The output signal from the sensor of a

Signal Conditioning

measurement system has generally to be processed in some way to make it suitable for the next stage of the operation which is done by signal condition equipments.

The Process of converting the obtained

signal into the desired signal is called signal conditioning.

Reasons for Signal conditioning

Protection to prevent damage to the next
element.

Getting the signal into the right type of signal.

Getting the level of the signal right.

Eliminating or reducing noise. Signal manipulation

Types of Signal conditioning

Amplifying a weak signal Interference Removal Non linear output linearization Analog to digital conversion Digital to analog conversion Changing the resistance values Voltage changing Current Varying

ELEMENTS USED IN SIGNAL CONDITIONING

The operational amplifier

OPAMP Circuits

Gain = -R2/R1

Gain = 1+R2/R1

OpAmp Circuits
Differential Amplifier Summing Amplifier

OpAmp Circuits
Differentiator Integrator

Instrumentation Amplifier
An Instrumentation Amplifier is a fixed gain differential input

amplifier consisting of 3 opamps.The gain expression is formally the same as that for an opamp. V0= A (V1-V2) Except that the open-loop gain is replaced by the gain with feedback A. Specifically, A=[(2Rb+Ra)Rd]/(RaRc) It is basically an improved version of the differential amplifier. Features are High Input Impedance,especially with FET opamps on the input. High CMRR(Common Mode Rejection Ratio) Precision High Gain

Instrumentation Amplifier

Types of Op-Amps
Type Bipolar Description General purpose Applications General purpose

FET
CAZ BiFET Superbeta Micropower

High input impedance

Bipolar plus auto-zero Bipolar plus FET Bipolar with high input impedance CMOS, LinCMOS

Instrumentation
Small signal applications General purpose Weak signals Battery operation

Isolation Chopper
Varactor

Transformer or optical DC to AC to DC
Diode input, low bias current

Medical and industrial Low error

Current amplifier, photomultiplier

Simple rules for Linear Op Amp Circuits

1. Choose quality components: 2. Negative feedback is required to create a linear mode circuit 3. Assume no current flows into the op amp circuits: 4. Assume negative feedback equalizes the op amp input voltages: 5. Choose resistor values in the 1 K to 1 M range:

Simple rules for Linear Op Amp Circuits

6. The analog circuit BW depends on the gain and the op amp performance 7. Equalize the effective resistance to ground at the two op amp input terminals. 8. The input impedance of the analog circuit is the input voltage divided by the input current. 9. Match input impedances to improve common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR).

Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR)

The ability of differential amplifier is to ignore the common mode inputs like the 50 Hertz Interference from the mains is called Common Mode Rejection. Some small amount of output signal will be produced in response to Common Mode Inputs. This deviation from perfect rejection of Common Mode Signals is specified numerically as the Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR). It is the ratio of differential voltage gain (Ad) to the common mode voltage gain (Ac). CMRR in dB=20 log 10 (Ad/Ac)

Strain Gauge Bridge for Load cell

Instrumentation Amplifier for strain gauge signal conditioning

If R6 = R8 = RA, R9=R10=RB, R11=R12=RC Then, Gain = (1+2RA/R7) * (Rc/RB)

LM324 Description

The above figure shows the pin detail of LM324.LM324 is a 14lead dual in line package. It consists 4 set of input terminals with corresponding output terminals. A (+) positive power supply is given to the pin-4 and negative (-) power supply to the pin 11.The voltage range varies from 1.5V to 15 V.

LM324 UNIQUE FEATURES

1. In the linear mode, the input common mode voltage range includes ground and the output voltage can also swing to ground, even though operated from only a single power supply voltage. 2. The Unity gain cross frequency is temperature compensated. 3. The input bias current is also temperature compensated. 4. Differential input voltage range equal to the power supply voltage. 5. Large Output Voltage-(0 Volt to 1.5 Volt Swing) 6. LM124 Mil std 883A,B,C available

LM324 ADVANTAGES
1. Eliminates need for dual supplies 2. 4 Internally Compensated op-amps in a single package. 3. Allows directly sensing near GND and Vout also goes to GND. 4. Compatible with all forms of logic 5. Power drain suitable for battery operation

FILTERING
The term filtering is used to describe the process
of removing a certain band of frequencies from a signal and permitting others to be transmitted. The range of frequencies passed by a filter is known as the pass band, the range not passed as the stop band and the boundary between stopping and passing as the cut-off frequency

Filter characteristics Definition

A filter is a device designed to attenuate specific ranges of frequencies, while allowing others to pass, and in so doing limit in some fashion the frequency spectrum of a signal. The frequency ranges which is attenuated is called the STOP BAND and the range which is transmitted is called the PASS BAND. The range from end of pass band to start of stop band is called TRANSITION BAND

Types of Filters
The filters are generally classified in to 4 types: 1. Low Pass Filter 2. High Pass Filter 3. Band Pass Filter 4. Band Elimination Filter Low Pass Filter: This type of filters allows only the signal frequencies below the cut-off frequency and attenuates all other frequencies. High Pass Filter: This type of Filters allows only the signal frequencies above the cut-off frequency and attenuates all other frequencies.

Types of Filters
Band Pass Filter: This type of filters have 2 cut-off frequencies flow and fhigh.It allows the signals whose frequencies lies in that band and attenuates all other frequencies outside that band. Band Elimination Filter: This type of filters have 2 cut-off frequencies flow and fhigh.It allows the signals whose frequencies lie outside that band and attenuates all other frequencies in that band.

Ideal Filters
An Ideal high pass filter will pass all frequencies
above a chosen break frequency fx without attenuation but allow no frequencies above a chosen break frequency fx without attenuation but allow no frequencies above a chosen break frequency fx without attenuation but allow no frequencies below fx to pass.A low-pass filter does the reverse,and a band-pass filter allows only frequencies within f0/2 of a center frequency f0 to pass.A notch or band-reject filter is the complement of a band-pass filter.

Low Pass Filter

High Pass Filter

Band Pass Filter

Band Stop Filter

Wide Band Pass Filter

Circuit Diagram Characteristics : The output of the wide band pass filter has a flat conduction bandwidth ,the gain remaining constant for almost the whole of the bandwidth.

The pass band lies between the upper cut-off frequency fh and lower cut-off frequency fl.It is seen from figure that gain remains constant through out the pass band and has a sharp rise/fall in the stop bands.

END OF SIGNAL CONDITIONING SLIDES