SCHOOL OF COMUPTER SCEINCE AND ENGINEERING

In Class Test SEMESTER 1 2023/24

Module Code: 5ELEN019W

Module Title: Sensors and Interfaces
Module Leader: Saumya Reni
Release Time: 13th November 2023 & 15.00 hrs
Submission Deadline: 13th November 2023 & 16.30 hrs

Instructions to Candidates: SOLUTIONS

Please read the instructions below before starting the paper

• Module specific information is provided below by the Module Leader

• This is an individual piece of work so do not collude with others on your answers as this is an
academic offence

• Where the University believes that academic misconduct has taken place the University will
investigate the case and apply academic penalties as published in Section 10 Academic
Misconduct regulations.

Module Specific Information

This paper has Four questions worth 50 marks in total.

Answer all questions provided in the answer booklet.
The overall marks awarded for each question are indicated next to the question.
The score of each sub-question is indicated next to the sub-question.
Answers with no working or justification will not gain full marks.
You may use a non-graphical/ nonprogrammable calculator.
The use of lecture notes and books are not permitted.
A formula sheet will be provided along with the question booklet.

Student Name:

Student ID:
Westminster School of Computer Science and Engineering
Module Title: Sensors and Interfaces
Module Code: 5ELEN019W
Exam Period: Semester 1

Question 1: Sensors and Sensor Circuits [12 overall marks]

A. From the following set of choices, choose the correct answer/s.

[1 Mark per answer]

i. Which of the following displacement sensors can be used as both contacting and non-
contacting sensor.

a. Linear Potentiometer b. Capacitive Sensor

c. LVDT d. Magnetostrictive Sensor

ii. Which of the following sensors use piezoelectric crystal as a key component of sensing
units

a. Ultrasonic position sensor b. None of them

c. MEMS d. All of them

iii. Acoustic sensors that uses sound frequencies can be used as proximity sensors

a. True b. False
iv. A gyroscope senses angular rotation using which of the following phenomena

a. Wiedemann force b. Seebeck effect

c. Coriolis Force d. Radius of gyration

v. Which of the following pressure sensors measures the applied pressure relative to
atmospheric pressure.

a. Differential Pressure Sensor b. Absolute pressure sensor

c. Gauge pressure sensor d. All of them

© University of Westminster, 2020-2021 Page 2 of 10

Westminster School of Computer Science and Engineering
Module Title: Sensors and Interfaces
Module Code: 5ELEN019W
Exam Period: Semester 1

B. The following Figure 1 shows the diagram of a sensing unit. [7 Marks]

Figure 1

i. Identify the sensor and the physical phenomena that it measures. [1.5 Marks]
Solution: The sensor in Figure 1 is a thermocouple which measures the temperature

ii. State if this is a passive or an active sensor and justify your answer [1.5 Marks]

Solution: This is a passive sensor as it does not require any excitation voltage to work

iii. Explain the working of this sensor [2 Marks]

Solution: The thermocouple work under the principle of Seebeck effect. When 2
junctions are maintained at different temperature, an electromotive force is
developed, leading to an electric current flow which results in a voltage difference
developed across the wires. The voltage is proportional to the difference in
temperature and hence indicate a temperature change.

iv. Identify any issues in this circuit that might lead to the sensor performance. [2 Marks]
Solution: When a thermocouple is connected to the signal conditioning unit,
unwanted thermocouple junctions are created. These junctions are not at a fixed
temperature and hence their effects on the final output voltage are unpredictable. This
effect is referred to as Cold Junction which will affect the sensors sensing
performance.

© University of Westminster, 2020-2021 Page 3 of 10

Westminster School of Computer Science and Engineering
Module Title: Sensors and Interfaces
Module Code: 5ELEN019W
Exam Period: Semester 1

Question 2: Sensor Circuits [Total 8 Marks]

A. For the circuit shown in Figure 2, a strain gauge is attached to the Wheatstone bridge
with a supply voltage Vs = 10V. The initial resistor values are R1 = R2 = 2kΩ; R3 = 1kΩ
and the strain gauge resistance is 1kΩ. The strain gauge is now used to measure the
force applied on a concrete slab and the gauge factor is 5 and the designated strain is
0.5µɛ.

Figure 2

i. Evaluate the new resistance value of the strain gauge after the force is applied. [4 Marks]

Solution: The strain gauge has a gauge factor which is calculated as:
∆𝑅
( )
𝐺𝐹 = 𝑅 ⁄ ∆𝐿
( )
𝐿

∆𝑅
( )
5 = 𝑅 ⁄(0.5𝜇𝜀 ) --1 Mark

∆𝑅
( ) = 5 × 0.5𝜇𝜀 = 2.5𝜇
𝑅

∆𝑅
(
1000
) = 2.5𝜇 --1 Mark

∆𝑅 = 2.5𝜇 × 1000 = 0.0025Ω --1 Mark

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑔𝑎𝑢𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 =

1000 + 0.0025 = 1000.0025Ω --1 Mark

ii. Calculate the output voltage, Vout, before and after the force is applied. [4 Marks]

Solution

The output voltage before the force is applied = 0 because R1=R2 and R3=SG -- 1 Mark

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Westminster School of Computer Science and Engineering
Module Title: Sensors and Interfaces
Module Code: 5ELEN019W
Exam Period: Semester 1

Once the force is applied the resistance of the strain gauge changes as shown in the previous
question.

The output voltage is the voltage drop between points A and B:

𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴

Applying voltage divider rule:

𝑆𝐺
𝑉𝐵 = 𝑉
𝑅3 + 𝑆𝐺 𝑆

𝑅2
𝑉𝐴 = 𝑉
𝑅2 +𝑅1 𝑆

-1 Mark

Therefore:

𝑆𝐺 𝑅2 1.0000025𝑘Ω 2𝑘Ω
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = [ 𝑉𝑆 ] − [ 𝑉𝑆 ] = [ 10𝑉] − [ 10𝑉] =
𝑅3 + 𝑆𝐺 𝑅2 +𝑅1 1𝑘Ω + 1.0000025𝑘Ω 2𝑘Ω + 2𝑘Ω

= 5.000006𝑉 − 5𝑉 = 0.000006𝑉=6 𝜇𝑉
-2 Marks

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Westminster School of Computer Science and Engineering
Module Title: Sensors and Interfaces
Module Code: 5ELEN019W
Exam Period: Semester 1

Question 3: Sampling and Aliasing, ADC/DAC [16 overall marks]

A. Consider the following signal:

𝑥 (𝑡) = 5 cos(2𝜋500𝑡) − 5 sin(2𝜋750𝑡) + 10 cos(3000𝜋𝑡) + 8 sin (1500𝜋𝑡)

Determine:

a) The Nyquist frequency to correctly sample the signal.

[2 Marks]
Solution: The frequencies that are present in the signal are:

f1 = 500Hz;

f2 = 750Hz;

f3 = 1500Hz

f4 = 750Hz

The maximum frequency (fmax) is hence 1500Hz. According to Sampling theorem, the
sampling frequency should be Fs > 2 fmax, and the Nyquist frequency is:

2fmax = 3000Hz. – 2 marks

b) The signal undergoes sampling at Fs=1000Hz.

i) What is the discrete-time signal obtained in both cases after sampling?

[5 Marks]

Solution: The discrete-time signal obtained when x(t) is sampled at 1000 samples per is:

x[n] = 5 cos (1000 πn/1000) – 5 sin(1500 πn/1000) + 10 cos(3000 πn/3000) + 8

sin(1500 πn/1000)

= 5 cos (πn) – 5 sin(1.5πn) + 10 cos(3πn) + 8 sin(1.5πn) –2

marks

= 5 cos (πn) – 5 sin(2πn-0.5πn) + 10 cos(2πn+π n) + 8 sin(2πn-0.5πn) -- 1 mark

= 5 cos (πn) + 5 sin(0.5πn) + 10 cos(πn)-8 sin(0.5πn) – 1 mark

= 15 cos (π n) – 3 sin(0.5πn) – 1 mark

ii) Will the sampling at the sampling rate of 1000Hz lead to aliasing? Which
frequency components will be affected? Justify your answer. [2 Marks]

Solution:

Yes -1 mark.

The signal is sampled with a sampling frequency of Fs = 1000Hz. Hence based on

sampling theorem, the maximum frequency of the sampled signal which will not generate
aliasing in this case is 500Hz. The signal x(t) has 3 frequency components that is above
1000Hz, hence sampling at the rate of 1000Hz will lead to aliasing. -1 mark

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Westminster School of Computer Science and Engineering
Module Title: Sensors and Interfaces
Module Code: 5ELEN019W
Exam Period: Semester 1

c) Work out the analog signals that can be reconstructed from the discrete samples. Would
the signal be the same as the original signal x (t)? Explain your answer.
[2 Marks]
Solution:

The reconstructed analog signal from the samples can be demonstrated as:

y(t) = 15 cos (π 1000 t) – 3 sin (0.5 1000 π t)

=15 cos (1000πt) – 3 sin (500π t) --1 mark

The reconstructed signal y(t) is different from the original signal x(t). The frequency
components in the analog signal that is reconstructed from x[n] is lower than the original
signal frequency components in x(t) due to aliasing. –1 mark

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Westminster School of Computer Science and Engineering
Module Title: Sensors and Interfaces
Module Code: 5ELEN019W
Exam Period: Semester 1

B. Sketch the diagram of a binary weighted input DAC and calculate the output when a 3-bit
binary sequence of 101 is applied to the inputs (notice: the inputs are sequenced as D2
D1 D0 for 101, respectively). Assume the binary value of 1 is represented using +5V, and
the binary value 0 is represented using 0V. The feedback resistor Rf = 5kΩ, and the input
resistor R = 2kΩ. [5 Marks]

--2 Marks for the diagram of summing amplifier with 3 input terminals and correct labelling.

The currents flowing through each of the weighted input terminals are:

5𝑉
𝐼0 = = 0.625𝑚𝐴
2𝑘Ω ∙ 8

𝐼1 = 0𝐴

5𝑉
𝐼2 = = 2.5𝑚𝐴
2𝑘Ω ∙ 2

𝐼𝑓 = 𝐼0 + 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 = 0.625𝑚𝐴 + 0 + 2.5𝑚𝐴 = 3.125𝑚𝐴 -- 2 marks

Therefore, the output voltage corresponding to the sequence 101 is: 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = −𝐼𝑓 𝑅𝑓 = −3.125𝑚𝐴 ∙
5𝑘Ω = −15.625𝑉 –1 Mark.
(Ignore the sign of the final answer )

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Westminster School of Computer Science and Engineering
Module Title: Sensors and Interfaces
Module Code: 5ELEN019W
Exam Period: Semester 1

Question 4: Interfaces [14 overall marks]

A. Carefully analyse the following bus transaction in Figure 3.

Stage: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Figure 3

i. Identify which interfacing protocol does this above transaction belongs to. [1 Mark]

Solution: This is I2C interface

ii. Is this interfacing protocol synchronous or asynchronous? Justify your answer [2 Marks]

Solution: This is synchronous (1 Mark) because it is regulated by a clock signal, SCL. (1

Mark)

iii. Fill in the following table , explaining the different stages (the first one is done for you):
[6 Marks]

Stages Transaction

Stage 1 Start: SDA line is pulled down by Master

Stage 2 Address: M generates the clock on SCL, and writes the 7-bit address of the slave
on SDA
Stage 3 Read signal: M sends one bit to specify that it wants to read from (1) the slave

Stage 4 Ack: S pulls SDA to low to acknowledge the request

Stage 5 Data phase: S writes the data on SDA (one bit per clock cycle)

Stage 6 NACK:The transaction is completed, M issues a NACK.

Stage 7 Stop signal: No one drives SDA, which goes back to high

--1 Mark each for each answer in the table

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Westminster School of Computer Science and Engineering
Module Title: Sensors and Interfaces
Module Code: 5ELEN019W
Exam Period: Semester 1

B. A microcontroller is connected to a gyroscope and accelerometer through an SPI daisy

chain interface in the above order. The data length is 8 bits. The current value stored in
the microcontroller is 8110. The values sensed by the gyroscope and accelerometer are
9810 and 7210 respectively. If the transmission register is not reset after transactions what
are the value stored in each device after 8 cycles are completed? [3 Marks]

Solution:

After 8 cycles,

Microcontroller registers :7210 =01001000

Gyroscope registers :8110 =01010001

Accelerometer registers :9810 =01100010

--1 Mark each for each correct answer

C. A microcontroller is connected using a UART interface to a temperature sensor. A

designer decides to configure the UART using 8 data bits, 1 parity bit (even), and 2 stop
bits. Evaluate the correctness of the following frame, according to the parameters given.
If the frame is found to be not valid, explain which part of it is incorrect.

[2 Marks]

1. 0 11000011 1 10

Is it valid? _ ANSWER: No __________

Justification: The stop bits should always be equal to 1. Parity bit should be 0
-- 2 marks.

END OF PAPER

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