Patent · US Active

Heater controller having improved start-up for thermal sensor

US7856879B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
7References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 11, 2007
Grant dateDec 28, 2010
Priority date—
Expiry dateMay 8, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01P15/008
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A closed-loop heater control circuit for use with integrated circuit thermal sensing devices, such as thermal accelerometers, is disclosed. The heater control circuit includes a switched-capacitor integrating circuit and a controller or modulator. The switched-capacitor integrating unit integrates a common-mode voltage signal from an instrument amplifier with respect to an analog common reference voltage. In operation, the switched-capacitor integrating unit is adapted so that the closed-loop is opened briefly at the beginning of every new cycle, e.g., using an enable signal, during fast start-up or power-down.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.