Noise Reduction Techniques

In all signal-conditioning circuits, unwanted noise

corrupts the weak measurement signals and
reduce the accuracy of measurement.
The parameter which gives a value for the amount
of corruption is known as signal-to-noise ratio
(SNR) and is defined as the ratio of signal power
( ) to noise power ( ).
The SNR is usually expressed in decibels in terms
of signal and noise voltages.
It is given as where and
are rms values of signal and noise voltages.
 Noise Reduction Techniques
Digital signals are generally immune to noise
because of their discrete nature.
But analog signals are corrupted by several
interfering noises.
In the design of analog signal conditioning, due
attention should be given to grounding, shielding
and filtering which reduce the effect of noise
generated by several sources.
There are three types of noises inherent to any
electronic measurement system, and they are as
follows:
1. The first type of noise originates externally and
enters into the system along with the signal.
 Noise Reduction Techniques
2. The second type is intrinsic and is generated by
components used in the construction of
measurement circuit. It results from the change in
characteristics of components like transistors, op-
amps, over the period of time. Change in ambient
temperature and line voltage fluctuations also
cause noise which is usually called drift rather
than noise.
3. The third type is induced noise and is picked up
by the circuit through resistive, capacitive or
magnetic coupling Ground loop, electric field
interference, magnetic field interference and radio
frequency interferences are the causes of induced
noise.
 Electrostatic Noise
A voltage will be induced in a conductor
when exposed to a time varying electrical
field. This is commonly referred to as
capacitively couple noise.
Sources are:
Variable frequency drive (VFD) motor
cables
Switch mode power supply conductors
Fluorescent lights
 Electromagnetic Noise
A current will be induced in a conductor
when exposed to a time varying magnetic
field. This is commonly referred to as
inductively coupled noise.
Common Sources:
VFD motor cables
AC power cables
Switched mode power supply conductors
Solenoid power contactors
 Sources of Induced Noise
Sources of induced noise: common sources to induce
noise in the analog circuits are logic signals, switching
power supplies to heavy loads, electric lighting etc.
For example:
 switching on/off current motors may induce noise
voltages in the near by analog circuits through
inductive coupling.
 Similarly, electric power lines may induce 50 Hz
noise voltages through capacitive coupling in signal
wires running very close to them.
 Analog circuits if they return signal or supply
return signal or supply return currents at more than
one ground point, will pick up noise through
ground loop by resistive coupling.
 Induced Noise
Noise induced by: Improper grounding
Noise due to electromagnetic interference
Nosie due to frequency interference.

Many induced noise problems can be solved by

applying proper grounding, shielding and
filtering techniques.
 Grounding and Shielding
Grounding and Shielding are mandatory to
guarantee the integrity of a measurement.
Noise effects can be reduced with
appropriate installation, cable distribution,
grounding and shielding.
Inadequate grounding can be the source of
undesired and dangerous potentials that
may impair the effective operation of the
equipment or the system itself.
 Grounding
System ground plays a major role in internally
generated induced noise.
Ground and Return lines:
 The ground in an electronic circuit refers to a
reference potential.
 Ground line is not the power or signal current return
path in the circuit. It is provided for safety and
reference.
 Whereas the return path is an active part of a circuit
that carries supply and signal return currents in the
circuit.
 The impedance of the return line should be as
minimal as possible, and there should be only one
connection between the return line and the ground.
 Grounding in analog circuits
 Figure shows an improper grounding and shows
how improper grounding causes error voltages.
 The three circuits in the system use a common line
to draw power from the supply and a common
ground line to return current to the supply. This
method of distribution of power is called as parallel
distribution.
 The circuit return currents to ground at three
different ground points, i.e., B, C and D.
 The ground conductor has finite resistance (ideally
should have zero resistance and all grounds should be
at same potential) as the conductor carries return
currents to the supply ground, it drops voltages and
creates a ground loop.
 Grounding in analog circuits
The ground points A, B, C, and D are now not at
the same potential.
The difference in ground potentials produces
currents through signal lines in the circuits and
generates error voltages.
Further, load variation in one of the circuits affects
all other circuits placed closer to the supply
ground.
 Grounding in analog circuits
 To Solve this problem, Supply, return and
ground connections to the three circuits are
implemented by star connections (also called as
single point ground connection).
 The three circuits do not use a common line for
the return current but use individual lines.
 The return lines make connections to the ground
at only one point.
 Though the resistive return lines cause voltage
drops in the return path, load variations in one
circuit do not cause interference on the other.
 Grounding in analog circuits
A much better solution is providing separate
power to devices drawing high currents or devices
placed far away from the supply and sharing
common ground.
 Shielding
• Proper use of shielded cables will help
minimize electrostatic noise.
• When a shield cable surrounds a signal
wire, the signal wire will capacitively
couple to the shield but cannot
capacitively couple to any conductors
outside the shield.
• Now, this works both way and can be
used to keep electrostatic noise out of the
conductors within a shield cable but also
be used to keep electrostatic noise
contained within the shield.
 Shielding
• A shielded cable is an electrical cable of one
or more insulated conductors enclosed by a
common conductive layer.
• The shield may be composed of braided
strands of copper (or other metal, such as
aluminum), a non-braided spiral winding
of copper tape, or a layer of conducting
polymer.
• Usually this shield is covered with a jacket.
The shield acts as a Faraday cage to reduce
the electrical noise from affecting the
signals and to reduce electromagnetic
radiation that may interfere with other
devices.
 Shielding
(a) Metal box shield –should be connected
to reference potential of the circuit
contained within shield.
(b) Shield Cable
(c) If there are more than one shielded
cable for a signal, then shield
conductors should be tied in series and
finally connected to signal-reference
junction
(d) Separate shield for each signal
 Shielding
(e) If protection against high frequency
electric field interference is required or if
cable is very long, the shield should be
grounded. At the driving end of cable, the
shield is directly connected to ground
whereas at receiving end, the shield is
connected through a capacitor (0.01 µF) to
the ground. The capacitor passes high
frequency interference signals to ground
and blocks low frequency/dc ground
currents to flow in the shield. This
technique is called as hybrid ground.