Dual output pressure sensor with single pressure transducer element
First Claim
1. A pressure sensor apparatus, comprising:
- a first pressure transducer element including a first output path;
a first signal conditioning circuit including a first input path coupled to the first output path of the first pressure transducer element;
a second signal conditioning circuit including a second input path coupled to the first output path of the first pressure transducer element; and
wherein the first signal conditioning circuit is configured based on a first pressure range, and wherein the second signal conditioning circuit is configured based on a second pressure range;
wherein an output of the first signal conditioning circuit represents pressure measured by the first pressure transducer element in the first pressure range;
wherein an output of the second signal conditioning circuit represents pressure measured by the first pressure transducer element in the second pressure range; and
digital circuitry configured to generate a digital output representing the output of the first signal conditioning circuit and/or the output of the second signal conditioning circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dual range sensor apparatus includes a single pressure transducer element coupled to respective inputs of two discrete signal conditioning modules, or to both inputs of a multiple input signal conditioning module that is configured to condition the output signal of two transducer elements. The disclosed sensor apparatus outputs a pressure signal in a limited pressure range with very high accuracy, and also provides a pressure signal in a wider pressure range with the same accuracy that can be achieved with traditional pressure sensor configurations. The sensor apparatus may provide output on a single output node in a multiplexed output signal format. The multiplexed output signal format may include several digital output formats and may be provided on a single output pin of the sensor apparatus.
8 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A pressure sensor apparatus, comprising:
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a first pressure transducer element including a first output path; a first signal conditioning circuit including a first input path coupled to the first output path of the first pressure transducer element; a second signal conditioning circuit including a second input path coupled to the first output path of the first pressure transducer element; and wherein the first signal conditioning circuit is configured based on a first pressure range, and wherein the second signal conditioning circuit is configured based on a second pressure range; wherein an output of the first signal conditioning circuit represents pressure measured by the first pressure transducer element in the first pressure range; wherein an output of the second signal conditioning circuit represents pressure measured by the first pressure transducer element in the second pressure range; and digital circuitry configured to generate a digital output representing the output of the first signal conditioning circuit and/or the output of the second signal conditioning circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of providing a pressure measurement, comprising:
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providing a first pressure transducer element including a first output path; coupling a first signal conditioning circuit including a first input path to the first output path of the first pressure transducer element; and coupling a second signal conditioning circuit including a second input path to the first output path of the first pressure transducer element; wherein the first signal conditioning circuit is configured based on a first pressure range, and wherein the second signal conditioning circuit is configured based on a second pressure range; providing an output of the first signal conditioning circuit representing pressure measured by the first pressure transducer element in the first pressure range; providing an output of the second signal conditioning circuit representing pressure measured by the first pressure transducer element in the second pressure range; and generating a digital output representing the output of the first signal conditioning circuit and/or the output of the second signal conditioning circuit. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A dual range sensor apparatus, comprising
a first sensor element including a first output path; -
a first signal conditioning circuit including a first input path coupled to the first output path of the first sensor element; and a second signal conditioning circuit including a second input path coupled to the first output path of the first sensor element; wherein the first signal conditioning circuit is configured based on a first range of a parameter sensed by the first sensor element, and wherein the second signal conditioning circuit is configured based on a second range of the parameter sensed by the first sensor element; wherein the first sensor element is in the group consisting of; a temperature sensor element, a light sensor element, and an electromagnetic field sensor element.
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Specification