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Principles and Applications of Sensors

Introduction to Sensor Technology


Assessment Information Handouts, lecture notes and tute sheets
Laboratory Notes
Lecturer
Text Books
Lecture Times
Syllabus

About this subject

This subject integrates the principles of physics and electrical engineering so that upon completion of the subject students will understand the fundamentals of the operation of sensors and transducers for the measurement of  temperature, pressure, light, stress, composition, fatigue and the chemical environment. Students will be able to design a solution to a particular sensing problem based on their knowledge of the physical principles underpinning the operation of each type of sensor.

Fundamentals to be covered include the basic principles of the quantum theory of atoms, molecules and solids and the application of these principles to a wide range of materials which are of key importance in modern electronics and sensor technology.

Using these fundamental ideas, the topics to be covered include introduction to various types of sensors and the basic physical phenomena underpinning their operation; chemical sensors; pressure sensors; temperature sensors (remote and contact); light sensors (including photodiodes, photomultipliers, CCD cameras, and optical fibre sensors); examples and applications; signal processing for sensor; and sources of error and limitations.
 



Assessment information
 
Final end of semester examination:  50%
Tutorial Assignment - see hand-out  30%
Laboratory Reports   20%

 



Lecturer

Associate Professor Steven Prawer
School of Physics
e-mail: s.prawer@physics.unimelb.edu.au




 

Laboratory Information

Laboratory Website

Laboratory Notes
 


Handouts, lecture notes and tutes sheets  

Handouts

Lecture notes

Tutorials


Text Books

There is no prescribed text, but the following references will  be useful:

Modern Physics, by R.A. Serway, C.J. Moses & C.A. Moyer. (Saunders College publishing, 2nd edition), 1997

Handbook of Modern Sensors: Physics, Designs, and Applications, Jacob Fraden,
(AIP Press-Springer, 2nd edition), 1996

Sensors, Principles and Applications, Peter Hauptmann, (Carl Hanser Verlag, Prentice Hall), 1991.

More references  will be suggested during the course.
 



Lecture Times

Tuesday    Lecture    9.00am- 10:00am  Hercus   Theatr e  

Thursday   Lecture      9:00am - 10:00am Hercus Theatre   

Friday       Tutorial     9:00am - 10:00am Hercus Theatre   

Friday       Spare     1:00pm - 2:00pm  Hercus Theatre  
 

NOTE: We will only use 2 of these slots per week for lectures and one of them for tutorials. Please note that in response to student's needs and lecturer's commitments there maybe some flexibility in changing tutorial and lecture time slots .
 



Syllabus

Introduction to Sensor Technology

  •  Sensor characteristics (specifications, stimuli)
  •  Sensor types (direct, indirect, inferential)
  •  Role of sensors in modern technology
 Electrical Sensors
  •  Technologies: capacitive, inductive, magnetic, inductive, resistance, piezoelectric, magnetostrictive, Peltier
  •  resistance, piezoelectric, magnetostrictive, Peltier
  •  Theory: classical electromagnetism
  •  Applications: position, level, displacement, occupancy,
  •  motion, velocity, acceleration, force, strain, pressure, flow,
  • acoustic, humidity, moisture, temperature, breeze
 Mechanical Sensors
  •  Technologies: gyroscopic, bellows, membranes, thin plates,enclosed fluids, ultrasonics
  •  Theory: classical dynamics and kinematics
  •  Applications: changes in direction, pressure, flow
 Chemical Sensors
  •  Technologies: enzymic, catalytic, electrochemical
  •  Theory: elementary chemistry
  •  Applications: identification of chemical species, odour, taste, changes in chemical concentrations
 Optical Sensors
  •  Technologies: lasers, photoemission, photodiodes, CCD cameras, optical fibres.
  •  Theory: elementary quantum mechanics (Planck's blackbody radiation Photoelectric .)
  • Used for sensing: position, level, displacement, occupancy, motion, velocity, acceleration, force, strain, pressure, flow, acoustic, humidity, moisture, temperature, breeze, chemical species.
Measurement of Microstructure
  •  Technologies: microtechnologies
  •  Theory: introductory quantum mechanics
  •  Applications: STM (scanning tunnelling microscope), AFM (atomic force microscope),nanosensors, the war against terrorism.

  •  


Projects





ThirdYear Physics


© The University of Melbourne 1994-2003. Disclaimer and Copyright Information.

Created:10/4/2000 Updated:8/8/03Authorised by: Head, School of Physics

Maintainer: Professor Stephen Prawer, School of Physics Email: s.prawer@physics.unimelb.edu.au