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UTPA STEM/CBI Courses/Mechatronics/Thermocouples, Amplifiers and Comparators

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Course Title: Introduction to Mechatronics

Lecture Topic: Thermocouples, Amplifiers and Comparators

Instructor: Horacio Vasquez

Institution: UTRGV


Backwards Design

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Course Objectives

  • Primary Objectives- By the next class period students will be able to:
    • Understand and build a temperature control system using a thermocouple and a fan.
    • Understand and build an on-off controller with hysteresis using an integrated circuit comparator.
  • Sub Objectives- The objectives will require that students be able to:
    • Control the on/off state of a 12V fan based on temperature measurements.
    • Understand and learn concepts in electronics and obtain hands-on experience with the following components and equipment: amplifiers, comparators, transistors, thermocouples, 12 V DC fans
  • Difficulties- Students may have difficulty:
    • Understanding amplifiers and comparators
    • Using breadboards and wiring integrated circuits
    • Testing individual components of a system
    • Integrating individual component to form a complete on/off control system
    • Explaining what the entire system is doing
  • Real-World Contexts- There are many ways that students can use this material in the real-world, such as:
    • On/off control systems for ovens, fans, lights, etc.
    • Signal conditioning such as amplification and comparison.


Model of Knowledge

  • Concept Map
    • Attic cooling system
    • On/off control system
    • Thermocouple
    • Amplifiers
    • Comparators
    • Transistors
    • Hysteresis
    • Pull-up resistors and open collector transistors
  • Content Priorities
    • Enduring Understanding
      • Measuring current and voltage in basic mechatronics system.
      • Using a BJT transistor as a switching device for a fan
      • Amplifying the signal from a thermocouple and relate the voltage to the temperature.
      • Analyzing an electrical circuit involving operational amplifiers.
    • Important to Do and Know
      • Understanding hysteresis and comparators
      • Understanding on/off control systems
    • Worth Being Familiar with
      • Selection of amplifiers and transistors to do a specific job.
      • Analysis of electrical circuits involving all components together including comparators, amplifiers and transistors.


Assessment of Learning

  • Formative Assessment
    • In Class (groups)
      • Quiz about amplifiers and comparators
      • Solve the challenge in the lab
    • Homework (individual)
      • Homework about amplifiers and comparators
  • Summative Assessment
    • Pre-test and post-test.
    • Create a lab report
    • Create a video of the on/off controller


Legacy Cycle

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OBJECTIVE By the next class period, students will be able to:

  • Understand and build a temperature control system using a thermocouple and a fan.
  • Understand and build an on-off controller with hysteresis using an integrated circuit comparator.

The objectives will require that students be able to:

  • Control the on/off state of a 12V fan based on temperature measurement.
  • Learn concepts in electronics and experiment with the following components and equipment: amplifiers, comparators, transistors, thermocouples, 12 V DC fans.

THE CHALLENGE

On/Off Control System Challenge: Forcing Hot Air Out of House Attics
House cooling.

You are a Consultant Engineer working for a famous construction company and you are the leader in a project to design a new system to get hot air out of the attics in new houses especially in summer time. This will be a system for new houses that are for sale to make them more energy efficient; therefore, attracting more buyers and making the houses easier to sell.

GENERATE IDEAS

How would students be able to find solutions for this challenge?

MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES

Students are required to determine multiple uses of amplifiers, transistors, and other components studied in class. During the lab, the circuit components are individually assembled and then they are integrated into a bigger system.

RESEARCH & REVISE

The instructor uses PowerPoint presentations and written examples on the board to explain and help students understand each system component. The components (potentiometer, comparator, thermocouple, transistor, and amplifier) are required during the challenge to form the entire temperature control system.

TEST YOUR METTLE

Students work in teams in the lab during two lab sessions from 4:30 to 7:10 pm on Feb. 9 and Feb. 16, 2016. Students were given a pre- and a post-test to measure their knowledge about the challenge concepts before and after the challenge.

GO PUBLIC

Students showed the results of each part of the lab to the instructor. Once the lab was complete, they created a video demonstrating that the on/off control system works. Students submitted a lab report with all the lab results, conclusions, and a solution to the challenge.

Pre-Lesson Quiz

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Students will be assessed for this project based on the previous topic taught in the class.

Test Your Mettle Quiz

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Various material can be tested here, depending on time constraints. The material can also be combined with other material in a mid-term or final examination.

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