Rapid data transfer sensor arrays

A method of collecting data from a rapid data transfer sensor array, the method comprising:

• a. configuring a plurality of sensor integrated circuits (ICs) to produce output data in a serial format in a serial-data-out (SDO) configuration, wherein the plurality of sensor ICs are connected in series;
• b. connecting a start/done (ST/DN) line from a controller to the plurality of sensor ICs, wherein each sensor IC is configured to pull the ST/DN line from a high state in a sleep mode to a low state in an active mode for sensor measurement;
• c. waking a first sensor IC from a sleep mode to the active mode for sensor measurement, wherein the ST/DN line is pulled to the low state when the sensor IC is in the active mode;
• d. performing a sensor measurement with the first sensor IC in the active mode, wherein the first sensor releases the ST/DN line from the low state when the sensor measurement is finished;
• e. in response to completion of the sensor measurement by the first sensor IC, transferring measurement data to a shift register of the first sensor IC and transitioning the first sensor IC to the sleep mode;
• f. in response to the ST/DN line being pulled to the low state, activating the rest of plurality of sensor ICs into the active mode for respective sensor measurements;
• g. in response to completion of the respective sensor measurements of the rest of the plurality of sensor ICs, transferring measurement data to respective shift registers of the sensor ICs and transitioning the rest of sensor ICs to the sleep mode;
• h. causing the ST/DN line to transition to the high state in response to the last of the plurality of sensor ICs finishing the respective sensor measurement and releasing the ST/DN line from the low state;
• i. in response to the ST/DN line transitioning to the high state, the controller sending a clock signal to the plurality of sensor ICs to initiate data transfer;
• and
• j. in response to the plurality of sensor ICs receiving the clock signal, transferring data in serial format from the shift registers of the plurality of sensor ICs to the controller.

A rapid-data-transfer sensor array comprising:

• a. a first plurality of sensor integrated circuits (ICs) connected in series and configured to periodically take measurements and provide measurement data to a data line as serial data, each sensor IC including a transducer, a shift register, a serial-data-in (SDI) pin, a serial-data-out (SDO) pin, a bi-directional start/done (ST/DN) pin, a power regulation circuit configured to selectively supply power for a sleep mode and an active mode, and a clock pin for receiving a clock signal from a clock line;
• b. wherein each sensor IC is configured for operation in the sleep mode in which the transducer is unused and the active mode in which a measurement is performed with the transducer, wherein the bi-directional ST/DN pin is configured to activate the sensor IC from the sleep mode in which the ST/DN pin is in a high state into the active mode in which the ST/DN pin is in a low state for the measurement, wherein the sensor IC is configured to pull the bi-directional ST/DN pin to the low state when performing the measurement and to release the bi-directional ST/DN pin and enter the sleep mode after finishing the measurement, and wherein, when finished with the measurement, the sensor IC is configured to provide measurement data to the shift register for transfer to the data line;
• and
• c. wherein the clock pin is configured to provide a clock signal to initiate serial transfer of data from each of the shift registers of the first plurality of sensor ICs to the respective SDO pins for data transfer to the data line.