Data Acquisition for Sensor Systems

International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, Jan 1998 by Przybylski, M M

Data Acquisition for Sensor Systems: H. R. TAYLOR

(Chapman and Hall, 1997, 327 pp., 65, $54.95)

The author systematically covers the area of data acquisition from an introduction to the principles of measurement to data acquisition software. The slim 327 page volume consists of twelve chapters and three appendices.

Chapter 1 is an introduction to data acquisition. It introduces the hardware elements typically found in data acquisition systems. Those elements are described in more detail in the following chapters. Chapter 2 deals with the principles of measurement, from a discussion of errors through the system of units to traceability and calibration. Chapter 3 examines the static and dynamic performance of sensors. It describes the characteristics of such widely used sensors as strain gauges, linear variable differential transformers, platinum resistance thermometers, thermocouples, and integrated temperature sensors. Chapter 4 on signal conditioning covers the processing of electrical signals between the transducer and an ADC. It covers series and common mode noise and describes the operation and characteristics of such elements as instrumentation and isolation amplifiers as well as phase sensitive detectors. It gives a classification of filters and describes the frequency characteristics of Butterworth, Bessel and Chebyshev filters. The role of sample and hold circuits in A/D conversion is described in chapter 5, which deals specifically with errors due to slew rate, aperture timing and droop. Multiplexes and their errors are covered in chapter 6. The process of measurement relies on the comparison of an unknown quantity, or measurand with a known quantity, or standard and expressing the relationship as a ratio. Chapter 7 describes solid state voltage references used as sources of known voltages in the comparison process. It also describes various binary codes which can be used to express the relationship between the measured signal and a voltage reference. Chapter 8 covers D/A converters and their errors. Chapter 9 covers different types of A/D converters. It also deals with testing the converters and with interfacing them to microprocessors. Sampling and quantization errors in sampled data systems are covered in chapter 10. At the heart of data acquisition systems sit microprocessors. They communicate with memory and interface devices on busses. Chapter 11 covers commonly used busses and deals in detail with the GPIB. The final chapter deals with the role of software in data acquisition and lists several commercially available packages.

The book has several worked examples at the end of each chapter. Its authoritatively selective coverage of the subject and text followed by questions and answer format make it highly recommended for teaching data acquisition at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Students may find the price of 65 prohibitive, but college libraries will find this volume a sound investment.

M. M. PRZYBYLSKI Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, UMIST.