A novel smart interface for voltage-generating sensors

Author

Li, Xiujun ; Meijer, Gerard C M ; Schnitger, Erik J.

Author_Institution

Fac. of Electr. Eng., Delft Univ. of Technol., Netherlands

Volume

47

Issue

1

fYear

1998

fDate

2/1/1998 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

285

Lastpage

288

Abstract

A novel low-cost smart interface for self-generating sensors, e.g., thermopiles and thermocouples, is presented. The proposed interface acts as an asynchronous converter for dc voltages employing a relaxation oscillator which output a period-modulated signal. A microcontroller is used to measure the output signal from the interface, to process data, and to output the measured sensor signal. The system provides an intrinsic A/D converter. Experimental results show that the interface is able to measure voltages in the range of 0 V to 5 V with an accuracy and resolution of ±64×10^-6 and 20×10^-6, respectively. The measurement time is less than 100 ms

Keywords

intelligent sensors; relaxation oscillators; signal processing equipment; thermocouples; thermopiles; voltage measurement; 0 to 5 V; 100 ms; CMOS IC; asynchronous converter; dc voltages; intrinsic A/D converter; measured sensor signal; measurement time; microcontroller; output signal; period-modulated signal; relaxation oscillator; self-generating sensors; smart interface; smart sensor; thermocouples; thermopiles; voltage measurement; voltage-generating sensors; CMOS technology; Capacitors; Intelligent sensors; Microcontrollers; Oscillators; Signal processing; Switches; Switching circuits; Thermal sensors; Voltage measurement;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Instrumentation and Measurement, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9456

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/19.728835

Filename

728835