Protected: Summary of Lectures

Preparation for final year examination

1) Chapter 1 (Questions 1 & 5)
Problem 1
A temperature sensor has a transfer function of
5mV/ C with an accuracy of + 1%. Determine the possible
range of the transfer function.
If a reading of 27.5 results from the sensor used.
Determine the temperature that could provide this reading.

Problem 4
Assume that a particular temperature probe approximates
first-order behavior in a particular application, that it has a
time constant of 6s. If the probe is suddenly subjected to a
temperature step from 75 C to 300 C. What temperature will
be indicated 10s after the process has been initiated?

Problem 5
Assume the same conditions as those in problem 4, but with
step from 300C to 75 C. What temperature will be indicate
after 10 s?

(a) Time response of first order type transducer. (maybe is like prob
4&5)
(b) Time constant of first order system (maybe is like prob 4&5)
(c) Modeling of thermocouple sensor with compensating circuit
(Question 1)(prob 1 , maybe ?)
(refer to textbook chapter 2 & 11)(I give up on this)
2) Chapter 2 & 3 (Questions 2, 3 & 4)
a) When the normal, t-test, Chi-square, and Thompson-Tau
distribution tables will be used ?
-The normal (or Gaussian) distribution function is a simple
distribution function that is useful for a large number of
common problems involving continuous random variable.
-The t-distribution can be used to estimate the confidence
interval of a mean value of a sample with a certain confidence
level for small sample sizes (less than 30).
-it is also necessary to establish a confidence interval for the
estimated variance. For normally distributed populations, a
statistic called r (pronounced "kye squared") is used for the
purpose of establishing a confidence interval.

-The basis of these methods is to eliminate values that have a

low probability of occurrence.
b) How to estimate uncertainty of instrument ?

c) How to estimate uncertainty in measurement ?

(another example 3 below, maybe?)

(refer to textbook Example 6.9 6.18)

Example 2 Dta Analysis Data Analysis-Sol
Analysis of Experimental Data
The increase in cost of living also affect the cost manufacturing of
a tuna sandwich. A survey from 15 bakeries had been carried out
and recorded the weights of the sandwich from the bakeries. The
data shows average of the sandwich of 125g and standard deviation
at 6.5g. If the allowable population of standard deviation is 8.6g
a) Determine the confidence interval that the bakeries are
producing the sandwich within the allowable tolerance.
b) Evaluate the minimum standard deviation of the weight.

Example 3 Uncertainty in Measurement Uncertainty in

Measurement-Sol
Uncertainty in Measurement
In estimating the operating temperature of an automotive engine,
10 samples are taken at rotational speed 2500 rpm and the

temperature change of each sample is measured by a thermocouple.

The measured values in degree Celsius are 85, 89, 90, 86, 88, 95,
92, 88, 93, 86. Evaluate
a) random uncertainty of each measurement.
b) random uncertainty of the mean of the measurement.

3) Chapter 4 (Question 2)
a) What is a wheatstone bridge ?
a simple circuit for measuring an unknown resistance/resistance
change by connecting it so as to form a quadrilateral with three
known resistances and applying a voltage between a pair of opposite
corners.
b) What are the examples of signal conditioners?
-Amplification
-Attenuation
-Fitering (highpass, lowpass, bandpass, or bandstop)
-Diffrentiation

-Integration
-Linearization
-Combining a measured signal with a reference signal
-Converting a resistance to a voltage signal
-Converting a current signal to a voltage signal
-Converting a voltage signal to a current signal
-Converting a frequency signal to a voltage signal
c) What is the resistance and voltage relationships in a quarter arm
wheatstone bridge?

d) Explain the function of the analog filters

An analog filter is any filter which operates on continuous-time
signals. A lowpass filter allows low frequencies to pass without
attenuation but, starting at a frequency fc called the corner
frequency, attenuates higherfrequency components of the signal.
The frequency band with approximately constant gain (V0/Vi)
between f = 0 and fc is known as the passband. A highpass filter
allows high frequency to pass but attenuates low frequencies. A
bandpass filter attenuates signals at both high and low frequencies
but allows a range of frequencies to pass without attenuation.

e) What is the voltage ratio for the low-pass & high-pass filters ?

(refer to textbook Example 7.7 7.12)

4) Chapter 5 (Question 5)
a) What are the principles of PRT, Thermistor, thermocouple,
thermopile, and pyrometer ?
-PRT (Platinum) is a thermally sensitive resistor that exhibits a
change in electrical resistance with a change in its temperature. All
metals produce a positive change in resistance for a positive change
in temperature.
- The principle of work of thermocouple is based on Seebeck effect
that is explained as a flow of current in a closed loop of the metals.
Dissimilar metals generate emf voltage across junction if at different
reference temperatures.
-Thermopile is a serial arrangement of multiple thermocouples in
one setting to reduce uncertainty.
-Thermistor is based on semiconductor expansion, highly nonlinear
relation to temperature and negative slope due to electron

behaviours uncertainty. Semiconductor reduces its resistance with

increased temperature (similar to PRT)
-Pyrometer, without contact, temperature is measured by thermal
radiation wavelength, thermal energy radiate and captured by
photodetectors
b) What are the thermocouple laws ?
A thermocouple is pair of dissimilar metal wires that being joined at
least at one end, which generate a thermoelectric voltage
proportional to the temperature difference.
c) How to use thermocouples ? (no idea)
d) How to predict the time constant ? (no idea)

 Slide have other easier example, better study it.

(refer to textbook Example 9.5 9.6 + lecture notes)
5) Chapter 6 (Question 6)
a) How to measure angle displacement?
Encoder, an accessory to a mechanical device that translates
mechanical motion into a measurable electrical signal Digital or
Analog (preferably digital).
b)Describe the types of optical encoders and point out their
differences.
-Absolute Encoders: Digital data produced by code disk, which
carries position information.
-Incremental Encoders: Mechanical motion computed by
measuring consecutive on states.
c) Explain the graycode and the binary codes in optical encoders.
-a pattern of light and dark strips is printed on to a strip and is
detected by a sensor that moves along it
the pattern takes the form of a series of lines as shown below

 it is arranged so that the combination is unique at each point

sensor is an array of photodiodes
-binary code: if all bits were to change at about the same time:
glitches
- One angle shift results in multiple bit changes.
-Gray code: only one bit changes at a time: no glitch
- only 1 bit has to be changed for all transitions.
d) Explain on how the resolution of encoders can be improved ?
increase the bit ? increase the cycle per resolution? Increase the
number of lines on the disk?