Sensor voltage reading circuit

A method of reading an output analog voltage value of a sensor using a sensor reading apparatus including a plurality of voltage division means, analog/digital conversion means and discrimination means, the method of reading comprising the steps of:

• dividing the output analog voltage value of the sensor in the plurality of voltage division means to output a corresponding plurality of divided analog voltage values;
• separately converting each of the divided analog voltage values in the analog/digital conversion means into respective digital values;
• and
• discriminating the output analog voltage value in the discrimination means in accordance with the respective digital values.

A sensor voltage reading apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of voltage division means, coupled to an externally provided analog sensor voltage, for each dividing the analog sensor voltage;
• a plurality of analog/digital conversion means, each coupled to a respective one of said plurality of voltage division means via respective input terminals, for converting the divided analog sensor voltage output from the respective one of said plurality of voltage division means to provide respective digital sensor voltages;
• and
• noise removal means, coupled to said plurality of analog/digital conversion means, for discriminating and removing noise mixed into the input terminals of said plurality of analog/digital conversion means, in accordance with the respective digital sensor voltages, to provide the analog sensor voltage.

A method of reading a sensor voltage comprising the steps of:

• a) dividing an externally provided analog sensor voltage to provide a plurality of divided analog sensor voltages;
• b) respectively converting each of the plurality of divided analog sensor voltages to provide respective digital sensor voltages;
• and
• c) discriminating and removing noise mixed into the plurality of divided analog sensor voltages prior to said step b), based on the respective digital sensor voltages, to provide the analog sensor voltage.