Chapter 2

ANALOG SIGNAL
CONDITIONING

Analog Signal Conditioning

Objective
Introduce the basic technique of signal
conditioning in process control.

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Definition
Signal conditioning refers to operations
performed on signals to convert them to a
form suitable for interface with other
elements in the process-control loop.

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Principles of Analog Signal Conditioning
Signal-Level and Bias Changes
Linearization
Conversions
Current Signal (4 20 mA)
Digital Interface

Filtering & Impedance

Matching
Loading

Sensor x
Rx
Vx

Vy

RL

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Passive Circuits
Divider Circuits
Loading effect of RL
RL >> R2

VS
R1

R2

VD

RL

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Passive Circuits
Divider Circuits
Self-heating (R2 is a temperature sensor)

Example
VS = 5 V
R1 = 10 K
4 K R2 12 K
1.43 V VD 2.73 V
0.51 mW PD 0.62 mW

VS

R1

VD

R2

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Passive Circuits
Bridge Circuits
Wheatstone Bridge
R3
R4
V
V
V
R1 R 3
R2 R4
R1

R1R 4 R 2 R 3

R2
D

R3

R4

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Passive Circuits
Bridge Circuits
Wheatstone Bridge
Galvanometer Detector

Galvanometer
R Th

R1
V

R2
D

a
R3

b
R4

VTh

RG

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Passive Circuits
Bridge Circuits
Wheatstone Bridge
Bridge Resolution (Ideal & Non ideal
Detector)
R1
V

R2
D

a
R3

b
R4

R Th

VTh

RG

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Passive Circuits
Bridge Circuits
Wheatstone Bridge
Lead Compensation
R1
V

R2
D

a
R3

b
c

R4

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Passive Circuits
Bridge Circuits
Wheatstone Bridge
Current Balance Bridge
R1
a

R2
D

V
b
R4

R3
R5

R3
( R 4 R 5)
V
V I R5
R1 R 3
R 2 R 4 R5

R4 >> R5
(R2+R4) >> R5

I
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Analog Signal Conditioning

Passive Circuits
Bridge Circuits
Wheatstone Bridge
Potential Measurement Using Bridges
R1

R2

Vx
R3

Vc = V x + V a

R3
R4
Vx
V
V 0
R1 R 3
R2 R4

R4

Vx

R3
( R 4 R 5)
V
V I R5 0
R1 R 3
R 2 R 4 R5
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Analog Signal Conditioning

Passive Circuits
Bridge Circuits
AC Bridges
Z2

Z1

Z 1Z 4 Z 2 Z 3

D
Z3

Z4

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Passive Circuits
RC Filters

Low-pass RC Filters

V in

V out

fc 1 /( 2 R C )
Vout

Vin

Gain

1
f

1
fc

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Passive Circuits
RC Filters

R1

Low-pass RC Filters

Cascaded Stages

fc 1 /( 2 R C )
Vout

Vin

1
1

fc

C1

V in

R2

C2

V out

Gain
1

Loading Effect R2 >> R1, C2 << C1

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Example 2.11
A measured signal has a frequency < 1 KHz,
but there is unwanted noise at about 1 MHz.
Design a low-pass filter that attenuates the
noise to 1%. What is the effect on the
measurement signal at it max. of 1 KHz?

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Example 2.11
Vout / Vin = 0.01 at 1 MHz
fc = 10 KHz
Use C = 0.47 F
R = 33.9
(too small -> too much current)
Use C = 0.01 F R = 1591
Standard R = 1.5 K
fc = 10610 Hz Vout / Vin = 0.0099995
At 1 KHz:
Vout / Vin = 0.996
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Analog Signal Conditioning

C

Passive Circuits
RC Filters
High-pass RC Filters

V in

V out

fc 1 /( 2 R C )
Gain
1

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Passive Circuits
RC Filters
Band-pass RC Filters
RL

CH

Gain
1

V in

CL

RH

V out

If 1 << 2 Then you use the individual equations for the LPF and HPF
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Analog Signal Conditioning

Operational Amplifiers
Inverting Amplifier
R2

Vout
R2

Vin
R1

R1
V in

V out

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Operational Amplifiers
Non Inverting Amplifier
Vout
R1 R 2

Vin
R1

+
V in

R1
V in

V out
R2

V out = V in

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Operational Amplifiers
Summing Amplifier
V1

R3
R3
Vout
V1 V 2
R2
R1

V2

R1

R3

R2

V out

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Operational Amplifiers
Differential Amplifier
V2

R2
Vout
(V 1 V 2)
R1

V1

R1

R1

R2

V out

R2

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Operational Amplifiers
Differential Instrumentation Amplifier
V2

R1

2 R1 R 2
Vout 1
(V 1 V 2)

RG R1

RG

R2

R2

R3

R1

V1

V out

R3

+
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Analog Signal Conditioning

Operational Amplifiers
Voltage-to-Current Converter
V in

R1

R1( R 3 R 5) R 2 R 4
R2
IL
Vin
R1R 3

R2

+
R5
R4

R3

IL

RL

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Operational Amplifiers
Current-to-Voltage Converter
R
I

Vout IR

V out

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Operational Amplifiers
Integrator
Vout

RC

in

dt
C
R

V in

V out

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Operational Amplifiers
Differentiator
Vout

dVin
RC
dt

R
C

V in

V out

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Analog Signal Conditioning

Operational Amplifiers
Power Supply
+V CC

V CC

V CC

V in

V out

V CC
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Analog Signal Conditioning

Operational Amplifiers
Power Supply
+V CC

V in
V CC

V out

t
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Analog Signal Conditioning

Operational Amplifiers
Power Supply
+V CC

V CC

V in

V out

V CC

V CC
0

t
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Analog Signal Conditioning

Operational Amplifiers
Power Supply
+V CC

V CC

V in

V out

t
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