Text: Bentley, J.P., Principles of Measurement Systems, 3rd Edition, Longman Scientific & Technical, UK & John Wiley & Sons, New York (1988)

Reference: Fraden, Jacob, AIP Handbook of Modern Sensors, Physics, Designs and Applications, American Institute of Physics, New York (1993)

Clayton C. Williams

Office : 302 JFB

Office Hours: (to be determined)

Phone: 585-3226

E-mail: clayton@physics.utah.edu

Laboratory Instructor

John Viner

Office: 307A-D SP

Phone: 581-5232

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course will provide an understanding of the basic principles of measurementinstrumentation and sensors. The lectures and laboratories will introduce the student to many different types of sensors and measurement systems designed to measure temperature, pressure, mechanical motion, force, electric and magnetic fields. The lectures will provide the conceptual understanding of the measurement systems, the sensors, data and error analysis, noise and methods to improve the performance of a measurement system. The laboratories will provide practical experience with the measurement systems, sensors and experimental techniques, which will solidify the understanding from the lectures.

COURSE MECHANICS

Prerequisite: Engineering physics sequence, general optics background.
Lectures: Lectures will cover the background required to do the laboratory work.
Laboratory work: A total of 9 lab experiments will be performed. The student will typically have 1 week to complete each lab. Each lab writeup will be due at the beginning of class on the Tuesday after the 2nd week of laboratory work. Laboratory reports that are turned in late will receive reduced credit.
Homework: Some homework problems will be given to prepare for the laboratories.
Exams and Final Exam: There will be two midterm examinations and a comprehensive final exam (at the end of the semester).

Grading

Student performance will be judged on the final exam and laboratory reports approximately weighted as shown below:

Midterm Exams:	20%
Final Exam:	20%
Lab Reports/Problems:	60%
Total:	100%

COURSE OUTLINE - FALL SEMESTER 2000


Lecture Topics

1. Static Characterization of measurements systems and sensors
2. Statistical nature of measurements
3. Optimization of measurement systems and sensors to improve performance
4. Dynamic characterization of measurement systems and sensors
5. Effects of loading, impedance concepts
6. Physical sources of noise
7. Physical sensors and measurements (thermal, motion, force, electric and magnetic fields, pressure, sound, flow)

Laboratory Experiments

1. Capacitance proximity sensor and /interferometer calibration (sensors, non-linearity, sensitivity)
2. Static characteristics of a position measurement system (sensor, static characterization, statistical)
3. Thermocouple thermometry and Peltier effect (sensor, 1st order system, loading)
4. Force sensing cantilever (sensor, 2nd order system, dynamic response)
5. Resistance thermometry (sensor)
6. Noise and noise spectrum analysis (sensor, thermal noise, noise spectrum)
7. Ultrasonic measurements (sensor, resonance)
8. Linear variable differential transformer (sensor)
9. Magnetic field measurements (sensor)

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Heidi Frank

Office: 201D JFB

Phone: 581-5697

E-mail: heidi@physics.utah.edu