Patent · US Active

Sensor control circuit and sensor

US8573842B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
20References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 24, 2011
Grant dateNov 5, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 11, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N27/028
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A sensor control circuit for controlling a sensor unit for measuring a physical value includes a timing controller which selects periodically one or more sensor units among multiple sensor units and converts an output signal from the sensor unit to a continuous serial input signal, an oscillator which receives the serial input signal input by the controller and outputs a frequency signal corresponding to the output signal detected by the sensor unit, a counter which counts for a predetermined duration a number of pulses of the frequency signal output from the oscillator, a data converter which converts the number of pulses to voltage data and outputs the data, and an RLC selector which inputs to the converter information indicating a characteristic value on which the number of pulses is based. The characteristic value is resistance, inductance or electrostatic capacitance. The sensor units measure physical values, respectively.

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