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.
 

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

Laboratory Website

Laboratory Notes
 

Handouts

Lecture notes

Tutorials

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.
 

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 .
 

Introduction to Sensor Technology

•  Sensor characteristics (specifications, stimuli)
•  Sensor types (direct, indirect, inferential)
•  Role of sensors in modern technology

•  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

•  Technologies: gyroscopic, bellows, membranes, thin plates,enclosed fluids, ultrasonics
•  Theory: classical dynamics and kinematics
•  Applications: changes in direction, pressure, flow

•  Technologies: enzymic, catalytic, electrochemical
•  Theory: elementary chemistry
•  Applications: identification of chemical species, odour, taste, changes in chemical concentrations

•  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.

•  Technologies: microtechnologies
•  Theory: introductory quantum mechanics
•  Applications: STM (scanning tunnelling microscope), AFM (atomic force microscope),nanosensors, the war against terrorism.