Principle of Measurement Systems

Contents of this lecture:

Outlines: principles of measurement
system.
Learn from examples: Temperature
measurement system.

Part I: Outlines
Human uses various sensation methods to
explore our surrounding world.
Vision:

light, color, shape, size,

Sound:

tone, volume, ...

Touch:

smooth, rough, ...

Smell:

odor, ...

Taste:

sweet, salty, ...

Feeling:

hot, cold, ...

Motion:

move, turning, up, down, vibration, ...

Purpose of Measurement Systems

Input
True value
of variables

Process,
machine or
system being
measured

Measurement
System

Output
Measured value
of variables

Observer

Measurement Theory
Measurement is a

Empirical Space

States of
process or
system

mapping of a source
set in the empirical
domain space onto an
Abstract Space

Curves
or
values

image set in the

abstract range space.

Essential Requirements
Descriptive
provide relationship between output and state.

Selective
provide desirable information only.

Objective
be independent of arbitrary observers.

Validated
represent the true value.

Types of Measurements
Manufacturing measurements
discretely monitoring products quality.

Performance measurements
providing performance evaluation as needed.

Operational measurements
continuously monitoring operation process.

Control measurement
continuously providing feedback signals.

Essential Elements
Input
True value
of variables

Sensing
Element

Measurement
System

Conditioning
Element

Output
Measured value
of variables

Processing
Element

Displaying
Element

Sensing Elements
In contact with the information carrier or
medium
Giving a signal output related to the
quantity being measured
Examples:
strain gage, R depends on mechanical strain;
thermocouple, V depends on the temperature;
LVDT, L depends on the displacement.

Signal Conditioning Elements

Prepares sensor outputs suitable for
further processing.
Mostly use various conditioning circuits.
examples:
deflection bridge, converts an impedance
change into a voltage change
amplifier, amplifies millivolts to volts

Signal Processing Elements

Converting conditioned output into
forms more suitable for presentation.
Calculating secondary variable from
measurable variables.
Examples:

analog-to-digital converter

analog or digital filter

signal compensation

Data Display Elements

Display and/or store measured signals
in recognizable form.
Use of analog and/or digital form.
Examples:
visual display units, like Oscilloscope
analog chart recorders
digital data array

Accuracy and Precision

Accuracy

22.0
Precise readings

21.5

deviation of the output

from the true value

21.0

indicates the closeness of

measured and true values

Accurate readings

Precision

20.5

degree of reproducibility
of a measurement

20.0
True value

19.5
0

10

15

20

indicates the repeatability of

measures values

Definition of Accuracy
Accurate is a property of a complete
measurement rather than a single element.
Accuracy is quantified using measurement
error:
E = measured valve true valve
= system output system input

Measurement System Gains

True
Value

Sensing
Element

Conditioning
Element

Processing
Element

Presentation
Element

K1

K2

K3

K4

Measured
Value

Gain is defined as the ratio of output to the input.

Each element, as well as the entire system,
has its specific gain!
n

Ideally: G K i 1
i 1

Measurement Error
True
Value

Sensing
Element

Conditioning
Element

Processing
Element

Presentation
Element

K1

K2

K3

K4

Measured
Value

None of the elements can be perfectly

manufactured and integrated in the system
it results error!

E OI GI I

Sources of Measurement Errors

Improper sensing position

Improper element calibration

Improper data acquisition method

Improper sampling rate

Elements non-linearity

Environment effects

Error Reduction Techniques (1)

The most effective
method of reducing
measurement error
is to:

Set the sensing

element at the
right position.

Error Reduction Techniques (2)

An effective and useful
method of reducing
measurement error
is to:

Calibrate each
element to eliminate
or reduce bias.

Error Reduction Techniques (3)

Another effective
method of reducing
measurement error
is to:

Setup a proper
sampling rate for
data acquisition.

Error Reduction Techniques (4)

U
U(I)

C
C(U)

An effective and useful

method of reducing
measurement error
is to:

Compensate sensing
element non-linearity.

Error Reduction Techniques (5)

Another effective
method of reducing
measurement error
is to:

compensate the
environmental
effects

Environmental effects
isolation:

I total I true
Environmental input
cancellation:

I actual I total I Environmental

Part II: Learn from Example

Assume a temperature measurement system was used to monitor
the temperature in this classroom. This measurement system
uses a thermocouple (gain: 40 V/C) as its sensing element, a
signal amplifier (gain: 1 V/mV) as its signal conditioning element,
and a visual indicator (gain: 25 C/V) as its display element.
Please try to:
1. Design the measurement system, and present the design using a
system block diagram.
2. Determine the gain of the measurement system.
3. Estimate the measurement error if the thermocouple gain is 40.04
V/C, the amplifier gain is 0.999 V/mV, and the indicator gain is
25.025 C /V.