Draft Copy
Pokhara University
Faculty of Science and Technology
Course Code: ELE 172 Full Marks: 100
Course Title: Instrumentation (3-1-2) Pass Marks: 45
Nature of the course: Theory & Practical Total Lectures: 45 hours
Level: Bachelor Program: BE
1. Course Description
This course is designed to provide students with basic concepts of Instrumentation and
Measurements. After completion of this course the students will understand the fundamental
concept of Analog and Digital instrumentation with signal conditioning, wave shaping and
filtering. The theory part shall provide instruction on instrumentation and the practical part
would be validation of most of the analyses and calculations covered in theory.
2. General Objectives
The course is designed with the following general objectives:
To provide comprehensive idea about Analog and Digital Instrumentation.
To provide comprehensive idea about signal conditioning and Data Acquisition System.
3. Methods of Instruction
3.1 General Instructional Techniques: Lectures, Tutorials, discussion, question-
answer, brain storming, etc.
3.2 Specific Instructional Techniques: All the units of the course are practical oriented.
Both the theory and practical classes are to be synchronized and a practical work shall
be assigned for every theory unit.
4. Contents in Detail
Specific Objectives Contents
Explain the Basic of Unit 1: Introduction to Instrumentation System (10 hrs)
Instrumentation, Bridge 1.1 Typical applications of Instrument systems
Measurement and Transducers 1.2 Functional elements of Instrumentation and Measuring
systems i.e., Input elements (Transducers and
Electrodes), intermediate elements (signal conditioning)
and output elements (Data display and storage).
1.3 Errors and uncertainties in Measurements and Static
performance characteristics of instruments:
1.3.1 Introduction to errors and uncertainties in the
measurement of performance parameters of
instruments.
1.3.2 Static performance parameters: Accuracy,
Precision, Resolution, Threshold, Sensitivity,
Linearity, Hysteresis, Dead band, Backlash, Drift,
Span
1.3.3 Impedance loading and matching
1.3.4 Errors: Statistical analysis of error in measurement
1.3.5 Standards of measurement
1.4 Bridge Measurement:
1.4.1 DC bridges- Wheat-stone bridge
1.4.2 AC bridges – Kelvin, Hay, Maxwell, Schering and
Wien bridges
1.4.3 Wagner ground Connection
1.5 Physical Variable and Transducer
1.5.1 Physical Variable and their types (Electrical,
Mechanical, Process and Biophysical)
1.5.2 Transducer principle and operation
1.5.3 Input and output characteristics and application of
transducers
1.5.3.1 Resistive
1.5.3.2 Capacitive
1.5.3.3 Inductive
1.6 Measurement of mechanical variables, displacement,
strain. velocity. acceleration and vibration
1.7 Measurement of process variables ‐ temperature
pressure, level, fluid flow, chemical constituents in
gases or liquids, pH and humidity
1.8 Measurement of bio‐physical variables blood pressure
and myoelectric potentials
1.9 Calibration and error in transducers
1.10 Measurement of voltage & current (moving coil &
moving iron instruments
1.11 Measurement of low, high & medium resistances
Explain the basis of Analog Unit II: Principle of Analog Instruments (7 hrs)
instruments and Principle of 2.1 Review of DC/AC voltmeter and Ammeter: The D'
equipment used in Arsonval Principle
measurement of electrical 2.2 DC Multirange Ammeters and Extending Ammeter
quantities ranges
2.3 DC Multirange Voltmeters and Extending Voltmeters
ranges
2.4 AC voltmeter and multi range voltmeter
2.5 Ohm Meter and Multirange
2.6 Electronic Multimeter
2.7 Multimeter as a micro ammeter and dc ammeter Types
pf voltmeter: Differential type and True rms
2.8 Wattmeter: Types and Working principles
2.9 Energy Meter: Types and Working Principle
2.10 Power Factor Meter
2.11 Instrument Transformer
Explain about the Signal Unit III: Electrical Signal Processing and Data
conditioning and transmission Acquisition (7 hrs)
system 3.1 Basic Op‐amp characteristics
3.2 Instrumentation amplifier
3.3 Signal amplification, attenuation, integration,
differentiation, network isolation, wave shaping
3.4 Effect of noise, analog filtering, digital filtering
3.5 Data Acquisition System
3.5.1 Analog Data Acquisition System
3.5.2 Digital Data Acquisition system
3.5.3 Single channel Data Acquisition system:
3.5.4 Multi-channel Data Acquisition system
3.5.5 PC based Data acquisition system
3.6 Series and Parallel transmission:
3.6.1 Features and application of RS232 cable
3.6.2 Features and application of IEEE 1248 B
3.7 Optical communication, fibre optics, electro‐optic
conversion devices
Explain about the analog to Unit IV: Date Converter and Connectors (8 hrs)
Digital and Digital to Analog 4.1 Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) and Digital to
converter in depth analog Converter (DAC): Principle and Specification
4.2 Quantization Error
4.3 Types of ADC
4.3.1 Flash type ADC
4.3.2 Counter type ADC
4.3.3 Successive Approximation Type ADC
4.3.4 Dual Slope ADC
4.3.5 Introduction to Delta-Sigma ADC
4.4 Types of DAC
4.4.1 Weighted Resistor DAC
4.4.2 R-2R Ladder DAC
4.4.3 PWM Type DAC
4.5 Probes and Connectors
4.5.1 Test Leads: Twisted pair unshielded test leads
4.5.2 Shielded Cables
4.5.3 Connectors
4.5.4 Low Capacitive Probes
4.5.5 High Voltage Probes
4.5.6 Current Probes
Compare different types of Unit V: Wave Analyzers and Digital Instruments (8 hrs)
wave analyzer and principle 5.1 Wave Analyzer
of Digital instrumentation. 5.1.1 Frequency Selective Wave Analyzer
5.1.2 Heterodyne Wave Analyzer
5.2 Spectrum Analyzer
5.2.1 Basic Spectrum Analyzer using Swept Receiver
Design
5.2.2 IRF Spectrum Analyzer
5.3 Distortion Analyzer: Harmonic Distortion Analyzer-
Fundamental Suppression Type
5.4 Measurements of Frequency and Time: Decimal Count
Assembles
5.5 Frequency Counter
5.6 Period Counter
5.7 Error: Counter Error and Signal Related Error
5.8 Digital Voltmeter
5.8.1 Ramp type digital voltmeter
5.8.2 Integrating type digital voltmeter
5.8.3 Servo Potentiometer type digital Voltmeter
5.8.4 Successive Approximation type digital Voltmeter
5.9 Vector Voltmeter
5.10 Digital Multimeter
5.11 Computer Based Digital Instruments: IEEE 488 GPIB
Instrument
Differentiate different types Unit VI: Recorders, Displays and Storage Devices (5
of output devices used in hrs)
instrumentation 6.1 Oscilloscopes:
6.1.1 Cathode Ray Tube, Vertical and Horizontal
Deflection Systems, Delay lines, Probes and
Transducers,
6.1.2 Specification of an Oscilloscope
6.1.3 Oscilloscope measurement Techniques
6.2 Special Oscilloscopes – Storage Oscilloscope,
Sampling Oscilloscope
6.3 Recorders Basic recording systems. Strip chart
recorders. Galvanometer and Potentiometer type
recorders (direct and null type)
6.4 Indicators and display Devices - Nixie, LED, LCD and
seven segment and dot matrix displays.
6.5 Magnetic tape and disc recorders
6.6 Data loggers, Dot matrix and laser printers
6.7 Compact disc/Optical disc recorders
5. List of Tutorials
The following tutorial activities of 15 hours per group of maximum 24 students should be
conducted to cover all the required contents of this course:
Unit Tutorial
I Error Calculation
Calculation of Dynamic behavior of instrumentation
Calculation of Different Bridge Measurements
Calculation of Transducers
II Torque calculation of Wattmeter and Energy Meter
Range Extension of Analog Voltmeter and Ammeter
III Calculation and Design of Signal conditioning circuits
Calculation and design of wave shaping circuits and filters
IV Calculation of Resolution and Quantization error
Calculation for ADC and DAC
V Calculation on Counter Error and Signal Related Error
6. Laboratory Works
1. Accuracy test in Analog Meter
2. Operational amplifier in circuits: Use of Op-amp as
3. summer, inverter, integrator and differentiator
4. Use of Capacitive, inductive transducer to measure displacement
5. Use strain gauge transducer to measure force
6. Study of Various transducer for measurement of angular displacement. angular
Velocity, pressure and flow
7. Use optical, Hall effect and inductive transducer to measure angular displacement
8. Use tacho‐generator to measure angular velocity
9. Use RTD transducers to measure pressure and flow
10. Digital to Analog Conversion to Perform static testing of D/A converter
11. Analog to Digital Conversion to Perform static testing of A/D converter
7. Evaluation System and Students’ Responsibilities
Evaluation System
In addition to the formal exam(s), the internal evaluation of a student may consist of quizzes,
assignments, lab reports, projects, class participation, etc. The tabular presentation of the
internal evaluation is as follows.
Internal Evaluation Weight Marks External Evaluation Marks
Theory 30
Attendance & Class Participation 10%
Assignments 20%
Presentations/Quizzes 10%
Internal Assessment 60%
Practical 20
Attendance & Class Participation 10% Semester-End 50
Lab Report/Project Report 20% examination
Practical Exam/Project Work 40%
Viva 30%
Total Internal 50
Full Marks: 50 + 50 = 100
Student Responsibilities
Each student must secure at least 45% marks in internal evaluation with 80% attendance in the
class in order to appear in the Semester End Examination. Failing to get such score will be
given NOT QUALIFIED (NQ) and the student will not be eligible to appear the Semester-End
Examinations. Students are advised to attend all the classes, formal exam, test, etc. and
complete all the assignments within the specified time period. Students are required to
complete all the requirements defined for the completion of the course.
8. Prescribed Books and References
Text Book
Helfrick, A. D. & Cooper, W. D. Modern Electronic Instrumentation and Measurements
Techniques. Prentice Hall of India
Reference Books
1. Nihal Kularatna, Digital and Analogue Instrumentation testing and measurement, The
Institution of Engineering and Technology, London, United Kingdom n First published
2003 Reprinted 2008
2. A K. Sawhney, A Course in Elec. & Electronics Measurements & Instrumentation,
Dhanpat Rai and Sons India, 1998
3. Joshph J.Carr,Elements of Electronics Instrumentation and Measurement-3rd Edition
by.Pearson Education.
