Slew rate detection circuit

A sensing system comprising:

• a first sensor for generating a first analog electrical signal representing a first sensed physical property, wherein the first sensor comprises:
• a first mechanical component configured to produce a response to a first physical property;
• a first electrical component in communication with the first mechanical component for generating the first analog electrical signal indicative of the response produced by the first mechanical component;
• a second sensor for generating a second analog electrical signal representing a second sensed physical property, wherein the second sensor comprises:
• a second mechanical component configured to produce a response to a second physical property;
• a second electrical component in communication with the second mechanical component for generating the second analog electrical signal indicative of the response produced by the second mechanical component;
• an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter connected to the first electrical component and to the second electrical component, said A/D converter configured to alternately convert the first analog electrical signal into a first digital electrical signal and the second analog electrical signal into a second digital electrical signal;
• a control circuit connected to the A/D converter for receiving the first digital electrical signal and the second digital electrical signal, said control circuit configured to determine a measurement value of the first physical property as a function of the received first digital electrical signal, and to generate an output electrical signal indicative of the determined measurement value;
• and
• a slew rate detection circuit connected to the at least one electrical component for receiving the first analog electrical signal produced by the first electrical component, said slew rate detection circuit configured to detect when the first analog electrical signal indicates a slew rate that exceeds a threshold value;
• and
• wherein the A/D converter is further configured to convert the first analog electrical signal into a first digital electrical signal rather than converting the second analog electrical signal into a second digital electrical signal in response to the slew rate detection circuit detecting that the first analog electrical signal indicates a slew rate that exceeds a threshold value.

A sensing system comprising:

• a pressure sensor for producing sensed pressure signal, wherein the sensed pressure signal is an analog electrical signal representative of an applied pressure;
• an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter connected to the pressure sensor, said A/D converter configured to receive a plurality of analog electrical signals and to successively convert each of the plurality of analog electrical signals into a digital electrical signal, wherein the plurality of analog electrical signals includes the sensed pressure signal and the A/D converter converts the sensed pressure signal into a digital sensed pressure signal;
• a control circuit connected to the A/D converter for receiving the digital sensed pressure signal and performing a plurality of sensing system operations including determining a measurement value of the applied pressure as a function of the received digital sensed pressure signal, and generating an output electrical signal indicative of the determined measurement value;
• and
• a slew rate detection circuit connected to the pressure sensor for receiving the sensed pressure signal, said slew rate detection circuit configured to detect an occurrence of a pressure step;
• and
• wherein in response to the slew rate detection circuit detecting the occurrence of a pressure step, the A/D converter is configured to suspend its current conversion and convert the sensed pressure signal into a digital sensed pressure signal.