Array sensor electronics
First Claim
1. A sensor system, comprising:
- a sensor array having a plurality of sensor elements;
at least one sensor element of the sensor array, having addressable connections designating the sensor element, that senses a stimulus; and
an amplifier, disposed in a feedback arrangement around the sensor element, the amplifier receiving an input signal corresponding to an output of the sensor element and providing an output signal that drives the sensor element.
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Abstract
Circuits and methods for detecting and amplifying sensor and sensor array (102, 104) output signals are presented. According to some aspects, a nonlinear feedback loop containing a sensor element provides a nonlinear transformation that compensates for a corresponding nonlinear response of the sensor element thereby providing a linearized final output signal. In other aspects, idle sensors are coupled to a reference on non-idle sensor elements. Other aspects include sensor and amplification circuits which operate without traditional filtering or switching elements, such that a higher throughput is achieved and no settling time is required due to traditional transients, thus allowing for faster scanning of larger sensor arrays. Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to variable gap capacitive sensor arrays and the signal processing electronics.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A sensor system, comprising:
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a sensor array having a plurality of sensor elements;
at least one sensor element of the sensor array, having addressable connections designating the sensor element, that senses a stimulus; and
an amplifier, disposed in a feedback arrangement around the sensor element, the amplifier receiving an input signal corresponding to an output of the sensor element and providing an output signal that drives the sensor element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for measuring a stimulus on a sensor array, comprising:
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sensing the stimulus using at least one sensor element of the sensor array;
generating a sensor element output signal corresponding to the sensed stimulus;
amplifying the sensor element output signal to generate an amplified signal representative of the physical property; and
feeding back the amplified signal to drive the sensor element. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method for linearizing a non-linear sensor response, comprising:
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sensing a stimulus using a sensor element;
generating a sensor output signal corresponding to the stimulus;
feeding back the sensor output signal to an input of the sensor through a non-linear transformer feedback loop corresponding to the non-linear sensor response. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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- 22. A method for reducing parasitic capacitance in a capacitive sensor array, comprising selectively coupling at least one sensor element in the sensor array to a common potential during a time period in which the sensor element is idle.
Specification