The primary focus of Electronic Instrumentation is the development and implementation of electronic systems for the purpose of measuring, monitoring and recording real-world physical phenomena (temperature, light, level, ...). So, Electronic Instrumentation is a part of the electronic technology that deals with the conversion of the physical variables into electrical ones, and their adequate electronic post-processing in order to give the correct information to a control/monitorization system, a human operator or any combination of them.

Major uses of Electronic Instrumentation include industries that rely on automated process, such as chemical and manufacturing plants. They depend on these devices for safety and for improving productivity and reliability. A very large field of work is also offered in the automotive industries and domotic applications.

The scope of Electronic Instrumentation is vast and appears to be growing in part due to the increased use of automatic control in manufacturing and processes plants. Growth is also tied to the development of more accurate and more robust sensors, which allow us to detect the phenomena of interest with a much higher precision than what we could do a generation ago.

Whatever may be the nature of the application, intelligent selection and use of measuring systems depends on a broad knowledge of what is commercially available and how the performance of the equipment renders itself for the job to be performed.

In the Electronic Instrumentation course circuits studied previously in "Industrial Electronics" course will be used, thus broadening the knowledge of the design and technological applications of the electronic systems underlining specifically in Electronic Instrumentation the electronic measurement of real world variables.

Abilities:

- Applied knowledge of Electronic Instrumentation.

- To be able to design electronic systems related to Electronic Instrumentation.



Learning results:

- Knowledge of the electronic sensors most commonly used in monitorization and control systems.

- Analysis of the signal conditioning hardware (filtering and conditioning) of acquisition data systems.

- Evaluation of the instrumentation devices and selection of the most useful equipment for every application.

- Knowledge of the data acquisition systems based on digital systems to be able to understand its basis and be ready to follow its technological evolution. Accordingly, to evaluate the different options in the selection of the most adequate instrumentation system for a given application.

- Proper use of the laboratory equipment most commonly used in Electronic Instrumentation. Broad expertise using them as a tool to analyze electronic circuits' response.

Chapter 1: Introduction



Chapter 2: Sensors



Chapter 3: Signal conditioning



Chapter 4: Active Filters



Chapter 5: DAC y ADC. Acquisition data-systems.





Through the whole academic semester Laboratory Sessions will take place every two weeks. The nature of the laboratory work is directly related to the aforementioned chapters.

Several teaching/learning methodologies will be used through the semester. First, lectures on sensors and circuit design will be given in a clear way, so that the student could learn and interiorize all the theoretical concepts involved in this course. Second, a problem-solving learning methodology will be used as well. The problems (exercises, case-studies and so on) will be solved in a participative way (in groups or individually). This way, students could go into detail about their learning process and, therefore, this methodology allows the students to have a feedback for improving their performance and skills in this course. In the Laboratory Sessions students will work in pairs and acquire experimental knowledge of the discipline providing a learning method based on commonly used experimental procedures.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 70
  • Realization of Practical Work (exercises, cases or problems) (%): 15
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 15

The next evaluation method will be used in this first Call: a 70% of the final mark is linked to the final exam, a 15% to the laboratory sessions and another 15% to the production of several assignments (handouts, short oral presentations, …).

It is mandatory to pass separately every one of the three aforementioned items (final exam, laboratory sessions and assignments). If this condition is not true the student will fail the course (final mark = the worse mark of the three items). If the condition is true, the final mark is the addition of the three items.

If some student DOESN'T SHOW to the laboratory sessions and/or DOESN'T DO the assignments in due time the student will fail the course (regardless of the exam's mark) and the final mark will be 1 point.



The students could take a final assessment task evaluating all the abilities if they hand to the professor a signed document during the first 9 weeks of the semester showing that they want to take a final assessment task. This final assessment will consist of three parts: a) Individual report (15%) (they will be told about the nature of the individual report when they hand the signed document), b) laboratory work assessment (15%) and c) final written exam (70%).



The no-showing to an examination sitting will be considered as a resignation (for both, the mixed evaluation method and the final assessment task). Therefore, in this specific case the mark will be Not Shown.



In the final exam students can use a scientific calculator. But using a calculator app for smartphones is strictly forbidden. In fact, it is completely forbidden using a smartphone. Smartwaches are forbidden as well.

In this extraordinary Call the aforementioned criteria applied for the first Call will be used. That is: a) Assignments (handouts, short oral presentations, …)(15%), b) laboratory work assessment (15%) and c) final written exam (70%).



It is mandatory to pass separately every one of the three aforementioned items (final exam, laboratory sessions and assignments). If this condition is not true the student will fail the course (final mark = the worse mark of the items). If the condition is true, the final mark is the addition of the three items.

In case that the student passed items a) and /or b) in the first Call the marks related to that item(s) will be kept.

If some student DOESN'T SHOW to the laboratory sessions and/or DOESN'T DO the assignments in due time the student will fail the course (regardless of the exam's mark) and the final mark will be 1 point.



The students could take a final assessment task evaluating all the abilities if they hand to the professor a signed document during the first 9 weeks of the semester showing that they want to take a final assessment task. This final assessment will consist of three parts: a) Individual report (15%) (they will be told about the nature of the individual report when they hand the professor the signed document), b) laboratory work assessment (15%) and c) final written exam (70%).



The no-showing to an examination sitting will be considered as a resignation (for both, the mixed evaluation method and the final assessment task). Therefore, in this specific case the mark will be Not Shown.



In the final exam students can use a scientific calculator. But using a calculator app for smartphones is strictly forbidden. In fact, it is completely forbidden using a smartphone. Smartwaches are forbidden as well.

The students are provided with a comprehensive set of learning/working/reading resources that are available on the internet using the eGELA platform.

Basic bibliography

- Pérez M. A., Álvarez J. C., Campo J. C., Ferrero F. J., Grillo G. J., Instrumentación Electrónica, Ed. Thomson, 2004.

- Pallas Areny R., Sensores y acondicionadores de señal, Ed. Marcombo, 1998.

- J. Díaz, J. A. Jiménez y F. J. Meca, Introducción a la electrónica de medida, Univ. de Alcalá, 1998.

- M. H. Rashid, Circuitos microelectrónicos. Análisis y Diseño, Ed. Thomson, 2002.

In-depth bibliography

- Fraden J., Handbook of Modern Sensors: Physics, designs and applications, Ed. Springer, EEUU, 2003
- S. A. Pactitis, Active filters. Theory and design, CRC Press, 2008
- W. de Silva, Sensors & Actuators, CRC Press, 2007

Journals

- IEEE Instrumentation & Measurement, Magazine (IEEE)

Web addresses

- www.sensorsportal.com
- www.sensorsmag.com
- www.ti.com
- www.amidata.es
- es.farnell.com
- www.ni.com
- www.ieee-ims.org