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Performance Characteristics of Sensors and Actuators - P2

The document discusses various performance characteristics of sensors and actuators including transfer functions, range, resolution, accuracy, errors, sensitivity, frequency response, and calibration. Key aspects covered include defining the transfer function, describing input and output characteristics, and identifying different types of errors and how they are measured.

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43 views25 pages

Performance Characteristics of Sensors and Actuators - P2

The document discusses various performance characteristics of sensors and actuators including transfer functions, range, resolution, accuracy, errors, sensitivity, frequency response, and calibration. Key aspects covered include defining the transfer function, describing input and output characteristics, and identifying different types of errors and how they are measured.

Uploaded by

mxolisi.dhlamini95
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Performance Characteristics of

Sensors and Actuators


MIJ360S
Measurements
 A simple instrument model

 An observable variable X is obtained from the measurand


◼ X is related to the measurand in some KNOWN way (i.e., measuring mass)
 The sensor generates a signal variable that can be manipulated:
◼ Processed, transmitted or displayed
 In the example above the signal is passed to a display, where a
measurement can be taken
INPUT AND OUTPUT

 Sensors
◼ Input: Stimulus or measurand (temperature,
pressure light intensity etc…)
◼ Output: electrical signal (Voltage, current,
frequency, etc…)
 Actuators
◼ Input: electrical signal (voltage, current, frequency,
etc…)
◼ Output: mechanical( displacement, force, pressure)
or display function( dial, indication, light, display)
INPUT AND OUTPUT CHARACTERISTICS

 Transfer Function
 Range, Span, Input Full Scale (IFS), Output Full
Scale (OFS), Dynamic Range
 Resolution & Accuracy, Errors, and
Repeatability
 Sensitivity and Sensitivity Analysis
 Frequency Response, Response Time, and
Bandwidth
 Calibration
Transfer Function (TF)
 Also called
◼ the transfer characteristic function or response
◼ the input/output characteristic function or response
 is a relationship between the output and input
of the device
◼ defined by some kind of mathematical equation and a
descriptive curve or graphical representation
◼ The function may be linear or nonlinear
◼ With the exception of linear TF, it is usually difficult to
describe TF mathematically, although we can indicate it
at least symbolically as S=f(x) x: is input and S is
output
Transfer Function (TF)
Resistance temperature relationship
in a hypothetical temperature sensor.

Ranges below T1 and above T2 are


nonlinear and require much more
complex TF, which may actually be
found experimentally or may be
polynomials derived by curve fitting.

 The range between T1 and T2 is approximately linear


and may be described by the following transfer function:
R = aT+b
◼ where R is the resistance of the sensor (output) and T is the temperature
it senses (input) in the range T1<T<T2.
Range, Span, Input and Output Full Scale,
Resolution and Dynamic Range
 Range: Lowest and highest value of the stimulus
 Span: The arithmetic difference between the highest and the lowest
value of the stimulus that can be sensed with acceptable accuracy
 Input Full Scale (IFS): = Span
 Output Full Scale (OFS): difference between the upper and
lower ranges of the output of the sensor corresponding the span of the
sensor
 Resolution: smallest change in input that produces an observable
change in output
 Dynamic Range: Ration between the span of the device and
minimum discernible quantity the device is capable of (resolution). It is
usually expressed in dB (decibel)
Range, Span, Input and Output Full Scale,
Example
 A temperature sensor is designed to sense
temperature from -30°C to +80°C with a resolution
of 0.5°C and produce an output from 2.5V to 1.2V.
 Range: -30°C to +80°C
 Span: 80-(-30)=110°C
 Input Full Scale (IFS): = span = 110°C
 Output Full Scale (OFS): 2.5-1.25 = 1.3V
 Dynamic Range: 20Log(110/0.5)= 46.8 dB
Accuracy, Errors, and Repeatability
 Error is deviation from “IDEAL”
 Source of errors
◼ Material used
◼ Construction tolerence
◼ Ageing
◼ Operational errors
◼ Calibration errors
◼ Noise
◼ etc
Accuracy, Errors, and Repeatability
 Error is defined as follow:
◼ As an Absolute difference (Absolute error): e = |V-Vo|, where Vo
represents the actual (correct) value and V is that measured by the
device. Often the error is given as ± e
◼ As a percentage of of IFS (span) (Relative error):
E% = (e/(tmax-tmin))x100, where tmax and tmin are the maximum
and minimum values at which the device is designed to operate
(range values).
◼ A third method: is to specify the error in terms of the output signal
expected rather than the stimulus. Again, it may simply be the
difference between values, or it may be represented as a
percentage of OFS.
Type of Errors,
 Static error: independent of time
 Dynamic error: time dependent
 Random error: different errors in a parameter or at
different operating time Due to noise
 Systematic errors: introduced by the system and they
are constant at all times and conditions (BIAS)
Error limits –Linear TF case:
 Linear transfer function
◼ Error equal (constant) along the TF
◼ Error increases or decreases along the TF
◼ Error limits: Two line that delimit the output
Repeatability
 Also called reproducibility: failure of the sensor or
actuator to represent the same value (i.e., stimulus for
sensors or output for actuators) under identical
conditions when measured at different times.
◼ Usually associated with calibration
◼ Viewed as an error
◼ It is given as the maximum difference between two readings
taken at different times under identical input conditions.)
◼ Usually the error will be given as a percentage of IFS.
Sensitivity
 Thesensitivity of a sensor or
actuator is defined as the change in
output for a given change in input,
usually a unit change in input.
sensitivity represents the slope of the
transfer function (not necessarily
constant)
Sensitivity
 The sensitivity of a sensor or actuator is
defined as the change in output for a given
change in input, usually a unit change in
input.
 Sensitivity represents the slope of the
transfer function (not necessarily
constant)
𝒅𝑺 𝒅𝒇(𝒙)
 We can write 𝒔 = =
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
Sensitivity
 Example for linear transfer function:
R=aT+b where the output is resistance (R) and
the input is temperature (T), we have

𝒅𝑹 𝒅(𝒂𝑻+𝒃)
𝒔= = =𝒂 [W/°C]
𝒅𝑻 𝒅𝑻
 Note in particular the units: in this case, since the
output is in ohms, and the stimulus is in degrees
Celsius, the sensitivity is given in ohms per
degree Celsius [W/°C]
Saturation
 Saturation: A behavior of sensor or actuator when they
the no longer respond to an input
 Usually occurs at or near the ends of their span and
indicates that the output is no longer a function of the
input
 Should be avoided because sensitivity is small or non
existent
 In Actuators : can lead to failure of actuator ( Increase in
power loss….)
Saturation

Saturation
region

Saturation
region
Calibration
 Calibration is the experimental determination of the
transfer function of a sensor or actuator.
 Typically needed when the Transfer Function is not
known
 when the device must be operated at tolerances below
those specified by the manufacturer.

 Two methods to establish TF


◼ Known form of the transfer function
◼ Unknown transfer equation
Calibration
 Known form of the transfer function
◼ If linear: determine the slope and intercepts for two known 2 data
points y= ax +b (x1,y1), (0, y2): y1=ax1+b; y2= b
◼ If TF is complex it needs more points: example
V = a+bT +cT2 +dT3
needs four measurement points.
 Unknown TF
◼ Measure the output at as many input ( get experimental data)
◼ Use the entire span
◼ Find best linear fit
◼ If not linear use polynomial fit or
◼ Use piecewise linear segments

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