Signal Processing Elements and

Software
Kuliah Instrumentasi
7 Juni 2017
 Preface #1
The output signal from the conditioning elements
is usually in the form of a
• d.c. voltage,
• d.c. current or
• variable frequency a.c. voltage.
In many cases calculations must be performed on
the conditioning element output signal in order to
establish the value of the variable being measured.
 Preface #2
Examples are
• the calculation of temperature from a
thermocouple e.m.f. signal, and
• the calculation of total mass of product gas
from flow rate and density signals.
These calculations are referred to as signal
processing and are usually performed digitally
using a computer.
 Preface #3
• The first section of this chapter discusses the principles of
analogue-to-digital conversion and the operation of typical
analogue-to-digital converters.
• The following section explains the structure and operation
of typical computer systems.
• The various forms of computer software, both low- and
high-level languages, are discussed in the next section.
• The final section looks at the two main types of signal
processing calculation in measurement systems:
– steady-state calculation of measured value, and
– dynamic digital compensation and filtering.
1. Analogue-to-digital (A/D) conversion

• This section commences by discussing the

three operations involved in A/D conversion:
these are sampling, quantisation and
encoding.
• The first operation is performed by a sample-
and-hold device;
• the second and third are combined in an
analogue-to digital converter.
 Sampling #1

Time waveform of sampled signal.

Sampling #2

frequency
spectrum of
sampled signal.
Sampling #3

Aliasing
Quantisation #1
Quantisation #2
 Encoding

Other codes are as follows

• Binary coded decimal (b.c.d.)
• Octal code
• Hexadecimal code (hex)
• Floating point representation
 Frequency to digital conversion
• In several cases the output signal from primary
sensing or signal conditioning elements is an a.c.
voltage with a frequency which depends on the
measured variable.
• There are two main methods of converting a
variable frequency sinusoidal signal into a
parallel digital output signal. The sine wave must
first be converted into a square wave signal with
sharp edges using a Schmitt trigger circuit.
Digital-to-analogue converters (DACs)
Analogue-to-digital converters (ADCs)
Flash analogue-to-digital converter
Computer and microcontroller systems

• The general computer system

• Microcontrollers
The general computer system
Microcontrollers
Microcontroller and computer software

• Assembly language for microcontrollers

• Higher-level languages
• Virtual instrument software
 Signal processing calculations
• Steady-state compensation
• Dynamic digital compensation and filtering
 Conclusion
This chapter has discussed the conversion of
analogue signals into digital form.
It has examined the structure of computers and
microcontrollers, their operation and software.
The use of computers and microcontrollers to
perform steady-state and dynamic digital
calculations to establish the measured value of a
variable has been discussed.