6 ECTS credits
150 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4010954DNR for all students in the 1st semester
at
a (D) Master - preliminary level.
- Semester
- 1st semester
- Enrollment based on exam contract
- Impossible
- Grading method
- Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
- Can retake in second session
- Yes
- Taught in
- Dutch
- Faculty
- Faculty of Science and Bio-engineering Sciences
- Department
- Electronics and Informatics
- Educational team
- Maarten Kuijk
(course titular)
Sven Boulanger
- Activities and contact hours
- 24 contact hours Lecture
24 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
12 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
- Course Content
- The course gives an overview of the structure, the architecture and the components of generic measurement and control systems. The modules of such systems are covered with a varying degree of detail. For the modules that are usually not directly available, design aspects are described in some detail; for the modules that are available as off the shelf products emphasis is put on the specifications that should guide the selection. Control theory is not covered in this course, but is the subject of IR-CHIS 1142 (Chemical process control). Students following the course in the context of the civil construction programme do not have a follow up course on control theory, and hence they will only learn to identify the main problems that can arise in control systems, without gaining further insight in the solution methods.
Detailed content description:
1) Electronics - terminology, modern design and future evolution, covered in a descriptive way.
2) The most important modules of a measurement and control system:
2.1) Analog pre-processing
The operational amplifier is the only standard component that is used in this course. Pre-amplifiers are covered in some detail so that the student acquires insight an skills in analysis AND design.
- The ideal operational amplifier: basic circuits for amplifiers (unipolar amplifiers: inverting, non-inverting, buffer; differential amplifiers; properties and criteria for the selection of amplifier types in measurement applications; comparators: regenerative circuits, blockwave generator); the concept "feedback".
- The non-ideal operational amplifier: after having introduced the general principles of analog electronics based on the model of an ideal operational amplifier, some deviations from the ideal operation are described and specifications are analyzed. Emphasis is put on how to counteract the non-ideal behavior of operational amplifiers so that the global properties of the circuits remain unaffected by it.
- Isolation amplifiers: usage, properties, optical and electromagnetic isolation; linearity.
- Narrowing of the bandwidth in measurement systems: filters and lock-in amplifiers.
2.2) Analog-Digital Interfaces
- Data acquisition: structures of acquisition modules (sample and hold, multiplexer, DAC, ADC), choice of the sampling frequency and number of bits. Design based on the selection of appropriate components is the primary goal.
2.3) Electronics: background and formal models
This course part formalizes the main principles that were applied in the circuits presented in Section 2.1, and it contains an introduction on the principles of circuits for digital signal processing.
- Feedback and stability: the role and usefulness of feedback in electronic circuits, stability, gain and phase margins, converting electrical circuits to blockschemes used in control theory, the Bode stability criterion.
- Power supplies: general setup, types (switched versus continuous regulators). The option has been taken in this course not to analyze the circuits, but rather to focus on general operation principles and properties (specifications).
- Introduction to digital electronics: from physical (electrical) description to logical description. Combinatorial circuits, sequential circuits (e.g. memories, counters), electrical implementation of digital circuits, comparative analysis of different implementation technologies for integrated circuits.
2.4) Sensor types and specific pre-processing aspects (Currently still under construction)
- The main working principles of sensors for the measurement of different types of physical quantities are described and the interpretation of sensor specifications is discussed.
2.5) Measurement bus systems - standards
- An invited lecturer presents an overview of the standards and the properties of the most widely used bus systems.
2.6) Drivers and excitation systems
- For the steering of actuators and active sensor systems, a few signal generators are presented (e.g. VCO, sawtooth generator, blockwave generators) as well as power booster circuits.
2.7) Laboratory sessions:
(1) Introductory session to familiarize the student with the equipment and laboratory environment, an introduction to Labview; visit of the clean room, an overview of a CMOS design cycle and a glimpse on the activities in robotics and machine vision; (2)Applications of operational amplifiers in circuits; (3) Digital circuits; (4)Computer controlled measurement (e.g. thermostatic regulation); (5) Lock-in amplifiers.
- Course material
- Digital course material (Required) : Elektronica, Power Point Illustraties, Eerste herdruk, Canvas
Course text (Required) : Elektronisch meten en regelen, De referentiewerken die per hoofdstuk in 'Elektronica Deel 1 en Deel 2' vermeld staan., Cornelis - Touhafi - Kuijk, VUB, 2220170006598, 2019
- Additional info
The course is given in Dutch. The course material is mostly written in Dutch - Laboratory book with exercises and expirement descriptions, practical information and component specifications.
- The course material contains slides and electronic courses thataremade available in Pointcarre.
- Elektronica Deel 1 en Deel 2, Jan Cornelis, Dienst uitgaven VUB; These course books contain more information than the actual course content. They are intended for consultation, whenever the student wants to enlarge his/her background knowledge (optional acquisition of these two books, but strongly encouraged).
- The presentation material used during the course sessions
Complementary study material:
The reference works mentioned in each of the chapters of "Elektronica Deel 1 en Deel 2"
- Learning Outcomes
-
General competencies
The course introduces the basic concepts of electronics, via the analysis of generic measurement and control systems. Specifically the "design" aspects for such systems are highlighted.
Objectives:
To illustrate the general principles used in electronics by means of circuits with low complexity and in the context of "measurement and control"; to provide insight in the general structure of measurement and control systems; to highlight the basic rules for the design and assembly of measurement and control systems and their modules; to illustrate the feasibility of implementing a large variety of electronic functions by combining simple circuits and off the shelf modules; to suppress the reluctance to take up the design & implementation of simple electronic systems and the fear for failure of students in other disciplines than electronics.
- Grading
-
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 67% of the final mark.
PRAC Lab Work determines 33% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
- Mondeling examen
with a relative weight of 1
which comprises 67% of the final mark.
Note: Mondeling examen (2/3 van de totale score). Twee vragen over de cursusinhoud: een hoofdvraag en een bijvraag - meestal een 'weet-vraag' in een ander domein dan de hoofdvraag; 5 minuten voorbereiding met cursus; 25 minuten voorbereiding zonder cursus om het antwoord te struktureren (eventueel schriftelijk); ongeveer 20 minuten discussie met de docent.
Within the PRAC Lab Work category, the following assignments need to be completed:
- Labo evaluatie
with a relative weight of 1
which comprises 33% of the final mark.
Note: Laboratorium evaluatie (1/3 van de totale score): examen over de practische kennis opgedaan in het laboratorium
- Additional info regarding evaluation
Oral examination . Two questions about the course: a main question and a supplementary one - usually in another domain than the main question; consultation of the course notes allowed, approximately 20 minutes of discussion with the teacher.
Examination of the laboratory work. Exam on the practical knowledge and skills acquired during the laboratory sessions.
- Allowed unsatisfactory mark
- The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.
Academic context
This course offer isn't part of a fixed set of graduation requirements. Hence, it is a free elective.