Abstract: A sensor interface circuit includes at least two sensor inputs and at least two front-end circuits to obtain sensor signal acquisitions from the at least two sensor inputs; a test circuit configured to test correct functionality of at least part of one of the front end circuits by applying a test input to the front end circuit under test, by reading a test output of the front end circuit, and by comparing the test output with an expected result thus obtaining at least one test result. The test input is applied intermittently between sensor signal acquisitions; a processing device is configured to compare the sensor signal acquisitions from the different sensor inputs and combine the comparison with the at least one test result to evaluate correct functionality of the sensor interface circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor pressure sensor comprising a membrane, delineated by an edge, and a group of neighboring piezo resistors: a first pair of piezo resistors near the edge of the membrane (a first piezo resistor RTmemb, a second piezo resistor RLmemb); a second pair of piezo resistors (a third piezo resistor RTref, a fourth piezo resistor RLref) at a position where applied pressure causes reduced surface stress compared to surface stress at the position of the first and the second piezo resistor. A signal from the first piezo resistor and a signal from the second piezo resistor, corrected with a signal from the third piezo resistor and a signal from the fourth piezo resistor, are used as a measure of a pressure on the membrane.

Abstract: A sensor device for measuring a physical parameter. The sensor device comprises at least three sensing elements. Each sensing element comprises a first node and a second node. The first nodes of all sensing elements are connected together, and the second nodes are accessible to a readout circuit for measuring differential signals between the second nodes. At least three of the sensing elements have a different sensitivity to the physical parameter.

Abstract: A controller configured for detecting a disturbance using a comparison of outputs of at least two sensors and for determining a pressure from the outputs of the at least two sensors. A ratio of the measurement sensitivity and the disturbance sensitivity should be different for the at least two sensors. A method for monitoring disturbances of a sensor assembly includes comparing the outputs of the at least two sensors. The controller and related method provide, while requiring only two sensors, a redundant system that is also able to detect excessive disturbances on a sensor assembly.

Abstract: An oscillator-based sensor interface circuit includes first and second input nodes arranged to receive first and second electrical signals representative of an electrical quantity, respectively; an analog filter; a first oscillator arranged to receive a first oscillator input signal and a second oscillator different from the first oscillator and arranged to receive a second oscillator input signal; a comparator arranged to compare signals coming from the first and second oscillators; a first feedback element arranged to receive a representation of the digital comparator output signal and to convert the representation into a first feedback signal to be applied to the oscillation means; a digital filter arranged to yield an output signal, being an filtered version of the digital comparator output signal; a second feedback element arranged to receive the output signal and to convert the output signal into a second feedback signal.

Abstract: A piezo-resistor sensor includes a diffusion of a first conductivity type in a well of an opposite second type, contacts with islands in the diffusion, interconnects with the contacts, and a shield covers the diffusion between the contacts and extends over side walls of the diffusion between the contacts. Each interconnect covers the diffusion at the corresponding contact and extends over edges of the diffusion, and each island is at a side covered by its interconnect. A guard ring of the second type is around the diffusion. The shield covers the well between the diffusion and the ring and the edge of the ring facing the diffusion. If a gap between the shield and the interconnect is present, the ring bridges this gap, and/or the edges of the diffusion are completely covered by the combination of the shield and the interconnects.

Abstract: A sensor interface circuit includes at least two sensor inputs and at least two front-end circuits to obtain sensor signal acquisitions from the at least two sensor inputs; a test circuit configured to test correct functionality of at least part of one of the front end circuits by applying a test input to the front end circuit under test, by reading a test output of the front end circuit, and by comparing the test output with an expected result thus obtaining at least one test result. The test input is applied intermittently between sensor signal acquisitions; a processing device is configured to compare the sensor signal acquisitions from the different sensor inputs and combine the comparison with the at least one test result to evaluate correct functionality of the sensor interface circuit.

Abstract: A controller configured for monitoring disturbances of a pressure sensor assembly includes at least two sensors. The at least two sensors are configured for measuring a pressure and wherein the at least two sensors have a sensor dependent measurement sensitivity for the pressure, and at least one of the sensors is sensitive for a disturbance with a sensor dependent disturbance sensitivity. A ratio of the measurement sensitivity and the disturbance sensitivity is different for the at least two sensors. The controller is configured for detecting the disturbance by comparing outputs of the at least two sensors.

Abstract: A sensor interface circuit comprises an input arranged to receive a sensor signal being an electrical signal representative of an electrical quantity. The electrical quantity includes a physical quantity converted in a sensor. The sensor interface circuit includes conversion means arranged for converting the sensor signal into a digital signal, memory to store sensor characterisation data, signal processing means adapted to obtain a first sensor result by processing the digital signal using the sensor characterisation data, and an output unit arranged to receive and output the first sensor result, the digital signal and the sensor characterisation data.

Abstract: An oscillator-based sensor interface circuit includes first and second input nodes arranged to receive first and second electrical signals representative of an electrical quantity, respectively; an analog filter; a first oscillator arranged to receive a first oscillator input signal and a second oscillator different from the first oscillator and arranged to receive a second oscillator input signal; a comparator arranged to compare signals coming from the first and second oscillators; a first feedback element arranged to receive a representation of the digital comparator output signal and to convert the representation into a first feedback signal to be applied to the oscillation means; a digital filter arranged to yield an output signal, being an filtered version of the digital comparator output signal; a second feedback element arranged to receive the output signal and to convert the output signal into a second feedback signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a half-bridge signal processing circuit comprising a first and a second branch. The first branch comprises a first stimulus responsive sense element and a first current source arranged to provide a current to the first sense element. The second branch comprises a second stimulus responsive sense element and a second current source arranged to provide a current to said second sense element. The first and the second branch have a terminal in common. The first branch comprises a first node between said the current source and the first stimulus responsive sense element configured to generate a first signal related to a voltage over the first sense element. The second branch comprises a second node between the second current source and the second stimulus responsive sense element configured to generate a second signal related to a voltage over the second sense element.

Abstract: A piezo-resistor sensor includes a diffusion of a first conductivity type in a well of an opposite second type, contacts with islands in the diffusion, interconnects with the contacts, and a shield covers the diffusion between the contacts and extends over side walls of the diffusion between the contacts. Each interconnect covers the diffusion at the corresponding contact and extends over edges of the diffusion, and each island is at a side covered by its interconnect. A guard ring of the second type is around the diffusion. The shield covers the well between the diffusion and the ring and the edge of the ring facing the diffusion. If a gap between the shield and the interconnect is present, the ring bridges this gap, and/or the edges of the diffusion are completely covered by the combination of the shield and the interconnects.

Abstract: A sensor interface circuit comprises an input arranged to receive a sensor signal being an electrical signal representative of an electrical quantity. The electrical quantity includes a physical quantity converted in a sensor. The sensor interface circuit includes conversion means arranged for converting the sensor signal into a digital signal, memory to store sensor characterisation data, signal processing means adapted to obtain a first sensor result by processing the digital signal using the sensor characterisation data, and an output unit arranged to receive and output the first sensor result, the digital signal and the sensor characterisation data.

Abstract: An oscillator-based sensor interface circuit includes an oscillator and a switching means is arranged for switching between at least two signals to be applied to the oscillator via that input. At least one of the signals is an electrical signal representative of an electrical quantity. A counter is arranged to count a number of cycles produced by the oscillator. A control logic is arranged to control the switching means and to derive a control output signal from a first number of counted oscillator cycles. A feedback element is arranged for converting a representation of the control output signal into a feedback signal used directly or indirectly to maintain a given relation between the first number of counted oscillator cycles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a half-bridge signal processing circuit comprising a first and a second branch. The first branch comprises a first stimulus responsive sense element and a first current source arranged to provide a current to the first sense element. The second branch comprises a second stimulus responsive sense element and a second current source arranged to provide a current to said second sense element. The first and the second branch have a terminal in common. The first branch comprises a first node between said the current source and the first stimulus responsive sense element configured to generate a first signal related to a voltage over the first sense element. The second branch comprises a second node between the second current source and the second stimulus responsive sense element configured to generate a second signal related to a voltage over the second sense element.

Abstract: An oscillator-based sensor interface circuit comprises at least two oscillators, at least one of which is arranged for receiving an electrical signal representative of an electrical quantity being a converted physical quantity, phase detection means arranged to compare output signals of the at least two oscillators and for outputting a digital phase detection output signal in accordance with the outcome of the comparing, a feedback element arranged for converting a representation of the digital phase detection output signal into a feedback signal used directly or indirectly to maintain a given relation between oscillator frequencies of the at least two oscillators, detection means for detecting a difference between the at least two oscillators; and at least one tuning element arranged for receiving the detected difference and for tuning at least one characteristic of the oscillator-based sensor interface circuit.

Abstract: An oscillator-based sensor interface circuit includes an oscillator and a switching means is arranged for switching between at least two signals to be applied to the oscillator via that input. At least one of the signals is an electrical signal representative of an electrical quantity. A counter is arranged to count a number of cycles produced by the oscillator. A control logic is arranged to control the switching means and to derive a control output signal from a first number of counted oscillator cycles. A feedback element is arranged for converting a representation of the control output signal into a feedback signal used directly or indirectly to maintain a given relation between the first number of counted oscillator cycles.

Abstract: An oscillator-based sensor interface circuit comprises at least two oscillators, at least one of which is arranged for receiving an electrical signal representative of an electrical quantity being a converted physical quantity, phase detection means arranged to compare output signals of the at least two oscillators and for outputting a digital phase detection output signal in accordance with the outcome of the comparing, a feedback element arranged for converting a representation of the digital phase detection output signal into a feedback signal used directly or indirectly to maintain a given relation between oscillator frequencies of the at least two oscillators, detection means for detecting a difference between the at least two oscillators; and at least one tuning element arranged for receiving the detected difference and for tuning at least one characteristic of the oscillator-based sensor interface circuit.