Micro Pressure Sensors and the Wheatstone Bridge Learning Module

Module Description:

This module, from Support Center for Microsystems Education (SCME), provides students with "the opportunity to explore micro pressure sensors, their applications, development, fabrication, and operation." The module is divided into the following five units: Knowledge Probe (Pre-test), Wheatstone Bridge Overview, Modeling a Micro Pressure Sensor Activity, Wheatstone Bridge Derivation Activity, and Final Assessment.

Module Contents: 

The module includes six instructor guides, five participant guides, and two presentations. PDF and DOC versions are provided for all of the guides. The included guides are Wheatstone Bridge Primary Knowledge, Micro Pressure Sensors & The Wheatstone Bridge Knowledge Probe, two activities, and a final assessment. Instructor guides include additional content such as instructor notes and questions and answers. A Learning Module Map (LM) Instructor Guide is also included. 

The LM map provides information about the module including module contents, target audience, and a map that is divided into the following three sections: Important Steps, Key Points, and Reasons. 

Wheatstone Bridge Primary Knowledge is an instructional unit with the following objectives:

• Define the variable components of the Wheatstone bridge.
• Describe how the Wheatstone bridge works.

The following sections are included in this unit guide: Introduction, Objectives, Key Terms, The Wheatstone Bridge, Background Circuits, Wheatstone Bridge and Difference Voltage, Calibration, and more. 

The Wheatstone Bridge Derivation Activity is intended to be assigned after the Wheatstone Bridge Overview Primary Knowledge unit. Objectives for the activity include: 

• Derive the mathematical relationship between output voltage (Vg, also referred to as gauge voltage) and resistance in a Wheatstone bridge circuit.
• Design the orientation of the resistors on a pressure sensor membrane to maximize the effect on the gauge voltage.

In the Modeling a Micro Pressure Sensor Activity, students "build a micropressure sensor model with a Wheatstone bridge sensing circuit using graphene (pencil lead), and a diaphragm (balloon) on a substrate (paint can)." Students then test their device using concepts from the Wheatstone Bridge Overview unit.

Two presentations are also provided titled Wheatstone Bridge Overview and Modeling a Pressure Sensor Activity. Each presentation includes a unit overview, objectives, and additional information about their respective topics. The presentations are provided in both PDF and PowerPoint formats.

For orientation purposes Int_WheatB_LM_MAP_IG_Sept2016.pdf is included as a separate attachment and offers a sample of the type of material included in this module. 

Below is a list of the files included in the .zip attachment. The size of each file is included in parenthesis. 

Micro Pressure Sensors and the Wheatstone Bridge Learning Module (36 files, 20.9 MB)

• Instructor Guides
  • Docs
    • Wheatstone Bridge Derivation Activity Instructor Guide (Int_WheatB_AC01_IG_Sept2016.docx 251 KB)
    • Modeling a Micro Pressure Sensor Activity Instructor Guide (Int_WheatB_AC02_IG_Sept2016.docx 1.4 MB)
    • Micro Pressure Sensors & The Wheatstone Bridge Final Assessment Instructor Guide (Int_WheatB_FA01_IG_Sept2016.docx 280 KB)
    • Micro Pressure Sensors & The Wheatstone Bridge Knowledge Probe Instructor Guide (Int_WheatB_KP01_IG_Sept2016.docx
    • Micro Pressure Sensors & The Wheatstone Bridge Learning Module (Int_WheatB_LM_MAP_IG_Sept 2016.docx 28 KB)
    • Wheatstone Bridge Overview Primary Knowledge Instructor Guide (Int_WheatB_PK01_IG_Sept_2016.docx 621 KB)
  • PDFs
    • Wheatstone Bridge Derivation Activity Instructor Guide (Int_WheatB_AC01_IG_Sept2016.pdf 489 KB)
    • Modeling a Micro Pressure Sensor Activity Instructor Guide (Int_WheatB_AC02_IG_Sept2016.pdf 1.6 MB)
    • Micro Pressure Sensors & The Wheatstone Bridge Final Assessment Instructor Guide (Int_WheatB_FA01_IG_Sept2016.pdf 408 KB)
    • Micro Pressure Sensors & The Wheatstone Bridge Knowledge Probe Instructor Guide (Int_WheatB_KP01_IG_Sept2016.pdf 411 KB)
    • Micro Pressure Sensors & The Wheatstone Bridge Learning Module (Int_WheatB_LM_MAP_IG_Sept 2016.pdf 120 KB)
    • Wheatstone Bridge Overview Primary Knowledge Instructor Guide (Int_WheatB_PK01_IG_Sept_2016.pdf 1.1 MB)
• Participant Guides
  • Docs
    • Wheatstone Bridge Derivation Activity Participant Guide (Int_WheatB_AC01_PG_Sept2016.docx 178 KB)
    • Modeling a Micro Pressure Sensor Activity Participant Guide (Int_WheatB_AC02_PG_Sept2016.docx 1.3 MB)
    • Micro Pressure Sensors & The Wheatstone Bridge Final Assessment Participant Guide (Int_WheatB_FA01_PG_Sept2016.docx 167 KB)
    • Micro Pressure Sensors & The Wheatstone Bridge Knowledge Probe Participant Guide (Int_WheatB_KP01_PG_Sept2016.docx 169 KB)
    • Wheatstone Bridge Overview Primary Knowledge Participant Guide (Int_WheatB_PK01_PG_Sept2016.docx 62 KB)
  • PDFs
    • Wheatstone Bridge Derivation Activity Participant Guide (Int_WheatB_AC01_PG_Sept2016.pdf 275 KB)
    • Modeling a Micro Pressure Sensor Activity Participant Guide (Int_WheatB_AC02_PG_Sept2016.pdf 1.3 MB)
    • Micro Pressure Sensors & The Wheatstone Bridge Final Assessment Participant Guide (Int_WheatB_FA01_PG_Sept2016.pdf 332 KB)
    • Micro Pressure Sensors & The Wheatstone Bridge Knowledge Probe Participant Guide (Int_WheatB_KP01_PG_Sept2016.pdf 332 KB)
    • Wheatstone Bridge Overview Primary Knowledge Participant Guide (Int_WheatB_PK01_PG_Sept2016.pdf 1 MB)
• Presentations 
  • PDFs
    • Modeling a Micro Pressure Sensor Activity (Pressure_Sensor_Model_Presentation.pdf 3.1 MB)
    • Wheatstone Bridge Overview (Wheatstone_bridge_LM_Presentation.pdf 2.1 MB)
  • PowerPoints 
    • Modeling a Micro Pressure Sensor Activity (Pressure_Sensor_Model_Presentation.pptx 2.1 MB)
    • Wheatstone Bridge Overview (Wheatstone_bridge_LM_Presentation.pdf 659 KB)