Hours:
16 hours (4 credits)

Room:

Aula Riunioni del Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, Via G. Caruso 16, Pisa - Ground Floor

To register to the course, click here

Short Abstract:

In recent years, the role of sensor systems as key components of complex artificial apparatuses has been continuously gaining importance. The effectiveness of future devices, such as robots, autonomous vehicles and wearable medical systems, in improving the life of human beings critically depends on the availability of specialized sensor systems allowing the acquisition of precise information about the surrounding environment. In the last three decades, challenging requirements of size, cost and reliability drove the research towards the present generation of sensors, which leverage on the progress in micro-technologies. On the other hand, the lack of sensor systems with adequate performances is still limiting exciting application that could significantly contribute to the safety of humans in everyday life. For the success of present and future sensor systems, the crucial role of electronics is undisputable. 

This course is meant to analyze the structure of a modern sensor systems, classifying the different components according to their specific function and proposing an original hierarchical overview based on modularity. Within this general view, the focus is placed on the intimate relationships between physical components, i.e. the transducers, and the electronic units, highlighting the challenging requirements that the former posed to the latter. By a in depth analysis of significant case studies, it will be shown how the function performed by the electronic circuits is essential for the transduction mechanism. Furthermore, the fundamental design approaches and technologies that allowed the integration of complex sensor systems on a single chip (System on a Chip) or in single packages (System in Package) will be discussed. Finally, the trend toward versatile universal sensor interfaces will be exposed, focusing on a research product being developed by the research group of the author of this course [1-4]. Theoretical lectures will be alternated with experimental demonstrations performed by means of purposely built development boards controlled with the Python language. 

Course Contents in brief:

1. Overview of sensor system: classification, characteristics & trend.
2. Beyond the standards: design strategies for non-intrusive sensor systems with challenging constraints.
3. Let’s practice: experimental demonstrations of sensor systems by means of purposely built development boards

Schedule:

1. Day1 – February 10, 2025 - 14:00 /18:00, Lecture #1, (3 h) + Exercitation (1 h)
2. Day2 – February 11, 2025 - 14:00 /18:00, Lecture #2, (3 h) + Exercitation (1 h)
3. Day3 – February 12, 2025 - 14:00 /18:00, Lecture #3, (3 h) + Exercitation (1 h)
4. Day4 – February 13, 2025 -14:00 /18:00, Lecture #4, (3 h) + Final Exam (1 h)