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US 11,454,562 B2Granted
Sensor arrangement and method of operating a sensor arrangement
AssigneeSciosense B.V.
InventorsAlberto Maccioni, Willem Frederik Adrianus Besling, Olaf Wunnicke, Casper Van Der Avoort, Remco Henricus Wilhelmus Pijnenburg, Anderson Pires Singulani
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Abstract
A sensor arrangement and a method of operating a sensor arrangement are disclosed. In an embodiment, a sensor arrangement includes a pressure sensor realized as a capacitive pressure sensor, a capacitance-to-digital converter, a test circuit and a switching circuit coupling the capacitance-to-digital converter and the test circuit to the pressure sensor.
Claims12
A sensor arrangement comprising:
- a pressure sensor realized as a capacitive pressure sensor and comprising a first electrode and a second electrode;
- a capacitance-to-digital converter with a first input and a second input;
- a test circuit with a first terminal and a second terminal;
- and
- a switching circuit coupling the first and second terminals of the test circuit to the first and second electrodes and coupling the first and second inputs of the capacitance-to-digital converter to the first and second electrodes,
- wherein the test circuit comprises:
- a current source with a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to the first and second terminals of the test circuit,
- a timing generator coupled to the current source and being configured to provide a modulator clock signal to the current source, and
- a demodulator circuit with a first input and a second input coupled to the first and second terminals of the test circuit, and
- wherein the timing generator is coupled to the demodulator circuit and is configured to provide a demodulator clock signal to the demodulator circuit.
7 more elements
A method for operating a sensor arrangement, the method comprising
- coupling, in a measurement phase, a capacitance-to-digital converter to a pressure sensor via a second switch of a switching circuit;
- and
- coupling, in a test phase, a test circuit to the pressure sensor via a first switch of the switching circuit;
- controlling, by a digital circuit in the test phase, the switching circuit such that the test circuit is coupled to the pressure sensor and the capacitance-to-digital converter is disconnected from the pressure sensor;
- storing, by the digital circuit in the test phase, correction data in a memory;
- controlling, by the digital circuit in the measurement phase, the switching circuit such that the capacitance-to-digital converter is coupled to the pressure sensor and the test circuit is not connected to the pressure sensor;
- and
- providing, by the digital circuit in the measurement phase, a digitized pressure signal depending on a digital signal provided by the capacitance-to-digital converter and the correction data stored in the memory,
- wherein the pressure sensor is realized as a capacitive pressure sensor,
- wherein the digital circuit is coupled to the capacitance-to-digital converter, the test circuit and the switching circuit, and
- wherein the memory is connected to the digital circuit.
8 more elements
A sensor arrangement comprising:
- a pressure sensor that is realized as a capacitive pressure sensor;
- a capacitance-to-digital converter;
- a test circuit;
- a switching circuit comprising a first switch coupling the test circuit to the pressure sensor and a second switch coupling the capacitance-to-digital converter to the pressure sensor;
- a digital circuit coupled to the capacitance-to-digital converter, the test circuit and the switching circuit;
- and
- a memory connected to the digital circuit,
- wherein, in a test phase, the digital circuit is configured to:
- control the switching circuit such that the test circuit is coupled to the pressure sensor and the capacitance-to-digital converter is disconnected from the pressure sensor, and
- store correction data in the memory, and
- wherein, in a measurement phase, the digital circuit is configured to:
- control the switching circuit such that the capacitance-to-digital converter is coupled to the pressure sensor and the test circuit is not connected to the pressure sensor, and
- provide a digitized pressure signal depending on a digital signal provided by the capacitance-to-digital converter and the correction data stored in the memory.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.