Signal Conditioning

Signal Conditioning
• Convert the changes of an impedance Z into an electric
output that is easily processed (voltage).
• Minimize the non-linear error of the primarily output
and the overall output.
• Compensate magnitudes of influence (sources of errors).
• Enhance the sensitivity (amplification).
• Adjust the signal levels (range, zero, etc.).
• Other practical issues: isolation, etc.
• Linear filtering (analog filters and integrators).
 Deflection bridges
• Deflection bridges are used to convert the output of
resistive, capacitive and inductive sensors into a voltage
signal.
 Amplifiers
• Amplifiers are necessary in order to amplify low-
level signals, e.g. thermocouple or strain gauge
bridge output voltages, to a level which enables
them to be further processed.
 Operational Amplifiers
• Ideal op-amps characteristics:
 Infinite open-loop gain G = vout / vin
 Infinite input impedance Rin and so zero input current
 Zero input offset voltage
 Infinite output voltage range
 Infinite bandwidth with zero phase shift and infinite slew rate
 Zero output impedance Rout
 Zero noise
 Infinite common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR)
 Infinite power supply rejection ratio.
• Commercial op-amps provide many different properties
– low noise
– low input current
– low power
– high bandwidth
– low/high supply voltage
– special purpose: comparator, instrumentation amplifier
 Basic Opamp Configuration
• Voltage Comparator
– digitize input

• Voltage Follower
– buffer

• Non-Inverting Amp • Inverting Amp

 More Opamp Configurations
• Summing Amp

• Differential Amp

• Integrating Amp

• Differentiating Amp
 Converting Configuration
• Current-to-Voltage

• Voltage-to-Current
•
Instrumentation
Robust differential
Amplifier
gain amplifier gain stage

• Input stage input stage

– high input impedance
• buffers gain stage
– no common mode gain
– can have differential gain

• Gain stage total differential gain

– differential gain, low input impedance
2 R2  R1  R4 
Gd   
R1  R3 
• Overall amplifier
– amplifies only the differential component
• high common mode rejection ratio
– high input impedance suitable for bio potential electrodes with high output
impedance