Application specific integrated circuitry for controlling analysis of a fluid

A circuit for determining characteristics of a fluid under-test, comprising:

• analog-to-digital processing circuitry for interfacing with a sensor and host electronics, the analog-to-digital processing circuitry including, a frequency generator for providing stimulus to the sensor;
• conditioning circuitry for receiving a response signal from the sensor and reducing analog signal offsets in the response signal;
• signal detection circuitry for identifying amplitude data of the response signal;
• analog-to-digital conversion circuitry for converting the detected amplitude data into digital form;
• and
• memory capable of holding data characterizing the sensor, wherein the digital form of the response signal is processed to generate fluid characteristics of the fluid under-test.

A method for interfacing with a mechanical sensor to obtain characteristics of a fluid under-test, the mechanical sensor being at least partially submerged in the fluid under-test, the method comprising:

• applying a variable frequency signal to the sensor;
• receiving a frequency response from the sensor;
• conditioning the frequency response;
• detecting signal components of the frequency response;
• converting the frequency response to digital form, the digital form being representative of the frequency response received from the sensor;
• fetching first calibration variables from memory, the first calibration variables defining physical characteristics of the sensor;
• fetching second calibration variables from memory, the second calibration variables defining characteristics of the sensor in a known fluid;
• and
• processing the digital form of the response received from the sensor when in the fluid under-test along with the fetched first and second calibration variables, the processing implementing a fitting algorithm to produce fluid characteristics of the fluid under-test.

A method for interfacing with a tuning fork to obtain characteristics of a fluid under-test, the tuning fork being at least partially submerged in the fluid under-test, the method comprising:

• applying a variable frequency signal to the tuning fork;
• receiving a frequency response from the tuning fork;
• conditioning the frequency response;
• detecting at least one signal component of the frequency response;
• converting the frequency response to digital form, the digital form being representative of the frequency response received from the tuning fork;
• fetching calibration variables for the tuning fork;
• and
• processing the digital form of the response received from the tuning fork when in the fluid under-test along with the fetched calibration variables, the processing implementing a fitting algorithm to produce fluid characteristics of the fluid under-test.

An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for processing signals used to determine characteristics of a fluid under-test, the ASIC being in communication with a tuning fork designed to operate a frequency that is less than 100 kHz, comprising:

• circuitry for communicating a frequency signal to the tuning fork;
• circuitry for processing the a response signal received from the tuning fork into digital form;
• circuitry for storing calibration data for the tuning fork;
• circuitry for executing a fitting algorithm to ascertain characteristics of the fluid-under-test, the executing utilizing the calibration data;
• and
• circuitry for interfacing the ASIC circuitry that is external to the ASIC.