ME-327 Instrumentation and

Measurement
Lecture 3
Types of Instruments

Instructor: Prof. Ibraheem Haneef

[email protected] +92-51-9085-5980 SINES, 4th Floor, Block A

k
Acknowledgement

I would like to acknowledge the help and contributions made by

the following colleagues and students in preparation of the
lectures / slides/ animations/ assignments/ lab manuals being
used for this course:

• Dr Usman Bhutta (SMME, NUST)

• Prof Riaz Mufti (SMME, NUST)
• Prof Fida Khan (DEE, Air Univ)
• Dr Saqib Nazir (SMME, NUST)
• Lab Engr Ehsan Ali (SMME, NUST)
• Engr Sharjeel Farzad (SMME, NUST)
Content

Review of Instrument Types

1. Active and Passive Instruments
2. Null and Deflection Instruments
3. Analogue and Digital Instruments
4. Indicating and Signal Instruments
Review of Instrument Types

Active and Null and

Passive Deflection
Instruments Instruments

Analogue and Indicating and

Digital Signal
Instruments Instruments
1.1 Active Instruments

Such instruments for which:

• the instrument output is not entirely

produced by the quantity being measured,
and
• the quantity being measured simply
modulates the magnitude of some external
power source.
 Example of an Active Instrument

An example of an active instrument is a

float-type petrol tank level indicator as
sketched. Here, the change in petrol level
moves a potentiometer arm, and the output
signal consists of a proportion of the external
voltage source applied across the two ends
of the potentiometer. The energy in the
output signal comes from the external power
source: the primary transducer float
system is merely modulating the value
1.2 Passive Instruments

Such instruments for which the instrument’s output

is entirely produced by the quantity being
measured
Example of a Passive Instrument 8

An example of a passive
instrument is the pressure-
measuring device shown in
Figure 2.1.

The pressure of the fluid is

translated into the movement of
a pointer against a scale. The
energy expended in moving the
pointer is derived entirely from
the change in pressure
measured: there are no other
 0 psi

10 psi

Pressurized
Fluid
 0 psi

10 psi

Pressurized
Fluid
 Review of Instrument Types - Active and
Passive Instruments
Classification Criteria
Q1: Is instrument output entirely produced by the physical
quantity being measured?
YES – Passive Instrument
NO – Active Instrument

Q2: Does physical quantity being measured simply

modulate the magnitude of some external power source?
YES - Active Instrument
NO – Passive Instrument
2.1: Null-Type Instrument

An instrument in which zero or null indication

determines the magnitude of measured
quantity such type of instrument is called a null
type instrument. It uses a null detector which
indicating the null condition when the measured
quantity and the opposite quantity are same.
Example of a Null-Type Instrument

An alternative type of pressure

gauge is the deadweight gauge
shown in Figure 2.3, which is a
null-type instrument.

Here, weights are put on top of the

piston until the downward force
balances the fluid pressure.

Weights are added until the piston

reaches a datum level, known as
the null point. Pressure
measurement is made in terms of
the value of the weights needed to
2.2 Deflection-Type Instruments

An instrument where the value of the

quantity being measured is displayed in
terms of the amount of deflection/
movement produced by the pointer.
 Example of a Deflection Type Instrument

Electric Current is measured

by the deflection-type
ammeter due to the
deflection of the pointer
caused by the interaction of
https://www.electricalengineeringinfo.com/2016/03/types-electrical-measuring-instruments-absolute-
secondary-instruments.html#google_vignette
the magnetic-fields, as
shown in the figure on left
[1].
Review of Instrument Types - Null and
Deflection Instruments

VS
Review of Instrument Types - Null and
Deflection Instruments

Null Type Deflection Instrument

Review of Instrument Types - Null and
Deflection Instruments

Null Type Deflection Instrument

Review of Instrument Types - Null and
Deflection Instruments

Null Type Deflection Instrument

 Review of instrument types - Null and
Deflection Instruments
Classification Criteria
Q1: Is physical quantity being measured displayed in terms
of the amount of movement of a pointer?
YES – Deflection Instrument
NO – Null Instrument

Q2: Does the physical quantity being measured create

imbalance in the instrument and needs adjustment?
YES – Null Instrument
NO – Deflection Instrument
3.1 Analog Instrument

An analogue instrument gives an output

that varies continuously as the
quantity being measured changes.

The output can have an infinite number

of values within the range that the
instrument is designed to measure.
Example of an Analog Instrument

Analog Ammeter:

Analog ammeters, also

known as current
meters, are metered
instruments that measure
current flow in amperes.

Current levels are displayed

on a dial, usually with a
moving pointer or needle
made of a soft iron.
3.2 Digital Instrument

A digital instrument has an output that

varies in discrete steps and so can only
have a finite number of values.
 Example of Digital Instrument

Revolution Counter:
A cam is attached to the revolving body whose motion is being measured, and on
each revolution the cam opens and closes a switch. The switching operations are
counted by an electronic counter. This system can only count whole revolutions and
cannot discriminate any motion that is less than a full revolution.
Review of Instrument Types - Analogue
and Digital Instruments

Analogue Instrument Digital Instrument

LDR Switch
Review of Instrument Types - Analogue
and Digital Instruments

Analogue Instrument Digital Instrument

Wrist-
Review of Instrument Types - Analogue
and Digital Instruments

Revolution Counter
Analogue Instrument Digital Instrument
 Review of Instrument Types - Analogue
and Digital Instruments
Classification Criteria
Q1: Does instrument output vary continuously (infinite
steps) as the physical quantity being measured changes?
YES – Analog Instrument
NO – Digital Instrument

Q2: Does instrument output vary in discrete steps (0 to 1

and 1 to 0) as the physical quantity being measured
changes?
YES – Digital Instrument
NO – Analog Instrument
4.1 Indicating Instrument

Instruments that merely give an audio or

visual indication of the magnitude of the
physical quantity measured.

Examples:
The class of indicating instruments normally
includes all null-type instruments and
most passive ones.
4.2 Signal-Output Instruments

Instruments that give an output in the form

of a measurement signal whose
magnitude is proportional to the
measured quantity.

Examples:
• Thermocouples
• Piezo-electric Sensors
Review of Instrument Types - Indicating
and Signal Instruments

 Drawbacks of Indicating Instruments

CANNOT BE A PART
HUMAN PARALLAX OF AUTOMATED
INTERVENTI ERROR FEEDBACK SYSTEM
ON
Review of Instrument Types - Indicating
and Signal Instruments

VS
Review of Instrument Types - Indicating
and Signal Instruments

Indicating Signal
Instrument Instrument
 Review of Instrument Types - Indicating
and Signal Instruments

Current
Voltage
Phase
Resistance
Capacitance
Frequency
Reluctance
Signal Inductance
Instrument
 Review of Instrument Types - Indicating
and Signal Instruments

Current
Voltage
Phase
Resistance
Capacitance
Frequency
Reluctance
Signal Inductance
Instrument
Review of Instrument Types - Indicating
and Signal Instruments

Voltage

Signal
Instrument
 Review of Instrument Types - Indicating
and Signal Instruments

Signal
Instrument
Review of Instrument Types - Indicating
and Signal Instruments

Indicating Signal
Instrument Instrument
 Review of Instrument Types - Indicating
and Signal Instruments
Classification Criteria
Q1: Does instrument give an audio or visual indication that
varies with the magnitude of the physical quantity being
measured?
YES – Indicating Instrument
NO – Signal Instrument

Q2: Does instrument give an electric output that varies

with the magnitude of the physical quantity being
measured?
YES – Signal Instrument
Review of Instrument Types

Active Instrument Passive Instrument

Null Instrument Deflection Instrument

Analogue Instrument Digital Instrument

Indicating
Signal Instruments
Instruments
Review of Instrument Types

Active Instrument Passive Instrument

Null Instrument Deflection Instrument

Analogue Instrument Digital Instrument

Indicating
Signal Instruments
Instruments
1. Review of Instrument Types

Active Instrument Passive Instrument

Null Instrument Deflection Instrument

Analogue Instrument Digital Instrument

Indicating
Signal Instruments
Instruments
1. Review of Instrument Types

Active Instrument Passive Instrument

Null Instrument Deflection Instrument

Analogue Instrument Digital Instrument

Indicating
Signal Instruments
Instruments
1. Review of Instrument Types

Active Instrument Passive Instrument

Null Instrument Deflection Instrument

Analogue Instrument Digital Instrument

Indicating
Signal Instruments
Instruments
1. Review of Instrument Types
(Photoelectric Sensor)

Active Instrument Passive Instrument

Null Instrument Deflection Instrument

Analogue Instrument Digital Instrument

Indicating
Signal Instruments
Omron E3S-AT86 Instruments
Photelectric Sensor
1. Review of Instrument Types (Load
Cell)

Active Instrument Passive Instrument

Null Instrument Deflection Instrument

Analogue Instrument Digital Instrument

Indicating
Signal Instruments
Instruments