ME36500 Homework #1 Due: 09/04/2014

Start each question on a separate piece of paper. You will put your solution of each problem
in a different stack before the start of class on 09/04/2014.
Problem #1 (40%)
A force transducer plus amplifier measurement system is being calibrated against a
standard instrument. The calibration data are shown below. Measurements were taken
slowly increasing the force and slowly decreasing the force.

Force (N) (increasing) 0 20 40 60 80 100

Output Voltage (V) 0.5 1.5 3.0 4.0 6.0 8.5
Force (N) (decreasing) 0 20 40 60 80 100
Output Voltage (V) 0.5 3.5 4.5 6.0 7.5 8.5

(A) Plot the data on a calibration chart using MATLAB, using the symbol “x” for the
increasing force data and the symbol “o” for the decreasing data. Do not connect the
data points. Draw a straight-line approximation calibration line on the MATLAB plot by
connecting the data for 0 N and 100 N.
9

7
maximum hysteresis
6
Output Voltage [V]

5
maximum nonlinearity
4

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Force [N]

(B) Find the input range and span

input range: 0-100(N); span:100 (N)
(C) Find the output range and span
output range: 0.5-8.5 (v); span: 8 (v)
(D) Find the sensitivity and bias
k=Output range/Input range=8/100=0.08 (v/N); Bias: 0.5 (V)
(E) Find the maximum nonlinearity and also express it in terms of %fsd. Also show on the
graph (part (A)) where this occurs.
straight line: V=0.08×F+0.5;
maximum nonlinearity: (3.5-2.1)/(8.5-0.5)=17.5%
(F) Find the maximum hysteresis and also express it in terms of %fsd. Also show on the
graph (part (A)) where this occurs.
(6.0-4.0)/(8.5-0.5)=25%
(G) Find the resolution, assuming the output resolution is 0.25 mV.

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Resolution=output resolution/K=0.25(mV)/80(mV/N)=0.003125(N)

Problem #2 (30%)
The data on the following page are from manufacturers’ specs for various air flow meters.
The chosen flow meter should meet the following requirements: resolution = 0.2
m3/minute, operating range = ±100 m3/minute, temperature operating range -20 ºC to 40
ºC, output range 0 – 10 Volts.
Meter 1 Meter 2 Meter 3
Input range ±150 m3/min. ±200 m3/min. ±600 m3/min.
Output range 1 to 7 Volts 0 to 10 Volts -10 to +10 Volts
Sensitivity 0.02 V*min/m3 0.025 V*min/m3 0.017 V*min/m3
Bias 4V 5V 0V
Output resolution 10 mV 1 mV 0.1 mV
(input) resolution 0.5 m3/min 0.04 m3/min 0.006 m3/min
Operating temp. 0 to 100 ºC ±100 ºC ±50 ºC
Cost $50 $2,000 $500
Expected lifetime 7 years 5 years 6 months
Of meter
(A) Assuming that all three of the meters considered had negligible nonlinearity over the
specified operating range, complete the data table.
(B) Which air flow meters will meet the requirements?
Meter 2
(C) Which one would you choose and why?
Meter 1 does not meet resolution requirement and Meter 3 does not meet output
range requirement.

Problem #3 (30%)
Find the data sheet for the pressure sensor model number PX01K1-500G5T made by
Omega. You should be able to search on-line and find the datasheet.
(A) Print out and circle the parts of the datasheet where you used to find the solution of
this problem. Include the marked up datasheet as part of your solution.
(B) Complete the following table for this sensor:
Input range 0-500 psi
Output range 0-5 V
Sensitivity 0.01 V/psi
Nominal Bias 0V
Max nonlinearity (as % full scale 0.05%
deflection or % full scale output)
Equation relating input to output O=0.01×I
(C) If the output voltage reads 2.73 volts, what is the range of possible pressures acting on
the sensor?

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error: ±5×0.05%/0.01=±0.25 psi; range: 2.73/0.01±0.25=273±0.25(psi)

or 272.75-273.25(psi)
(D) A data acquisition system will be used to read the output voltage. If you want to make
the transducer’s nonlinearity the only limitation on input resolution, what resolution
for measuring output voltage is required?
△I is the maximum error only from nonlinearity: 0.25 psi;
△O= △I ×K= 0.25×0.01=0.0025(V) -ANS

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