Unit
- Course
- Electronic engineering for the internet-of-things
- Study-unit Code
- A003185
- Curriculum
- In all curricula
- Teacher
- Giulia Orecchini
- Teachers
-
- Giulia Orecchini
- Hours
- 48 ore - Giulia Orecchini
- CFU
- 6
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2024
- Offered
- 2025/26
- Learning activities
- Caratterizzante
- Area
- Ingegneria elettronica
- Academic discipline
- ING-INF/01
- Type of study-unit
- Opzionale (Optional)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- The course provides a comprehensive overview of sensors and actuators, starting from their classification by physical principle (electrical resistance, electric field, magnetic field, radiation, thermal and mechanical phenomena) to advanced MEMS and IoT technologies. It explores internal sensor structures like the LM35 and uses models such as LEM to describe their behavior. Key topics include: Resistive sensors (RTDs, NTCs, strain gauges) Thermal sensors (thermocouples, thermopiles, Golay cells) Magnetic sensors (Hall effect, GMR, TMR) Capacitive sensors (displacement, accelerometers, actuators) Optical/radiation sensors (photodiodes, LEDs, IR sensors) Piezoelectric and mechanical sensors Actuators: DC motors, brushless, stepper motors, pneumatic/hydraulic cylinders MEMS technologies and microfabrication IoT applications and datasheet interpretation Standardization and design challenges
- Reference texts
¿ Notes and slides from class (in English) ¿ Books ¿ Sensor and Actuators, Francisco Andre Correa Alegria, World Scientific Pub Co Inc (July 27, 2021) ¿ Gerard C.M. Mejer ed., “Smart Sensor Systems”, Wiley 2008. ¿ Charalampos Doukas, Building the Internet of Things with the Arduino, v.1.1, ISBN 1470023431 ¿ Harry N. Norton, Handbook of transducers, Prentice Hall, 1989. ¿ J. Wilson editor, Sensor Technology Handbook, Elsevier (2005) ¿ G. F. Knoll, Radiation Detection and Measurement, 3rd Ed. Wiley 2000.- Educational objectives
Methodological knowledge: basic knowledge of the theoretical operating principles of the most common types of sensors and actuators. Professional skills: understanding of the data sheet of common types of sensors and actuators available on the market.- Prerequisites
The course has no declared prerequisites. It incorporates various concepts from physics and chemistry but introduces them from the basics: heat transfer in solids and fluids, electromagnetic radiation, material elasticity, piezoresistivity, magnetic properties of materials, and the structure of matter. Additionally, it makes use of well-known concepts and equations from semiconductor physics.- Teaching methods
The course is organized as follows: Lectures in the classroom covering all topics of the course.- Other information
No further information is provided.- Learning verification modality
The exam assessment is based on an individual oral examination lasting approximately 30 minutes. The oral exam focuses on the theoretical topics covered in class. The methodological aspects of the course are considered fundamental- Extended program
- • COURSE INDRODUCTION: Definition of Sensor and Actuator, Role of Sensors and Actuators, Common Engineering Applications, Human Sensory System/Robotics, Type of Sensory Receptors, Human body actuators, Transduction, Signal Conditioning Principles, Information Processing, Smart Sensors and Network Connection/IoT, Sensors and Actuator classification adopted as guidelines for this course: Devices based on Electrical Resistance, Devices based on Electric Field, Devices based on Magnetic Field, Devices based on EM Radiation, Devices based on Thermal Phenomena, Devices based on Mechanical Phenomena. A different approach: classification based on the quantity to be transduced. • SENSOR and ACTUATORS in IoT: recent research results examples • CONTENTS INTRODUCTION: Classification and Parameters, LEM (Lumped Element Model), DATASHEETS (how to read a data sheet-examples), Standardization Challenges. • Micro and Nanotechnologies (MEMs): Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems, History, Accelerometers as a good example, Fabrication Technologies: Surface Michromachining, Bulk Micormachining, Materials, Chemical Vapor Deposition, Photolitography, Bulk Michrofabrication, • IC Thermal Sensor- LM35: Internal Structure, PTAT Generation, Signal Amplification and Conditioning • Devices Based on CHANGE IN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE: RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector), Thermistors. Measurements Methodology. Strain gauge: operating principle, architure, key parameters. Piezoresitors: operating principle and key parameters, example of piezoresistive sensor on membrane, conditioning circuits based on Astable multivibrator. • Devices Based on THERMAL PHENOMENA: Thermocouples, Seeback Effect, Heat Transfer Concept and Definitions, Thermal Dissipation, TEG (Thermoelectric Generator), Thermopiles, Peltier Effect, Thermoelectric Cooler (application MMRTGs). • Thermal Sensor Applications: Hot Wire Anemometer, Vacuum Gauges (Thermocouples Gauges, Pirani Gauges -MEMs example from literature) • Devices based on CHANGE IN MAGNETIC FIELD: Reed Switch, Galvanometric Effects, Hall Effect Sensors, Magnetoresistance Effect, Giant Magnetoresistance Effect, Spin Valve, Tunnel Magnetoresistance, GMR vs TMR. Motors: DC Motor, H-Bridge & Chopper, Brushless, Stepper Motor, Variable Reluctance Motor, Hybrid Motors. • Devices based on CHANGE IN ELECTRIC FIELD: Capacitive Sensors and Actuators, Case of study, brake disk, Capacitive Displacement Sensors, Examples from Micro Epsilon Solutions, Capacitive Accelerometers, Measurements Considerations, Pros & Cons, Interdigitated Comb Structure (MEMs), Angular Velocity Sensors, Fingerprint Sensors (example from literature), Electrostatic Loudspeaker, Subwoofer (example of transversal classification). • Devices based on RADIATION: Definition and Classification, Wave-like and Particle-like Radiation, Radiometry and Photometry, LED/ Electroluminescence, Triggering Processes, Radiative Transition and Recombination, Photovoltaic Effect, Spontaneous Emission, TLCR5100 from Vishay-example, Photoresistor, Photodiode, Pulse Oximeter-example, Thermal Radiation and IR sensors, Black Body Radiation, Wien’s Law, Stephan Boltzman Law, Plank Formualtion, Sensor Operating Principles, Thermopneumatic Detector (Golay Cell ), thermopile (PIR), Pyroelectric Detector, Bolometers, – Example : Perkin-Elmer TPS 1T 013X, Texas Instruments TMP006/B, Melexis MLX90614. • Devices based on MECHANICAL PHENOMENA: Piezoelectric Effect, Starin Gauges, Comparison on Strain Gauges Perdormances, Piezoelectric material and models (LEM, Mechanical, Mathematical- Frequency Response, Accelerometers- mode of operations, pros and cons, Brüel & Kjær Vibro Accelerometers- example, Signal Conditioning- Charge Amplifier, Accelerometers Comparison (capacitive, piezoelectric, piezoresistive). Fluid Actuators: Physical Principle, Pascal Law, Hydraulic Circuit, Single and Double Acting Cilinder, Pneumatic Circuit.