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B M S COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
(Autonomous Institution under Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belgaum)

Report On

HYGROMETER
Submitted by

MAHIMA M.P (1BM18TE027)

SIRI PARAMESHWAR (1BM18TE047)

2019 - 2020
Department of Telecommunication Engineering

B.M SREENIVASAIAH COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore - 56001
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INDEX

SERIAL NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

1. INTRODUCTION 1

2. SIMULATION AND HARDWARE REALISATION 2-3

OF THE PROPOSED INTERFACE ELECTRONICS

3. COLPITT’S OSCILLATOR 3-4

4. THE SCEMATIC OF BJT COLPITT OSCILLATOR 4-5

5. HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REALISATION 5-7

OF COLPITT OSCILLATOR

6. REPRESENTATION OF CIRCUIT, INPUT 8-9

AND OUTPUT WAVEFORMS

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I. INTRODUCTION
Hygrometer is an instrument used in meteorological science to measure the humidity,
or amount of water vapour in the air. Several major types of hygrometers are used to
measure humidity.

Types of hygrometers:

1. Electrical hygrometers
These hygrometers use resistance or capacitance to measure the amount of
humidity in the air. Electrical hygrometers can either be capacitive or resistive.
Capacitive hygrometers have two metals plates that have air between them; the
moister the air is, the more it affects the plates’ ability to store a static electric
charge. The amount of humidity is indicated by the metal plates’ ability to store
the electric charge. Resistive hygrometers, electricity passes through a piece
of ceramic substance which is exposed to the air. The higher the humidity, the
more water vapour condenses inside the ceramic, leading to a change in resistance.
2. Psychrometers
This type of hygrometer comprises two thermometers: one that has a dry bulb, and
one that has a wet bulb. When evaporation occurs in the wet bulb, the temperature
drops to a lower level than that of the dry bulb. This difference in temperature is
caused by the humidity in the air. Psychrometers are ideal for measuring outdoor
humidity and areas which need dry storage conditions.
3. Dew point hygrometers
Dew point hygrometers are used to measure the saturation of moist air in a gas.
These hygrometers are used in areas where the smallest amounts of moisture need
to be found. These devices are the most precise of all the hygrometers.
4. Mechanical hygrometers
They make use of the principle that organic substances (particularly finer
substances such as goldbeater’s skin [ox gut] and human hair) contract and expand
in response to the humidity. Contraction and expansion of the hair element in a
mechanical hygrometer causes the spring to move the needle on the dial.

II. SIMULATION AND HARDWARE REALISATION OF THE

PROPOSED INTERFACE ELECTRONICS
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However, to make a prototype electronic test system for humidity measurement, a

suitable interface electronic circuit is needed to convert the capacitance change of
the sensors into an electrical signal like, voltage, current, or frequency (or time
period). Because of small change in capacitance of the sensor, for the
measurement of trace moisture, it became important that the interface electronic
should be highly sensitive. The sensitivity of the capacitive moisture sensors is
frequency dependent and it is further reduced at high frequency. Hence, the
development of a robust, accurate, highly sensitive and stable electronic readout
circuit with fast transient response is essential for the development of a electronic
test system.

The proposed circuit is based on Capacitance-to-Frequency (C-to-F) conversion.

The frequency of the output signal varies with the variation of the capacitance
value of the sensor. The capacitance value changes due to change in the
concentration of the moisture. The circuit is highly sensitive, stable and able to
respond to a wide range of capacitance value. The simulation was performed to
determine the suitable components values to suit the application needs. Finally,
based on the simulation results, the circuit was hardware implemented and a PCB
was fabricated.

III. COLPITT’S OSCILLATOR

Oscillators are circuits that generate a continuous voltage output waveform at a required
frequency according to the prescribed values of the inductors (L), capacitors (C) or
resistors forming a frequency selective LC resonant tank circuit and feedback network.
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The Colpitt’s oscillator is normally used for the generation of high frequency sinusoidal
oscillation (radio frequencies ranging from 10 kHz to 100MHz). It is widely used in
commercial signal generators to generate sinusoidal signal up to 100 MHz frequency
[209]. The condition for sustained state of oscillation is known as Barkhausen criteria as
shown in Figure 6.1. The voltage gain around the closed feedback loop, Acl, is the
product of the amplifier gain, Av, and the attenuation, b, of the feedback circuit. The
phase shift around the feedback loop must be effectively 0º and the voltage gain, Acl
must be equal to 1 (unity). For oscillation to begin, the voltage gain around the positive
feedback loop must be greater than unity so that the amplitude of the output can build up
to a desired level. The gain must then be decreased to unity so that the output stays at the
desired level and oscillation is sustained.

IV. THE SCEMATIC OF BJT COLPITT OSCILLATOR

V. HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REALISATION OF COLPITT

OSCILLATOR

In our design, VCE = 3 V, IC = 1 mA, β = 100, VCC = 5 V . The fixed capacitance

C1 = 680 pF based on the experimental value are obtained from the fabricated sensor.
The C2 represents the capacitive value of the humidity sensor. The oscillator was
designed to oscillate nearly around 100 kHz by using the following component
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values, which were obtained according to the steps discussed in section 6.2.1.2. R1 =
R2 = 10 kΩ, RE = 2.2kΩ, L= 10 mH, Ce= 680 pF, Cc=104 nF, C1 = 680 pF (approx.)
and C2 = variable capacitor, RFC inductance is 11 mH. The RFC inductor impedance
is made high, so that it acts like an open circuit at DC, and short circuit at high
frequencies. The Colpitt Oscillator circuit was simulated using electronic work bench
Multisim software and then is implemented on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). Initial
testing of the circuit was done using discrete ceramic capacitors having values in the
range of 191.6 pF to 1368 pF. A comparison between practical and theoretical
frequency output with the variation of the capacitance is shown in Figure 6.3.
Experim
ental results show that the maximum error of ±2.54% is observed between theoretical
and practical frequency. Theoretically, the center oscillation frequency of the
oscillator depends only upon the inductor ‘L’ and the effective capacitance (CT) but
practically, the oscillating frequency is affected by the overall capacitance formed by
capacitor C1, C2, Ce, Cc, and the junction capacitance of the transistor 2N2222A.

Since, the loading of the output tends to degrade the performance of the oscillator, the
output is observed from the output of the buffer amplifier. In our design, an ultra-fast
comparator (LT1016) acts as a buffer and also provides isolation between the oscillator
output and the final frequency output of the buffer. The comparator converts the resultant
sine wave of oscillator into a square wave of the same frequency. The amplitude of the
square wave signal is suitably scaled so that the signal can be directly interfaced to the
microcontroller. The microcontroller is programmed to measure the frequency of the
output signal. The proposed Capacitance to Frequency (C-to-F) circuit is shown in Figure
below.
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The oscillation signal is viewed across the emitter resistor. The interfacing circuit has
two individual sections, a traditional Colpitts oscillator and a comparator. The same
circuit has been simulated using Multisim. The simulation circuit with comparator is
shown in Figure below. A PCB layout of the circuit was designed and the circuit
components were soldered. The interface circuit on the PCB is shown in Figure below.
The circuit was then tested by applying the biasing voltage. The signal waveforms
obtained at the emitter terminal and the output of the comparator, LT1016 are shown in
Figure below( Agilent DSO).
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VI. REPRESENTATION OF CIRCUIT, INPUT AND OUTPUT

WAVEFORMS :
Case 1: In presence of moisture

Green waveform depicts the input waveform whereas the red waveform indicates the
output waveform.
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Case 2: In absence of moisture

Green waveform depicts the input waveform whereas the red waveform indicates the
output waveform.