Analysis and Design of Electrical Measuring Systems

Duration

30h Th, 6h Pr, 24h Labo.

Number of credits

Lecturer

Philippe Vanderbemden

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course will introduce fundamental aspects of design and operation of electrical measurement circuits and devices. The course will be delivered with emphasis on understanding the main limitations of electronic components and their impact in measurement experiments.
Basically the following aspects are covered : terminology and instrument specifications, passive components, basic interface circuits, voltmeter and ammeter circuits, Wheatstone bridge, operational amplifier measurement circuits, A/D converters, measurements in multi-phase circuits, interference problems and interference rejection, dynamical instruments, oscilloscope, digital multimeters and data acquisition systems.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• understand and exploit the theoretical and practical considerations involved in electrical measurement systems and methods;
• explain the origin and give orders of magnitude of the major limitations of electrical components and measuring devices;
• design and analyse analog interface circuits and estimate the associated measurement uncertainty;
• predict and detect the various sources of interference problems and take the necessary precautions against them;
• demonstrate practical skills as well as the ability to conduct and evaluate electrical measurement experiments.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

"Circuits électriques" (ELEC0053-1)

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is based on "ex-cathedra" lectures (30 hours) and practical courses (30 hours).
The "ex-cathedra" lectures describe in detail the theoretical concepts involved in electrical measurement circuits and devices.
The practical courses involve exercise sessions and 6 mandatory laboratory sessions.
During exercise sessions, students learn how to solve basic problems related to measurement systems: predicting the reading of a measurement device in various configurations, estimating measurement uncertainties, choosing the most appropriate device from technical literature data, designing interface analog circuits, analysing operational amplifier circuits.
During the 6 laboratory sessions (1/2 day each), the students are in teams of (ideally) 3 people and carry out a number of electrical measurement experiments illustrating and aiming at understanding in detail the theoretical and practical concepts described in the theoretical lectures and developed in the exercise sessions.
An optional "questions & answers" session is proposed at the end of the quadrimester.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Face-to-face.

Recommended or required readings

The course material (theoretical part + practical works) will be available at the "Centrale des cours de l'AEES" at the beginning of the quadrimester. A copy of the slides can be accessed through the MyULg website.
Additional information will be given during the oral lectures, exercise sessions and laboratories.

Assessment methods and criteria

Each of the 6 laboratory sessions is mandatory and should be prepared in advance by reading carefully the corresponding section of the "practical works" book.
During laboratory sessions : 3 or more written tests (total weight : 15%)
Around mid-December : 1 written test about exercises (weight : 15%)
First session (January) : oral exam involving
- a practical part where the student is asked to carry out a given measurement experiment using the devices available in the laboratory (weight : 20 %)
- a theoretical part (weight : 50%)

Please note :
- The laboratory sessions cannot be dissociated from the course and are mandatory; the laboratory sessions are organized only once throughout the academic year;
- Students who have not attended all laboratory sessions are not eligible for the oral exam; this rule applies both for 1st sitting (January) and for 2nd sitting (August - September).
- Exams and tests are taken without access to course material, calculators or equivalent.
In case of a second sitting (August - September) :
The grades for both exercise and laboratory written tests are kept, but with a much reduced weight (15%, against 30% in the January session).
Oral exam (practical part : 35% - theoretical part : 50 %).

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

The course is organised during the 1st quadrimester.
The oral exam (1/2 day) takes place in the S101 room (Montefiore Institute B28). Maximum 6 students per 1/2 day. Morning : 8:30, Afternoon : 13:30.

Contacts

Prof. Philippe Vanderbemden Tel : 04 366 26 70 Philippe.Vanderbemden@ulg.ac.be
Loïc Burger and Sébastien Brialmont,  teaching assistants, Tel : 04 366 2613

lburger@ulg.ac.be