2020-2021 / ELEN0074-1

Sensors, microsensors and instrumentation

Duration

30h Th, 20h Labo.

Number of credits

 Master of Science (MSc) in Biomedical Engineering5 crédits 
 Master of Science (MSc) in Electrical Engineering5 crédits 
 Master of Science (MSc) in Electromechanical Engineering5 crédits 
 Master of Science (MSc) in Mechanical Engineering (EMSHIP+, Erasmus Mundus)5 crédits 
 Master of Science (MSc) in Engineering Physics5 crédits 

Lecturer

Philippe Vanderbemden

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Physical principles of resistive, inductive, capacitive, piezoelectric, magnetic, thermoelectric, ultrasonic and optoelectronic (micro)sensors. Interface electronic circuits.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

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

  • understand the physical principles of a range of sensors as well as their technical characteristics;
  • design and analyse appropriate interface circuits for a sensor with given characteristics;
  • appreciate various sources of noise and errors using sensors (e.g. industrial / biomedical applications or severe environmental conditions) and explain how to minimize them;
  • demonstrate practical skills as well as the ability to conduct a physical variable measurement experiment using sensors.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

An optional update session at the beginning of the term (i.e. beginning of February) will be organized primarily for the group of people who has never followed the "electrical measurements" course (ELEC 0052) but will be open to everybody.
A half-day (4 hours) is enough for this update session. The aim is to introduce (or remind) the electricity notions that will be useful for the "Sensors" course. Slides will be available. Since this represents additional work, the students who have never followed the "electrical measurements" course (ELEC 0052) will be exempt from a few parts of ELEN0074 involving certain electronic concepts.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is based on "ex-cathedra" lectures (30 hours) and practical courses (20 hours).
The "ex-cathedra" lectures describe in detail the theoretical concepts involved in sensor physical principles and technical characteristics.

The practical courses involve 3 mandatory laboratory sessions.  Please read and follow the information available on e-campus, including what to do in case of covid19-related health problems.
The organisation of on-site laboratory sessions is subjected to modifications depending on the sanitary situation.
During the 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.

An optional "questions & answers" session is proposed each week.
The deadline for the questions (face-to-face, online, or e-mail) is May 12, 2021.
 
 

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face (subjected to modifications depending on the sanitary situation) + a few parts in home-learning

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

In case of illness / quarantine preventing from attending some of the laboratory sessions : please read and follow the information available on e-campus.

Recommended or required readings

Slides + course book (the latter will be available at the "Centrale des cours de l'AEES"), both in English. Additional information will be available through the ecampus website.

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Any session :

- In-person

oral exam

- Remote

oral exam

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred in-person


Additional information:

June : oral exam (theory 75% + laboratory 25%).

Regarding the laboratory exam, the student is asked to explain in detail and to carry out a given measurement experiment using the devices available in the laboratory.
In case distance exams must be organised, the oral exam will be online, using video (in this case the practical part will not include any hands-on experiment with measuring instruments).
Second sitting (August - September) : same procedure.
Important remarks:
Each of the laboratory sessions is mandatory and should be prepared in advance by reading carefully the corresponding section of the "laboratory" files. Information regarding the laboratory sessions is summarized on e-campus

The laboratory sessions cannot be dissociated from the course and are mandatory; the laboratory sessions are organized only once throughout the academic year.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Theoretical lectures (30 hours) : 2nd semester. Practical courses (20 hours) : schedule to be determined depending on the measurement lab vacancies.
1. Exams and tests are taken without access to course material, calculators or equivalent. 2. In case exams are face-to-face, the oral exam (theoretical part + practical part) takes place in the S101 room (Montefiore Institute B28) and lasts 1/2 day. Maximum 5 students per 1/2 day.

Contacts

Philippe Vanderbemden Tel : 04 366 26 70 Philippe.Vanderbemden@uliege.be
Lab sessions : Sébastien Brialmont and Clara Sanchez
S.Brialmont@uliege.be