Abstract: An electronic circuit architecture time-division-multiplexes analog sensor ignals from a distributed sensor array onto a common transmission line in a digitally encoded format. The architecture synchronizes the multiplexing, sampling and encoding to ensure a proper settling of the analog data signals and is fabricated to be compact with low power consumption for a cost-effective implementation for a number of sensors.

Abstract: A device for measuring the viscosity of pure and mixed fluids is described. The device is a micromechanical capacitor transducer, with a moving membrane and a stationary metal plate constituting the capacitive system. A conduit for gas flow permits the gas to fill the volume between the moving membrane and metal plate. The gas viscosity sensor is operable by applying a d.c. pulse of an a.c. electrical voltage. By electrically driving the device the conducting membrane is caused to deflect with respect to the stationary metal plate. This results in a measureable capacitance, frequency or resistance change with time. The impedance to flow determines the response time of the capacitor plate membrane displacement. Thus the viscosity of pure and mixed fluids is indicated by the transient and/or a.c. characteristics of the device capacitance.