Dynamic sensor range

A device for sensing a phenomenon, the device comprising:

• a sensing element configured to measure the phenomenon concurrently using a plurality of combinations of measurement range and offset and to provide corresponding analog outputs, for the combinations of measurement range and offset, corresponding to a value of the phenomenon;
• an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the sensing element and configured to convert the analog outputs into a plurality of digital outputs;
• and
• a processor coupled to the ADC and configured to analyze the digital outputs and to cause one of the digital outputs to be output by the device.

A device for sensing a phenomenon, the device comprising:

• measurement means for measuring the phenomenon using a plurality of combinations of measurement range and offset and concurrently to provide a corresponding analog output for each of the combinations of measurement range and offset corresponding to a value of the phenomenon;
• an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the measurement means and configured to convert the analog outputs into a plurality of digital outputs;
• and
• selection means coupled to the ADC for selectively causing one of the digital outputs to be output by the device.

A method of measuring a phenomenon, the method comprising:

• sensing the phenomenon with a sensing element applying a first measurement range;
• providing a first indication of a result of the sensing applying the first measurement range;
• sensing the phenomenon with the sensing element applying a second measurement range, the second measurement range being different than the first measurement range;
• and
• providing a second indication of a result of the sensing applying the second measurement range.

A computer program product residing on a computer-readable medium and comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

• analyze an indication of a value of a phenomenon sensed by a sensing element using a first measurement range;
• determine a second measurement range for the sensing element based upon the indication of the value sensed using the first measurement range;
• and
• cause the sensing element to change from the first measurement range to the second measurement range for sensing the phenomenon, the first measurement range being different than the second measurement range.