Abstract: An optical light sensing device includes a detector operable to detect a light wave. The optical light sensing device also includes an integration circuit that includes an operational amplifier that is operable to reduce or cancel dark currents generated at the detector.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement includes a switchable voltage source having a source output for alternatively providing a first and a second excitation voltage, an integrator having an integrator input and an integrator output, a sensor resistor having a first terminal coupled to the source output, a reference resistor having a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the sensor resistor and a second terminal coupled to the integrator input, and a comparator having a first comparator input coupled to the integrator output.

Abstract: An optical light sensing device includes a detector operable to detect a light wave. The optical light sensing device also includes an integration circuit that includes an operational amplifier that is operable to reduce or cancel dark currents generated at the detector.

Abstract: In an embodiment a method for operating a gas sensor arrangement includes generating a sensor current by a gas sensor, converting the sensor current into a digital comparator output signal in a charge balancing operation depending on a first clock signal, determining from the digital comparator output signal an asynchronous count comprising an integer number of counts depending on the first clock signal, determining from the digital comparator output signal a fractional time count depending on a second clock signal and calculating from the asynchronous count and from the fractional time count a digital output signal which is indicative of the sensor current generated by the gas sensor.

Abstract: A method for light-to-digital conversion includes setting a time integrator circuit into a reference condition and starting to integrate charge from a sensor device for the duration of an integration time. An integration signal is generated and is indicative of the integrated charge. The integration signal is compared with an adjustable reference signal. A first count is generated when the comparison indicates that the integration signal has reached an integration range, wherein the integration range is defined by a low and a high voltage. A second count is generated when the comparison indicates that the integration signal has reached the adjustable reference signal. The adjustable reference signal is incremented in discrete steps when a second count has been generated. Then, the time integrator circuit is reset into the reference condition, when the comparison indicates that the integration signal has reached the integration range.

Abstract: A method for light-to-frequency conversion comprises the steps of illuminating a photodiode by a light source, generating a photocurrent by means of the photodiode, converting the photocurrent into a digital comparator output signal depending on a first clock signal, generating a first count comprising an integer number of counts, where the generation of the first count depends on the first clock signal, generating a second count which relates to the time interval between at least two counts of the first count, and determining the frequency of a repeating pattern in the intensity of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the light source and detected by the photodiode from the first count and the second count. Furthermore, a light-to-frequency converter arrangement is provided.

Abstract: A measurement circuitry (MC) for evaluating a resistance of a resistive gas sensor (GS) comprises a first current path (P1), wherein a first logarithmic compression circuit (LC1) is arranged in the first current path (P1). A reference resistor (Rreference) and a second logarithmic compression circuit (LC2) is arranged in a second current path (P2) of the measurement circuitry (MC). A voltage generator (VG) provides a fixed voltage excitation for the resistive gas sensor (GS) and the reference resistor (Rreference). A first current (I1) received from the resistive gas sensor (GS) flows from the gas sensor (GS) via the first current path (P1) into the first logarithmic compression circuit (LC1). An evaluation circuit (EC) determines the resistance (Rs) of the resistive gas sensor (GS) in dependence on a first and second output signal (Ve1, Ve2) of the first and the second logarithmic compression circuit (LC1, LC2).

Abstract: A method for light-to-frequency conversion comprises generating a photocurrent by means of a photodiode and converting the photocurrent into a digital comparator output signal in a charge balancing operation depending on a first clock signal. From the digital comparator output signal an asynchronous count is determined and comprises an integer number of counts depending on the first clock signal. From the digital comparator output signal a fractional time count is determined and depends on a second clock signal. Finally, from the asynchronous count and from the fractional time count a digital output signal is calculated which is indicative of the photocurrent generated by the photodiode. The method may be carried out by an exemplary light-to-frequency converter equipped with a photodiode.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement includes a switchable voltage source having a source output for alternatively providing a first and a second excitation voltage, an integrator having an integrator input and an integrator output, a sensor resistor having a first terminal coupled to the source output, a reference resistor having a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the sensor resistor and a second terminal coupled to the integrator input, and a comparator having a first comparator input coupled to the integrator output.

Abstract: A method for light-to-digital conversion includes setting a time integrator circuit into a reference condition and starting to integrate charge from a sensor device for the duration of an integration time. An integration signal is generated and is indicative of the integrated charge. The integration signal is compared with an adjustable reference signal. A first count is generated when the comparison indicates that the integration signal has reached an integration range, wherein the integration range is defined by a low and a high voltage. A second count is generated when the comparison indicates that the integration signal has reached the adjustable reference signal. The adjustable reference signal is incremented in discrete steps when a second count has been generated. Then, the time integrator circuit is reset into the reference condition, when the comparison indicates that the integration signal has reached the integration range.

Abstract: A method for light-to-frequency conversion comprises the steps of illuminating a photodiode by a light source, generating a photocurrent by means of the photodiode, converting the photocurrent into a digital comparator output signal depending on a first clock signal, generating a first count comprising an integer number of counts, where the generation of the first count depends on the first clock signal, generating a second count which relates to the time interval between at least two counts of the first count, and determining the frequency of a repeating pattern in the intensity of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the light source and detected by the photodiode from the first count and the second count. Furthermore, a light-to-frequency converter arrangement is provided.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (10) comprises a first and a second sampling capacitor (24, 25), a first integrator (26), a first and a second input switch (31, 32) coupling a first input terminal (11) and a common mode terminal (39) to a first electrode of the first sampling capacitor (24), a third and a fourth input switch (33, 34) coupling a second input terminal (12) and the common mode terminal (39) to a first electrode of the second sampling capacitor (25), a fifth and a sixth input switch (35, 36) coupling a second electrode of the first sampling capacitor (24) to an amplifier common mode terminal (40) and the first integrator input (27), and a seventh and an eighth input switch (37, 38) coupling a second electrode of the second sampling capacitor (25) to the amplifier common mode terminal (40) and the second integrator input (28).

Abstract: A method for operating a gas sensor arrangement comprises generating a sensor current by means of a gas sensor and converting the sensor current into a digital comparator output signal in a charge balancing operation depending on a first clock signal. An asynchronous count comprising an integer number of counts is determined from the digital comparator output signal and depending on the first clock signal. Furthermore, a fractional time count depending on a second clock signal is determined from the digital comparator output signal. Finally, a digital output signal is calculated from the asynchronous count and from the fractional time count. The digital output signal is indicative of the sensor current generated by the gas sensor.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (10) comprises a first and a second sampling capacitor (24, 25), a first integrator (26), a first and a second input switch (31, 32) coupling a first input terminal (11) and a common mode terminal (39) to a first electrode of the first sampling capacitor (24), a third and a fourth input switch (33, 34) coupling a second input terminal (12) and the common mode terminal (39) to a first electrode of the second sampling capacitor (25), a fifth and a sixth input switch (35, 36) coupling a second electrode of the first sampling capacitor (24) to an amplifier common mode terminal (40) and the first integrator input (27), and a seventh and an eighth input switch (37, 38) coupling a second electrode of the second sampling capacitor (25) to the amplifier common mode terminal (40) and the second integrator input (28).

Abstract: A measurement circuitry (MC) for evaluating a resistance of a resistive gas sensor (GS) comprises a first current path (P1), wherein a first logarithmic compression circuit (LC1) is arranged in the first current path (P1). A reference resistor (Rreference) and a second logarithmic compression circuit (LC2) is arranged in a second current path (P2) of the measurement circuitry (MC). A voltage generator (VG) provides a fixed voltage excitation for the resistive gas sensor (GS) and the reference resistor (Rreference). A first current (I1) received from the resistive gas sensor (GS) flows from the gas sensor (GS) via the first current path (P1) into the first logarithmic compression circuit (LC1). An evaluation circuit (EC) determines the resistance (Rs) of the resistive gas sensor (GS) in dependence on a first and second output signal (Ve1, Ve2) of the first and the second logarithmic compression circuit (LC1, LC2).

Abstract: A method for light-to-frequency conversion comprises generating a photocurrent by means of a photodiode and converting the photocurrent into a digital comparator output signal in a charge balancing operation depending on a first clock signal. From the digital comparator output signal an asynchronous count is determined and comprises an integer number of counts depending on the first clock signal. From the digital comparator output signal a fractional time count is determined and depends on a second clock signal. Finally, from the asynchronous count and from the fractional time count a digital output signal is calculated which is indicative of the photocurrent generated by the photodiode. The method may be carried out by an exemplary light-to-frequency converter equipped with a photodiode.