1

ECE 3015 – MEASUREMENT SENSORS AND INSTRUMENTS

Handled by
Dr. M.Manikandan, M.Tech., Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor
Department of ECE
ECE 3015 Measuring Instruments and Sensors
Lecture 1: Introduction
 COURSE CONTENT (SYLLABUS)
Module 1:

Concepts of measuring physical quantities: Significance of measurements, Methods of Measurement, Direct and
Indirect Methods, True Value, Static Error, Static Correction, Error Calibration Curve, Accuracy and Precision,
Static Sensitivity, Linearity. Hysteresis, Dead Time, Dead Zone, Resolution or Discrimination

Errors in Measurements and their Statistical Analysis: Types of Errors, Arithmetic Mean. Range. Deviation.
Average Deviation. Standard Deviation (S.D.), Variance. Normal or Gaussian Curve of Errors. Probable Error.
[Blooms ‘level selected: Comprehension]

5/29/2025 3
 COURSE CONTENT (SYLLABUS)
Module 2:

Analog and Digital Instruments: Digital Voltmeter (DVM), Digital Multimeter (DMM), Measurement of resistance
and Inductance, Cathode Ray oscilloscope (CRO), Digital Storage oscilloscope (DSO), PC based CRO.

Function generator: Introduction, Block diagram, Square and pulse generator, oscillators

[Blooms ‘level selected: Comprehension]

5/29/2025 4
 COURSE CONTENT (SYLLABUS)
Module 3:

Sensors and Transducers: Basic Principle, Different types of transducers, Resistive, Capacitive, Linear Variable
differential transducer (LVDT), piezoelectric transducer, Temperature transducers, proximity sensors, pneumatic
sensors, motion sensors, smart sensors, signal conditioning circuits.

[Blooms ‘level selected: Comprehension]

5/29/2025 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP_2QQQIlvk

6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP_2QQQIlvk

7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP_2QQQIlvk

8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP_2QQQIlvk

9
 Measurement

Measurement of mass Measurement of Volume

Figure Courtesy : Figure Courtesy :

https://www.pikrepo.com/ https://aliexpress.ru/

5/29/2025 10
 Measurement
• A measuring system exists to provide
information about the physical value of some
variable being measured.
• Measurement is the act, or the result, of a
quantitative comparison between a given
quantity and a quantity of the same kind
chosen as a standard
• A standard is defined as the physical
personification of the unit of measurement
or its submultiple or multiple values.
Measurement of Temperature
• The device or instrument used for
Figure Courtesy : comparing the unknown quantity with the
https://gigazine.net/ unit of measurement or a standard quantity
is called a Measuring Instrument.
5/29/2025 11
 Methods of Measurement
The methods of measurement are broadly classified in to two
1. Direct Method of Measurement
2. Indirect Method of Measurement
Direct Method of measurement
• In direct measurement methods, the unknown quantity is measured directly by measuring it with a
standard.
• The result is expressed as a numerical value with a unit
• Commonly used for physical quantities like length, mass and time
• Suppose we want to measure the length of a long bar. What is the unit of length?
• The unit of length is meter, m
• A human being can make direct length comparisons and find the length with a precision of say 0.25 mm
• Suppose we want to measure the mass? What is the unit? Is it possible to measure mass with the same
precision?

5/29/2025 12
 Methods of Measurement
Why go for indirect method of measurement? Or What is the disadvantage of direct measurement?
• Measurement by direct measurement are not always possible, feasible and practicable.
• These are inaccurate, because they involve human factors
• They are also less sensitive
Indirect Method of measurement
• In indirect measurement methods, the value of the unknown quantity is determined by measuring the
functionally related quantity and calculating the desired quantity rather than measuring it directly
• Can anyone tell a very basic example from your knowledge of electrical circuits or any other field???
• The resistance of a conductor, R can be measured by measuring the voltage across the conductor, V, and the
current flowing through it, I
𝐼 𝑅

𝑉
𝑅= + 𝑉 −
𝐼

5/29/2025 13
 Direct Method and Indirect Method: An Example
Objective: To measure distance between two points

𝐴 𝐵

Case – I Using Direct Measurement

Use a measuring tape and measure

𝐴 𝐵
1𝑚

5/29/2025 14
 Direct Method and Indirect Method: An Example
Case – II Using Indirect Measurement

𝐴 𝐵

We can use an ultrasonic measuring device

𝐴 Let c be the speed of sound. Let Δ𝑡 be

𝐵
the time taken. Then the distance d
Ultrasonic Receiver & will be???
Transmitter
𝑐 × Δ𝑡
𝑑=
2
Total time is measured. This is proportional to the distance

5/29/2025 15
5/29/2025 16