User manual

page 10
Analog System Lab Kit PRO
introduction
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Analog System Lab
Although digital signal processing is the most common form of processing signals,
analog signal processing cannot be completely avoided since the real world is
analog in nature. Consider a typical signal chain (Figure below).
It is evident that analog circuits play a
crucial role in the implementation of an
electronic system.
The goal of the Analog System Lab
Course is to provide students an
exposure to the fascinating world
of analog and mixed-signal signal
processing. The course can be adapted
for an undergraduate or a postgraduate
curriculum. As part of the lab course,
the student will build analog systems
using analog ICs and study their macro
models, characteristics and limitations.
Our philosophy in designing this lab
course has been to focus on system
design rather than circuit design. We
feel that many Analog Design classes
in the colleges focus on the circuit
design aspect, ignoring the issues
encountered in system design. In the
real world, a system designer uses
the analog ICs as building blocks. The
focus of the system designer are to
optimize system-level cost, power, and
performance. IC manufacturers such as
TexasInstrumentsoeralargenumber
of choices of integrated circuits keeping
in mind the diverse requirements
of system designers. As a student,
you must be aware of these diverse
oeringsofsemiconductorsandselect
the right IC for the right application. We
have tried to emphasize this aspect
in designing the experiments in this
manual.
A sensor converts the real-world signal into an analog electrical signal.
This analog signal is often weak and noisy.
Ampliersareneededtostrengthenthesignal.Analoglteringmaybe
necessary to remove noise from the signal. This “front end” processing
improves the signal-to-noise ratio. Three of the most important building
blocks used in this stage are (a) Operational Ampliers, (b) Analog
multipliers and (c) Analog Comparators.
An analog-to-digital converter transforms the analog signal into a
stream of 0s and 1s.
The digital data is processed by a CPU, such as a DSP, a microprocessor,
or a microcontroller. The choice of the processor depends on how
intensive the computation is. A DSP may be necessary when real-
time signal processing is needed and the computations are complex.
Microprocessorsandmicrocontrollersmaysuceinotherapplications.
Digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) is necessary to convert the stream of
0s and 1s back into analog form.
TheoutputoftheDAChastobeampliedbeforetheanalogsignalcan
drive an external actuator.
Figure: Signal Chain in an Electronic System
Typical signal chain