA - environmental sensing
– Health
- decreased power
• Private Sector - faster
– Communications
- ‘smarter’
– Electronics
- wireless
– Industrial
- remote / in-situ
Examples of Micro-Sensor
Cluster Groups
• UC Berkeley – COTS – ‘Smart Dust’
• Michigan - WIMS (Wireless Integrated
Micro Systems)
• GWU - ‘Mini Weather Stations’
• NASA - JPL – Sensor Webs
• DoE – Sandia, Oak Ridge
• DoD – Naval Research Lab
References