Sensor & Sensor Circuits

Explain the three torques required in an indicating instrument.

Draw and explain the elements of a generalized measurement system.

Classify and explain the types of errors in measurement, with examples.

Explain key sensor characteristics: sensitivity, linearity, range, resolution, accuracy.

Differentiate active and passive sensors with examples.

Solve a numerical problem on RTD/thermistor resistance change or thermocouple EMF for a given temperature.

Explain the Seebeck effect and the role of the reference (cold) junction in a thermocouple.

Differentiate RTD and thermistor as temperature sensors.

Differentiate the flow-sensing techniques: pressure gradient, thermal transport, ultrasonic, electromagnetic, laser anemometer, Coriolis.

Explain the working principle of a Coriolis mass flow sensor.

Differentiate CCD and CMOS image sensors in terms of architecture, speed, and power.

Explain the working principle of a fiber optic sensor and its advantages over electrical sensors.

Explain the working of a photomultiplier tube and why it's used for very low light levels.

Differentiate EEG, ECG, and EMG biomedical sensors by what they measure.

Explain the electronic/optical basis of how a semiconductor acts as a light sensor.

Solve a numerical problem on LVDT output voltage / sensitivity for a given core displacement.

Explain the working principle of an LVDT and sketch its output-vs-displacement characteristic.

Explain the Hall effect and its use in a Hall-effect position/current sensor.

Explain slew rate and CMRR as op-amp parameters relevant to sensor signal conditioning.

Differentiate potentiometric and capacitive position sensors.

Describe the design of a practical capacitance measurement circuit.

Explain the need for signal conditioning between a sensor and a data acquisition system.

Explain linearization techniques for a nonlinear sensor (e.g. thermistor) output.

Draw and explain the hardware architecture of a Data Acquisition System.

Explain the role of software in a DAS (configuration, logging, calibration, presentation).

Explain signal-level and bias changes with an example.