Sensor Signal Processing Using Cascade Coupled Oscillators

A sensor comprising:

• a sensing element configured to sense a physical characteristic;
• a first oscillator comprising at least three oscillator elements coupled unidirectionally in a first ring such that the first oscillator outputs a first oscillating signal, wherein each of the at least three oscillator elements is coupled to receive a signal from the sensing element;
• and
• a second oscillator comprising at least three oscillator elements coupled unidirectionally in a second ring such that the second oscillator outputs a second oscillating signal, wherein a first number of the at least three oscillator elements of the first oscillator is the same as a second number of the at least three oscillator elements of the second oscillator, further wherein each oscillator element of the at least three oscillator elements of the second oscillator is coupled to receive an output signal from a single oscillator element of the at least three oscillator elements of the first oscillator.

A sensor system comprising:

• a first sensor comprising
• a first sensing element configured to sense a first physical characteristic;
• a first oscillator comprising at least three oscillator elements coupled unidirectionally in a first ring such that the first oscillator outputs a first oscillating signal, wherein each of the at least three oscillator elements is coupled to receive a first signal from the first sensing element;
• and
• a second oscillator comprising at least three oscillator elements coupled unidirectionally in a second ring such that the second oscillator outputs a second oscillating signal, wherein a first number of the at least three oscillator elements of the first oscillator is the same as a second number of the at least three oscillator elements of the second oscillator, further wherein each oscillator element of the at least three oscillator elements of the second oscillator is coupled to receive an output signal from a single oscillator element of the at least three oscillator elements of the first oscillator;
• and
• a second sensor comprising
• a second sensing element configured to sense a second physical characteristic;
• a third oscillator comprising at least three oscillator elements coupled unidirectionally in a third ring such that the third oscillator outputs a third oscillating signal, wherein each of the at least three oscillator elements is coupled to receive a second signal from the second sensing element;
• and
• a fourth oscillator comprising at least three oscillator elements coupled unidirectionally in a fourth ring such that the fourth oscillator outputs a fourth oscillating signal, wherein a third number of the at least three oscillator elements of the third oscillator is the same as a fourth number of the at least three oscillator elements of the fourth oscillator, further wherein each oscillator element of the at least three oscillator elements of the fourth oscillator is coupled to receive an output signal from a single oscillator element of the at least three oscillator elements of the third oscillator.