Sensors and Sensor Circuit Design

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/sensors-circuit-interface

Introduction

## Course Review: Sensors and Sensor Circuit Design on Coursera ### Overview If you're a budding engineer or a seasoned professional seeking to deepen your understanding of sensor technologies, the **Sensors and Sensor Circuit Design** course on Coursera is a fantastic offering. Offered in partnership with CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering program (ECEA 5340), this course not only provides academic credit but also equips you with practical skills necessary for working with various sensor types in real-world applications. ### Course Outcomes Upon completing this course, you will be proficient in several critical areas: - Specifying the appropriate thermal, flow, or rotary sensor for real-time data collection. - Implementing thermal sensors within an embedded system, covering both the hardware and software aspects of the integration. - Adding sensors and their interfaces into a microprocessor-based development kit. - Developing the necessary hardware and firmware to process sensor data effectively. ### Course Syllabus Breakdown The course is structured into four comprehensive modules, each designed to build your knowledge step-by-step: 1. **Thermal Sensors**: - This module serves as a foundation, introducing various temperature sensors, including thermistors, RTDs, and thermocouples. You’ll learn how these sensors operate and gain insights into their commercial applications. The blend of theoretical knowledge and practical examples makes this segment particularly engaging. 2. **Sensor Development Kit and Prototyping**: - Here, participants dive deeper into designing temperature sensor systems. You’ll learn to interact with different components in a development kit environment, wiring external parts while writing application software in C code. This hands-on approach fosters a strong understanding of how to create functional embedded systems. 3. **Rotary and Flow Sensors**: - This module broadens your understanding to rotary and flow sensors, which are essential in various industries. You will explore different types, including optical encoders and various flow meter designs. This comprehensive overview prepares you to choose the right sensors for specific applications effectively. 4. **Amplifiers and Sensor Noise**: - Understanding the role of amplifiers and managing sensor noise is crucial for accurate sensor readings. This module clarifies amplifier configurations and dives into real-world performance versus theoretical expectations. The discussions around noise reduction techniques are especially valuable for fine-tuning circuit designs. ### Course Project The course culminates in a practical project focused on thermistor application. This hands-on assignment reinforces the theoretical concepts learned throughout the course and offers an opportunity to apply your knowledge to a tangible project, providing a solid capstone experience. ### Recommendation **Who Should Take This Course?** I highly recommend the **Sensors and Sensor Circuit Design** course for: - Electrical Engineering students looking to gain practical skills for their degree. - Professional engineers seeking to enhance their knowledge of sensor technologies and circuit design. - Hobbyists and tech enthusiasts eager to understand sensor implementation in embedded systems. ### Conclusion The **Sensors and Sensor Circuit Design** course on Coursera is an excellent investment for anyone looking to elevate their expertise in sensor technology. Its combination of theory and practical application, delivered by knowledgeable faculty from CU Boulder, makes it an invaluable resource. Not only will you leave the course with a solid foundation in sensor design, but you will also gain the confidence to implement sensors in real-world projects. Whether your goal is academic credit or professional growth, this course is well worth your time.

Syllabus

Thermal Sensors

In module 1 you will learn how to specify and use temperature sensors in an embedded circuit. First, you will learn about common types of sensors and actuators found in common products such as smart phones and automobiles. Then you will get a high-level overview of analog and digital interfaces, followed by a deep dive into thermistors, RTD’s, and thermocouples. For each of these three types of thermal sensors, we define the core theory and formulae, give you examples of how commercial sensors are packaged, and explain what you need to know to purchase them on a web site.

In module 2 you will learn how to design a complete temperature sensor system within a development kit environment. We will teach you how to assign internal components to the schematic. This includes pins, amplifiers, MUX’s, DAC’s, and ADC’s. Then you will learn how to wire in external parts: resistors, thermistors in particular, to the kit. Finally, you will take a deep dive into interfacing a thermistor and associated front end components to the development kit. This includes lessons on using the schematic portion of the kit, as well as writing application software in c code.

In module 3 you will learn how rotary sensors work and how to specify them for purchase. In our videos rotary sensors include both optical encoders and resolvers. You will also learn the design intricacies of flow sensors, along with their appropriate applications. The videos will discuss variable area, differential pressure, vortex, ultrasonic, turbine, thermal mass flow, and coriolis flow meters.

In module 4 you will learn the theory and practical application of amplifiers and circuit noise. You will review how gain is calculated in inverting, non-inverting, summing, differential, and instrumentation amplifiers. We will then contrast theoretical vs. real-world amplifier performance, and give examples of how commercial chips specs are interpreted. Then we will discuss the causes of noise in sensor circuits, how the noise affects sensor accuracy, and some steps you can take to reduce noise in your sensor circuit designs.

This module contains the materials you need to complete the thermistor lab assignment.