ECE 437: Sensors and Instrumentation (Fall 2009)

Course Information

The goal of ECE 437: Sensors and Instrumentation is to give senior and graduate students in Electrical and Computer Engineering a hands-on introduction to the fundamental technology and practical application of sensors. Capacitive, inductive, optical, ultrasonic, and other sensing methods are examined. Instrumentation techniques incorporating computer control, sampling, and data collection and analysis are reviewed in the context of real-world scenarios. Open-ended laboratory activities and required written documentation help to develop students’ analytical and communication skills.

This web page serves to provide supplementary information for ECE 437. The lecture for this course meets on Tuesdays from 2:00-3:20p in 260 Everitt Laboratory. In addition to the weekly lectures, students must attend their assigned laboratory time held either Wednesday or Friday from 2:00-5:00p or Friday from 9:00a-12:00p in 235 Everitt Laboratory.

The information and notes here are provided as an augmentation to the lectures, and are in no ways a substitution to attending class, reading the assigned material, and completing the lab assignments.

Documents

  • Course Overview [html][pdf]
  • Policies and Announcements [html][pdf]
  • Course Goals and Educational Objectives [html][pdf]
  • Laboratory Information [html][pdf]

Contact Information

Instructor: Prof. Jonathan J. Makela (jmakela@illinois.edu); Office Hours: T 11:00am-noon in 316 CSL
Teaching Assistant: Nick Watkins (watkins7@illinois.edu); Office Hours: M 3:30-4:30pm in 235 EL

Schedule*

Week Lecture Date Topic Laboratory
1 Aug 25 Course Introduction and Sensor Applications
2 Sep 1 Noise, Shielding, and Signal Processing Fundamentals Lab #1 [pdf]
3 Sep 8 Introduction to Laboratory Control Software
Guest Lecture: Barry Myers (National Instruments)		 Lab #2 [pdf]
4 Sep 15 RS232 and Wireless Communication and Control Lab #3 [pdf]
5 Sep 22 Optical Sensors
Guest Lecture: Dr. Peter Dragic (ECE)
 Lab #4 [pdf]
6 Sep 29 Thermal Sensors Lab #5 [pdf]
7 Oct 6 Proximity Sensors I (Ultrasound)
Guest Lecture: Prof. Michael Oelze (ECE)
Midterm handed out
8 Oct 13 Midterm Examination on Labs 1-5
9 Oct 20 Proximity Sensors II (Capacitive, Inductive, Infrared)
Midterm due		 Lab #6 [pdf]
10 Oct 27 Encoders
Guest Lecture: Prof. Phil Krein (ECE)		 Lab #7 [pdf]
11 Nov 3 Accelerometers
Guest Lecture: Prof. Dan Kuchma (CEE)
Lecture will be in 1234 Newmark Lab		 Lab #8 [pdf]
12 Nov 10 Electromagnetics for Sensing and Wireless Networks
Guest Lecture: Prof. Jennifer Bernhard (ECE)
Final Project Overview [pdf]		 Lab #9 [pdf]
13 Nov 17 Sensing for Control Systems
Guest Lecture: Dan Block (ECE)
14 Nov 24 Thanksgiving Break (no class/lab)
15 Dec 1

Biosensors for Label-Free Cancer Diagnostics
Guest Lecture: Prof. Ryan Bailey (Chemistry)

 Project
16 Dec 8 Sensing Applications at John Deere
Guest Lecture: Dr. James Lens (John Deere)		 Project
  Dec 11 Final Projects Due by 5:00pm
  Dec 16 Final Exam (7:00-10:00pm)

*subject to change based upon guest lecture availability

Resources

  • Lecture 1 (Course Introduction) [pdf]
  • Lecture 2 (Noise, Shielding, and Signal Processing Fundamentals) [pdf]
    • Field Wiring and Noise Considerations for Analog Systems [html] (NI Website)
    • Industrial Signal Conditioning, A Tutorial [pdf] (Dataforth Website)
    • Fourier Coefficient Example [vi]
  • Lecture 3 (Introduction to LabVIEW software) [ppt]
  • Lecture 4 (RS 232 and Wireless Sensing Networks) [pdf]
  • Lecture 5 (CCD and Optics) [zip]
  • Lecture 6 (Temperature Sensors) [pdf]
  • Laboratory 1 (Noise, Shielding, and Signal Processing Fundamentals) [pdf]
    • Data Acquisition and Signal Conditioning Course Manual [pdf]
    • BNC-2120 Manual (DAQ board used in laboratory) [pdf]
    • Fourier Coefficient signal generator [vi]
  • Laboratory 2 (Introduction to Laboratory Control Software) [pdf]
    • Getting Started with LabVIEW [pdf]
    • LabVIEW Fundamentals [pdf]
  • Laboratory 3 (RS232 and Wireless Communication and Control) [pdf]
    • Appendix A (RS232 information) [pdf]
    • Appendix B (Additional RS232 information) [pdf]
    • Appendix C (Wireless sensor configuration information) [pdf]
    • Wireless Mite Data Sheet: MICAz [pdf]
    • HP Function Generator Manual [pdf]
  • Laboratory 4 (Charge Coupled Devices and Optics) [pdf]
  • Laboratory 5 (Temperature Sensors) [pdf]
    • Appendix A (Links to Datasheets) [pdf]
    • Appendix B (Watlow Sensor Guide) [pdf]
    • Appendix C (Intro to Wheatstone Bridges) [pdf]
    • Appendix D (Thermistor Basics and Calibration) [pdf]
  • Laboratory 6 (Ultrasonic and Infrared Sensors) [pdf]
    • Appendix A (Ultrasonic Sensor Datasheet) [pdf]
    • Appendix B (Infrared Sensor Datasheet) [pdf]
  • Laboratory 7 (Encoders) [pdf]
    • Appendix A (Partial Optical Encoder Datasheet) [pdf]
    • Appendix B (Dual D-Type Flip Flop Datasheet) [pdf]
    • BNC-2120 Encoder VI [vi]
  • Laboratory 8 (Electromagnetic Sensors) [pdf]
    • Appendix A (Capacitive Sensor Datasheet) [pdf]
    • Appendix B (Inductive Sensor Datasheet) [pdf]
  • Laboratory 9 (Accelerometers) [pdf]
    • Accelerometer documentation [pdf]