Abstract: Calibration of a sensor circuit that includes a sensor, a temperature measurement circuit and a signal processing path. The sensor senses a physical parameter to be measured and generates an electrical sensor output signal representing the physical parameter. The temperature measurement circuit outputs a measured temperature. The signal processing path is coupled to the sensor so as to receive the electrical sensor output signal and use the measured temperature to compensate for temperature variations in the electrical sensor output signal. During calibration, the output voltage of the signal processing path is measured at multiple temperatures, and at multiple values of the physical parameter being measured at each temperature while the signal processing path is disconnected from using the measured temperature of the temperature measurement circuit.

Abstract: Calibration of a sensor circuit that includes a sensor, a temperature measurement circuit and a signal processing path. The sensor senses a physical parameter to be measured and generates an electrical sensor output signal representing the physical parameter. The temperature measurement circuit outputs a measured temperature. The signal processing path is coupled to the sensor so as to receive the electrical sensor output signal and use the measured temperature to compensate for temperature variations in the electrical sensor output signal. During calibration, the output voltage of the signal processing path is measured at multiple temperatures, and at multiple values of the physical parameter being measured at each temperature while the signal processing path is disconnected from using the measured temperature of the temperature measurement circuit.

Abstract: Methods and systems using Pade' Approximant expansion ratios provide mappings between nonlinear sensors and a more linearized output domain. In one embodiment (a) a variable gain amplifier receives a supplied input signal, the amplifier has at least a first input terminal, an output terminal, and a gain control terminal; (b) a first summer coupled to the output terminal of the variable gain amplifier adds in a first offset signal; (c) a first multiplier coupled to an output of the first summer receives a proportional feedback factor signal and correspondingly generates a multiplied feedback; (d) a second summer coupled to an output terminal of the first multiplier adds in a corresponding second offset signal; and (e) a second multiplier coupled to an output of the second summer receives a gain factor signal and generates a multiplied gain signal; where the gain control terminal of the variable gain amplifier is operatively coupled to an output terminal of the second multiplier.

Abstract: Reactive sensors typically exhibit nonlinear response to the combination of an excitational signal (e.g., sinusoidally oscillating signal) and a physical parameter under measure (e.g., position of magnetic core member). Such sensors are typically sensitive to temperature variation. Systems and methods are disclosed for compensating for the nonlinear and/or temperature dependant behavior of reactive sensors and for calibrating the post-compensation output signals relative to known samples of the physical parameter under measure (e.g., position). One class of embodiments comprises a housing containing at least part of a reactive sensor, a monolithic integrated circuit and a timing reference (e.g., an oscillator crystal).

Abstract: Methods and systems using Pade? Approximant expansion ratios provide mappings between nonlinear sensors and a more linearized output domain. In one embodiment (a) a variable gain amplifier receives a supplied input signal, the amplifier has at least a first input terminal, an output terminal, and a gain control terminal; (b) a first summer coupled to the output terminal of the variable gain amplifier adds in a first offset signal; (c) a first multiplier coupled to an output of the first summer receives a proportional feedback factor signal and correspondingly generates a multiplied feedback; (d) a second summer coupled to an output terminal of the first multiplier adds in a corresponding second offset signal; and (e) a second multiplier coupled to an output of the second summer receives a gain factor signal and generates a multiplied gain signal; where the gain control terminal of the variable gain amplifier is operatively coupled to an output terminal of the second multiplier.