Sensor interface circuit controller for multiple sensor types in an integrated circuit device

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a first sensor control circuit in an integrated circuit device, first sensor data from a first plurality of sensors of a first type, wherein the first sensor control circuit communicates with the first type of sensor using a first protocol;
• converting, at the first sensor control circuit, the first sensor data to a generic format;
• receiving, at a second sensor control circuit in the integrated circuit device, second sensor data from a second plurality of sensors of a second type, wherein the first plurality of sensors and the second plurality of sensors include serially connected chains of sensors, and wherein the second sensor control circuit communicates with the second type of sensor using a second protocol;
• converting, at the second sensor control circuit, the second sensor data to the generic format;
• and
• outputting the first sensor data and the second sensor data in the generic format.

An integrated circuit device, comprising:

• a plurality of sensors distributed in the integrated circuit device, the plurality of sensors including a first set of serially connected sensors of a first type and a second set of serially connected sensors of a second type;
• a plurality of sensor control circuits, wherein two or more of the sensor control circuits include:
• a communication protocol circuit configured to communicate with a given set of serially connected sensors, and
• a conversion circuit configured to convert sensor data from a specified set of serially connected sensors to a generic format;
• wherein a first of the two or more sensor control circuits is programmed to communicate with the first set of sensors using a first specified protocol and convert sensor data from the first set of sensors to the generic format;
• wherein a second of the two or more sensor control circuits is programmed to communicate with the second set of sensors using a second specified protocol and convert sensor data from the second set of sensors to the generic format;
• and
• a transmission circuit coupled to the plurality of sensor control circuits, wherein the transmission circuit is configured to output the sensor data in the generic format.