Sensor Principles and Integrated Interface Circuits

Institution

School of Advanced Professional Studies Ulm University

Target Audience

The module “Sensor Principles and Integrated Interface Circuits” is aimed at bachelor, diploma or state examination graduates with solid basic knowledge in an engineering subject, technical computer science or physics, who would like to deal intensively with issues relating to sensor technology and systems engineering.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite is a first university degree e.g. bachelor, diploma, state examination etc. in a technical subject. Students should have basic knowledge in analog integrated circuits.

Content

1. Motivation and example sensor applications

• Chemical sensors (pH sensors, gas sensors, etc.)
• Sensors for mechatronics (Hall sensors, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, etc.)
• Medical imaging sensors (MRI detectors, X-Ray and CT detectors, ultra-sound transducers, etc.)

2. Noise in sensors and integrated sensor readout circuits

3. Sensor types

• Self-generating vs. modulating sensors
• Electrical behavior (R, L, C, I-source, V-source, etc.)

4. Readout concepts

• Amplitude and frequency sensitive detection
• Resonant readouts
• Phase-sensitive detection (Lock-in amplifiers)
• Continuous-time vs. discrete-time readout
• Open-loop vs. closed-loop readout
• Absolute vs. difference measurements

5. Readout circuit implementations

• Instrumentation amplifiers
• Transimpedance amplifiers
• Switched-capacitor readout circuits

6. Data converters for sensor readouts

• A/D converters
• D/A converters
• T/D converter

Programme Details

The online study takes place in self-study and in the form of group work. For self-study, video lectures are available, which clearly present the module content, and a detailed script. The reader-friendly script is prepared according to the didactic concept of the University of Ulm for part-time participants. It contains, for example, learning stops, multiple and single choice questions, quizzes, exercises, etc.

Your mentor will offer you online consultation sessions in the form of seminars at regular intervals to help you work through the exercise sheets and thus support you in working through the learning material.

There is also another forum for participants to exchange ideas with each other.

Learning Objectives

• The participants can identify the most important noise sources in sensors and sensor readout electronics and predict their influence on the achievable detection limit.
• They can distinguish between self-generating and modulating sensors and classify different sensor types with regard to their electrical behaviour.
• Participants will be able to distinguish between different readout concepts and apply them to the design of exemplary sensor systems.
• They can explain the advantages and disadvantages of continuous and discrete sensor readout circuits.
• Participants will be able to distinguish open-loop and closed-loop readout concepts and identify the advantages and disadvantages.
• They will be able to evaluate the performance difference between absolute and differential measurement systems and their applicability in forming circuit-based sensors and sensor readouts.
• Participants will be able to analyze and synthesize important readout circuit configurations.

Course Format

Blended-Learning

Certification

Upon successful completion of the module, you will receive a certificate as well as a supplement that lists the contents of the module as an overview.

Workload

The module requires a total of 180 hours of workload.

Language

Deutsch / English

This course has already started. When new courses become available they will be added.

• Prof. Dr. Jens Anders, Head of the Institute of Smart Sensors, University of Stuttgart
• Denis Djekic, Academic staff member of the Institute of Smart Sensors, University of Stuttgart