ABE 447/547 Sensors and Controls Mid-Term Exam (Fall 2012)

Name: ______________________________

CLOSED BOOK, CLOSED NOTE, 60-min (2:00pm 3:00pm) Calculator (with no data storage/internet access) may be used. There are nine questions in this exam. 1. (10 points) Here is a circuit diagram for LED, with an op-amp as a buffer stage. +12 V + 12 V anode cathode b LED 0.1 k

+12 V 20 k pot

For some reason, the LED is not lighting up. You checked the voltage at the pot output, which is +2.00 V. According to the specification sheet of your LED, this voltage should be adequate for lighting up the LED. Assume all equipment and components are correct and functional. What is the most likely reason? How can you confirm your reasoning? How can you fix such a problem? If the above reasoning does not work, then what will you do next? Op-amp is not properly powered. Check the input voltages of an op-amp. Provide proper input voltages for it. LED may be in a reverse bias. Check the terminal length of an LED. Switch the direction of it.

Page 1 of 8

ABE 447/547 Sensors and Controls Mid-Term Exam (Fall 2012)

Name: ______________________________

2. (15 points) Calculate Vab. Use Thvenins theorem. Hint: Use Thvenins theorem twice. If two voltage sources face each other, just subtract the voltages. 1 k + 9V 9V + 2 k 1 k a

2 k

b First Thvenin = long dashed circuit (voltage divider): VTH1 = 6 V R TH1 = (12)/(1+2) = 0.67 k Second Thvenin = short dashed circle: VTH2 = VTH1 9 V = 6 V 9 V = 3 V (two power sources are facing each other) R TH2 = RTH1 + 1 k = 1.67 k Power source = 3 V Top resistor = 1.67 k Bottom resistor = 2 k Vab = (3 V) (2 k) / (1.67 k + 2 k ) = 1.6 V

Page 2 of 8

ABE 447/547 Sensors and Controls Mid-Term Exam (Fall 2012)

Name: ______________________________

3. (10 points) Here is a circuit diagram for zener diode (LM335) temperature sensor. +5 V 10 or 20 k pot

a 1 + b LM335

open

As instructed by the TA, you measured the voltage outputs from LM335 with and without holding it with your finger. Interestingly, the voltage output with your finger is lower than that without finger. LM335 generates +3.00 V for 300 K, +3.10 V for 310 K, etc. The room temperature is measured at 25C (=298 K), which is substantially lower than your body temperature. What is the most likely reason? How can you confirm your reasoning? How can you fix such a problem? Too much current has been applied to LM335, leading to self-heating. The self-heated temperature must have been higher than the body temperature. When holding the self-heated LM335 with the finger, the finger actually acted as a heat sink, draining the heat from LM335, subsequently lowering the voltage output from it. This problem can be fixed by lowering the input current to LM335 to its acceptable range.

Page 3 of 8

ABE 447/547 Sensors and Controls Mid-Term Exam (Fall 2012)

Name: ______________________________

4. (10 points) The following Wheatstone bridge was initially balanced (Vbd = 0 V) with R1 = 120 , R2 = 121 , R3 = 119 , and R4 = unknown. +5 V a R1=120 b R2=121 c d R3=119 R4=strain gauge

Strain gauge is now deformed to generate Vbd = 150 mV. Calculate the resistance of a stain gauge (R4) before and after such deformation. Is it stretched or compressed? When balanced, R1R3 = R2R4. R4 = (120119)/121 = 118 After deformation, Vbd = Vin [R2 / (R1+R2) R3 / (R3+R4)] 0.15 V= 5 V [121/(120+121) 119/(119+R4)] R4 = 105 Compressed.

Page 4 of 8

ABE 447/547 Sensors and Controls Mid-Term Exam (Fall 2012)

Name: ______________________________

5. (15 points) You are asked to design a circuit that will amplify the voltage output from LM335, from 0C to 50C. Using a quad op-amp LM324 with 12 V power supply to it, design and draw a circuit diagram for it. With 12 V, LM324 saturates at 11 V. Make sure to utilize the full window of op-amp amplification, i.e. 11 V for 0C and +11 V for 50C. Include the circuit for LM335. LM335 generates +3.00 V for 300 K, +3.10 V for 310 K, etc. Include buffer, zero adjust and gain stage. Identify the sizes of all resistors. The circuit must be zero-adjusted at 25C = 298 K. Therefore, Vd = 2.98 V. Ve = 0.25 V @ 0C = 273 K. This should generate +11 V (with inverting). Ve = +0.25 V @ 50C = 323 K. This should generate 11 V (with inverting). Gain should be +11 / 0.25 = 11 / +0.25 = 44. +5 V pot Buffer Stage a 1 b + pot LM335 Vd = 2.98 V Ve = 0.25 V @ 0C Ve = +0.25 V @ 50C sensor + output 12 V c d 1 k + 1 k Zero Adjust Stage 1 k 4.4 k e 100 Gain Stage two pots: 10 or 20 k

+ f

Page 5 of 8

ABE 447/547 Sensors and Controls Mid-Term Exam (Fall 2012)

Name: ______________________________

6. (10 points) Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of thermocouple, thermistor, and zener diode temperature sensor, in terms of a) unit price, b) output linearity, and c) the temperature range. Unit price: Zener diode (expensive) > thermocouple & thermistor (cheap) Linearity: Zener diode & thermocouple (linear) > thermistor (non-linear) Temperature range: Thermocouple (broad) > Zener diode and thermistor (narrow)

Page 6 of 8

ABE 447/547 Sensors and Controls Mid-Term Exam (Fall 2012)

Name: ______________________________

7. (10 points) Here is a circuit diagram for the photovoltaic mode operation of a PIN photodiode, with differential op-amp setup. Vout is measured as +4.0 V. 10 k I1 +12 V + I2 I3 1 k + 12 V PIN-040A 10 k LM741 or LM324 1 k

Vout

Three arrows are located at the negative input terminal of an ap-amp. Identify those three currents (with sign) flowing towards the junction. Assume the voltage at the anode (-) of a photodiode as 0 V. V+ = 0 V since the voltage at the anode of a photodiode is 0. V = V+ = 0 V (rule 4) I1 = (Vout V) / 10 k = (4 0) / 10 k = +0.4 mA. I3 = 0 (rule 3) I1 + I2 + I3 = 0 (Kirchhoffs current law) I2 = I1 = 0.4 mA

Page 7 of 8

ABE 447/547 Sensors and Controls Mid-Term Exam (Fall 2012)

Name: ______________________________

8. (10 points) There are two modes for photodiode operation photoconductive and photovoltaic. Which mode works better for a regular PN photodiode? Repeat this question for a PIN photoiode as well. PN: photoconductive PIN: photovoltaic

9. (10 points) What is the major difference between physical sensors and biosensors? Bioreceptor

Page 8 of 8