1st Edition

Electronic Portable Instruments Design and Applications

By Halit Eren Copyright 2003
    438 Pages 38 Color & 151 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    With the availability of advanced technologies, digital systems, and communications, portable instruments are rapidly evolving from simple, stand alone, low-accuracy measuring instruments to complex multifunctional, network integrated, high-performance digital devices with advanced interface capabilities. The relatively brief treatments these instruments receive in many books are no longer adequate. Designers, engineers and scientists need a comprehensive reference dedicated to electronic portable instruments that explains the state-of-art and future directions.

    Electronic Portable Instruments: Design and Applications introduces the basic measurement and instrumentation concepts, describes the operating principles, and discusses the typical specifications of three main groups of portable instruments:

  • Portable and handheld instruments built for specific applications
  • Intelligent sensor-based devices with few components and dedicated features, such as implantable medical devices
  • Portable data systems containing fixed sensors and supporting mechanisms, but equipped with advanced communications capabilities, such as mobile weather stations

    The author discusses sensors suitable for these instruments, addresses how components are selected, and clearly shows that instrument design centers on trade-offs between costs, performance, size and weight, power consumption, interface options, ruggedness, and the ability to operate in a range of environments. A multitude of tables, formulae, and figures--many in full color--enhance the presentation. Numerous examples of applications demonstrate the current diversity of these devices and point the way to future trends in development and applications.
  • MEASUREMENTS, INSTRUMENTATION, AND ELECTRONIC PORTABLE INSTRUMENTS
    Fundamentals of Measurements
    Units and Standards
    General Concepts on Instruments
    Introduction to Portable Instruments
    Response and Drift
    Errors and Uncertainty
    Calibration and Testing of Instruments
    Controlling and Networking of Instruments
    Signals and Signal Conditioning
    Noise and Interference

    SENSORS, TRANSDUCERS, AND ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTS
    Introduction
    Voltage and Current Sensors
    Magnetic Sensors
    Capacitive and Charge Sensors
    Semiconductor and Intelligent Sensors
    Acoustic Sensors
    Temperature and Heat Sensors
    Light Sensors
    Radiation Sensors
    Chemical Sensors
    Gas Sensors
    Biomedical and Biological Sensors
    Environmental Sensors
    Pollution Sensors
    Distance and Rotation Sensors
    Navigational Sensors
    Mechanical Variables Sensors

    DIGITAL ASPECTS: HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, AND ELECTRONIC PORTABLE INSTRUMENTS
    Introduction
    Microprocessors, Microcontrollers, and Computers
    Signal Conversion
    Digital Signal Processing
    Instrument Communication and Telemetry
    IEEE-1451 Standards for Sensors and Actuators: Smart Transducer Interface
    Virtual Instruments and Portable Instruments

    DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRONIC PORTABLE INSTRUMENTS
    Introduction
    Design Considerations
    Power Supplies and Energy Sources
    Passive Circuit Components
    Active Components and Circuit Design
    Digital Aspects, Communication, and Networks
    Operator Interface
    Construction and Assembly
    Software Aspects

    EXAMPLES AND APPLICATIONS OF PORTABLE INSTRUMENTS
    Introduction
    Laboratory Instruments
    Environmental Instruments
    Chemical Instruments
    Biomedical Instruments
    Mechanical, Sound, and Vibration Instruments
    Radiation, Light, and Temperature Instruments
    GPS and Telemetry-Based Instruments
    Computer-Based and Intelligent Instruments
    Domestic, Personal, Hobby, and Leisure Portable Instruments

    CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
    BIBLIOGRAPHY
    INDEX

    Biography

    Halit Eren