Types of characteristic of instrument
Static
characteristic
Dynamic
characteristic
Static
Characteristics
The Static characteristics are defined for
those instruments which measure time
independent quantities or mostly
constant.
Main Static
Characteristics are
Accuracy Linearity
Sensitivity
Stability
Reproducibility
Drift Range or Span
Static error
Bais
Dead zone
Tolerance
Precision
Threshold Hysteresis
1. Accuracy
It is the closeness with which an instrument
reading approaches the true value of the
quantity being measured .
The accuracy of a measurement indicates
the nearness to the actual / true value of the
quantity
Accuracy = True value ~ Measured value
True value :- exact value of variable
Measured value :- value of variable as
indicated by measurement system
2. Sensitivity
It is the ratio of change in output (response)
towards the change in input at a steady state
condition
Sensitivity = q0/qi
Where ,
qo = Change in output
qi = change in input
This ratio is called as
Inverse sensitivity or
Deflection factor .
3. Reproducibility
Reproducibility is defined as the degree of
closeness by which a given value can be
repeatedly measured.
Perfect reproducibility signifies that the given
reading that are taken for an input , do not
vary with time .
4. Drift
Drift refers to a gradual change in their measurement
readings over time , even when the input remains
constant.
Drift may caused because of environment factor like
stray electric field, stray magnetic fields , thermal EMF,
change in temperature , mechanical vibration etc
Drift is classified into 3 categories :-
(1) Zero drift
(2) Span drift or Sensitivity drift
(3) Zonal drift
5. Static error
It is the deviation of true value from desired
value or measured value
Error (e) = Measured value ~ True value
6. Dead zone
It is the largest change of input quantity for
which there is no output of the instrument .
The maximum change
in input for which output
is zero is called Dead
zone
7.Precision
It is a measure of consistency or repeatability,
i.e. successive reading do not differ
Precision is defined as the capability of an
instrument to show the same reading when
used each time .
An instrument which is precise may not be
necessarily accurate
8. Threshold
It is the smallest measurable input , below which
no output change can identified .
9. Stability
The ability of an instrument to retain its performance
throughout its specified storage life and operating life is
called stability
10. Linearity
Linearity is defined as
Maximum deviation of output from idealized
straight line (actual
reading )
Linearity is simply a
measure of the maximum
Deviation of the
Calibration pioints from
The ideal straight line .
11. Range and span
The minimum and maximum values of a quantity for
which an instrument is designed to measured is called
Range and Span
12. Bais
Constant error which occur during the measurement of an
instrument is called bais
Such a bais and Zero error can be completely eliminated
or removed by Calibration .
Calibration means , comparision of device
or instrument to be calibrated against any
referance standard device/measurement
Purpose of Calibration :-
1. It is used to adjust an instrument accuracy
2. To detect errors
3. To maintain standardization
4. To ensure reliability
13. Tolerance
It specifies the maximum allowable deviation of a
manufactured device from a mentioned values
14. Hysteresis
Hysteresis means a lag between input and output in a
system upon a change in direction or we can say that is a
phenomenon which depicts different output effects while
loading and un loading
When the input of an instrument is varied from zero to its full
scale and then if the input is decrease from its full scale
value to zero , the output varies ..
The output at a particular input while increasing and
decreasing varies because of internal friction or hysteric
damping
Dynamics characteristics
An instrument is a physical device used to sense, measure, and
indicate/control a process variable (temperature, pressure, flow, etc.).
When the measured variable changes with time, the instrument may
not show the change instantaneously due to internal inertia, damping,
and energy storage.
This time-dependent behavior is described by its dynamic characteristics.
Dynamic characteristics help evaluate how accurately and quickly an
instrument tracks time-varying signals.
Types of dynamics inputs are:
1.Step input
2.Ramp input
3.impulse input
4.sinusoidal input
Sudden change of the input from one steady value to another.
Used to study transient response, rise time, settling time.
Example: Sudden pressure applied to a pressure transducer.
Input increases linearly with time.
Used to study lag and steady-state error of instruments.
Example: Thermometer exposed to steadily rising temperature.
Short duration, high amplitude input (spike) with finite area.
Used to study damping and natural frequency.
Example: Microphone responding to a sudden loud sound
Input varies as a sine wave.
Used to study frequency response and fidelity.
Example: Oscilloscope tested with sinusoidal voltage
The dynamics characteristics of a measurement system are:
1. Speed of response
2. Fidelity
3. Lag
4. Dynamic error
(a) Speed of Response
Definition: The quickness with which an instrument responds to a change in
input.
Importance: High speed is required in processes where rapid changes must be
tracked (oscilloscopes, digital sensors).
Example:
Fast response: Oscilloscope (voltage monitoring).
Slow response: Mercury-in-glass thermometer.
Definition: The degree to which the output of an instrument exactly
follows the input signal without distortion or attenuation.
Importance: High fidelity ensures reliability of measured data.
Example:
Microphone → must reproduce audio waveforms faithfully.
Pressure transmitter in process industry → should reproduce pressure
changes accurately.
Definition: The time delay between an input change and the instrument
output reaching that value.
Causes:
Thermal inertia (thermometers).
Electrical capacitance and inductance (in electronic instruments).
Types of lag
1.Retardation-type lag: Output starts immediately but rises slowly (e.g.,
thermometer).
2.Time-delay lag: Output remains unchanged for a finite time after input
changes (dead-time).
Example:
Mercury thermometer (retardation lag).
Pneumatic controllers (time delay).
(d) Dynamic Error
Definition: The difference between the true value of the variable (input)
and the indicated value of the instrument at any instant during a time-
varying measurement.
Also called: Measurement error under dynamic conditions.
Example:
Pressure gauge reading fluctuating in a pulsating pipeline.
Tachometer showing slightly lagged RPM during acceleration.
