Measuring instrument
Signal type Description Waveform
Analog signal is a signal with infinite
number of value between
two ultimate values
Are continuous electrical
signals that change over
time.
At any given moment, the
output signal from the
transducer is proportional to
the non-electric input signal
Digital signal is a signal that has only two
ultimate values. High and
Low or 1 and 0
Are not continuous but
instead change in distinct
steps.
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❑ Analogue to digital conversion
▪ Is a voltmeter that measures an analogue signal and convert it to digital
signal
▪ The device that is used to convert analogue signal into digital signal is
called an analogue-to-to digital converter.
❑ Why convert from analogue to digital?
▪ To use the technique of digital processing
o The analogue to digital conversion is very important in modern circuit and
system design because of the following
▪ Digital displays are becoming more common on all sorts of equipment
▪ Computers handle digital and not analogue information
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❑ Digital to analogue conversion
▪ The device that is used to convert digital signals into analogue signals, is
called a digital to analogue converter.
❑ Why convert from digital to analogue
▪ To display it in a graphical form
▪ To be more easily interpreted by human beings.
Types of Digital voltmeter that measure an
analogue voltage but converts to digital signals
❑ Staircase slope voltmeter
❑ Successive approximation voltmeter
❑ Dual-slope integrating DVM
❑ The frequency counter
❑ Voltage to frequency converter
Frequency counter
❑ Frequency can be measured by counting the number of cycles
❑ Block diagram of a frequency counter
❑ Operation
▪ Schmitt trigger convert analogue input signal(Vu) to digital signal.
▪ Time base generator produce pulse which open the gate for a fixed time.
▪ The counter counts the number of pulse allowed through the gate and stop counting as soon as the
gate closes.
▪ These counts values appear on the display unit.
▪ .
Digital voltmeter
❖ A digital voltmeter(DVM) is used for accurate voltage measurement. These
devices measure the electrical potential difference between two
conductors in a circuit.
❑ To use a voltmeter
▪ Attach the leads in parallel on each side of the circuit
▪ Connect the positive terminal of the meter closest to the power supply
▪ Connect the negative terminal once the circuit has been tested.
▪ The voltage measurement are then displayed on an analogue dial or a
digital screen.
Staircase ramp DVM
❑ Ramp voltage is a voltage waveform that increases or decreases linearly
over time. It is characterised by a constant rate of change or slope.
❑ Staircase voltage is a voltage waveform that can only take discrete and
constant values of voltage for fixed periods of time and has a waveform
consisting of a number of small step changes in voltage level.
❑ Staircase ramp DVM uses counter to measure the time that a linear ramp
voltage takes to change from the input voltage to zero.
Staircase A/D converter
Block diagram of a staircase A/D converter
Operaition
At start the control circuit Reset the counter to zero. Clock pulse generator send pulse which are counted by
the counter. These counts are converted to a stair case type Vr. When Vr = Vu, the clock pulse stop, counter
stop counting and the digital output Vu appears on the display unit. This process is repeated several time very
fast as it can not be seen by human eye
Successive approximation A/D converter
❑ Uses a comparator to constantly compare the input voltage with a known reference voltage until the
best approximation is achieved.
Block diagram of a successive approximation A/D converter
❖ Operating principle
− The code register is converted to analogue Vr.
− Comparator enable the logic programmer to program the register with certain code.
− The large counting binary number is set to 1 while the other remains to zero. - Vr is compared to Vu.
− If Vr < Vu : 1 is kept
− If Vr > Vu I is reset to zero
− If Vr = Vu The process stop and Vu appears on the display unit.
Flowchart for a successive
approximation DVM
Dual-slope integrating DVM
Block diagram of a dual-slope integrating DVM
❑Operating principle of a dual-slope integrating DVM
❑ This A/D converter generates an integrating waveform having two slopes and two time interval proportional to Vu. -
During T1 Vu is integrated, the capacitor charge, the gate is opened and clock pulses pass to the counter, as soon as
the counter has counted through its full capacity, this duration can be determined.
During T2 a transfer pulse is transferred to the flip-flop to switch Vr, the capacitor discharges to zero, the comparator
close the gate, the counter stop counting and Vu appears on the display unit
Functions
▪ Switch actuator- sends signals to reference voltage
▪ Flip-flop- transfer the pulse to the switch
▪ Counter – counts the signal as soon as the gate closes
▪ Gate – accepts the signal from the comparator
▪ Display unit- displays the results on the screen
▪ Clock pulse generator- starts to count as soon as gate opens and stops when the gate
closes.
Voltage to frequency converter
.
❑ Block diagram of voltage to frequency converter
❑ Operating principle
▪ The analog input produces a charging current Vu/R1 which charges the capacitor to the
reference voltage level Vr. As soon as the value of Vr is reached, the output condition of the
comparator changes to trigger the pulse generator. The pulse generator lets the capacitor
discharge immediately during the off-time of the pulse. The rate at which the capacitor
charges and discharges, supplies a square pulse with a certain frequency which is supplies a
square pulse with a certain frequency which is supplied by the comparator. This frequency is
direct proportional to the input voltage Vu