Time-interleaved method for efficient operation of an acoustic wave sensor array
First Claim
1. A system for measuring a plurality of parameters using a plurality of acoustic wave sensors associated with the parameters respectively, wherein the parameters are aspects of the acoustic wave sensor'"'"'s environment chosen from the set of chemical aspects and physical aspects such that a change in one of said parameters causes a change in acoustic propagation properties of the associated acoustic wave sensor, the system comprising:
- an oscillator driver having an input and an output;
means for repetitively selecting each of the acoustic wave sensors for coupling one at a time to the input of the oscillator driver to complete an oscillator circuit and produce an oscillator signal at the output of the oscillator driver for each of the acoustic wave sensors;
means for determining frequency of the oscillator signal for each of the acoustic wave sensors; and
means for converting the frequency to a measurement value for display for each of the acoustic wave sensors.
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Abstract
A time-interleaved method for efficient operation of an acoustic wave sensor array couples each sensor repetitively and one at a time via a digitally-addressable analog switch, or multiplexer, to a single oscillator driver to form an oscillation circuit. A frequency of oscillation for each acoustic wave sensor is determined. The frequency for each acoustic wave sensor then is converted into a measurement value for the parameter to which each acoustic wave sensor is sensitive.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for measuring a plurality of parameters using a plurality of acoustic wave sensors associated with the parameters respectively, wherein the parameters are aspects of the acoustic wave sensor'"'"'s environment chosen from the set of chemical aspects and physical aspects such that a change in one of said parameters causes a change in acoustic propagation properties of the associated acoustic wave sensor, the system comprising:
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an oscillator driver having an input and an output; means for repetitively selecting each of the acoustic wave sensors for coupling one at a time to the input of the oscillator driver to complete an oscillator circuit and produce an oscillator signal at the output of the oscillator driver for each of the acoustic wave sensors; means for determining frequency of the oscillator signal for each of the acoustic wave sensors; and means for converting the frequency to a measurement value for display for each of the acoustic wave sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of measuring a plurality of parameters using a plurality of acoustic wave sensors associated with the parameters respectively, wherein the parameters are aspects of the acoustic wave sensor'"'"'s environment chosen from the set of chemical aspects and physical aspects such that a change in one of said parameters causes a change in acoustic propagation properties of the associated acoustic wave sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
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repetitively selecting each of the acoustic wave sensors one at a time for coupling to an oscillator driver to complete an oscillation circuit; determining frequency of oscillation for the oscillation circuit for each of the sensors; and convening the frequency for each of the acoustic wave sensors to a measurement value for display that represents the parameter with which the acoustic wave sensor is associated.
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8. A method of measuring N parameters, where N is an integer greater than two, using N acoustic wave sensors associated with the parameters respectively, wherein the parameters are aspects of the acoustic wave sensor'"'"'s environment chosen from the set of chemical aspects and physical aspects such that a change in one of said parameters causes a change in acoustic propagation properties of the associated acoustic wave sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) selecting a first of the N acoustic wave sensors, (b) coupling the selected acoustic wave sensor to an oscillator driver to complete an oscillation circuit, whereby the oscillation circuit oscillates at a frequency that depends on the acoustic propagation properties of the selected acoustic wave sensor, (c) determining the frequency of oscillation of the oscillation circuit, (d) converting the frequency of oscillation of the oscillation circuit to a measurement value that represents the parameter with which the selected acoustic wave sensor is associated, (e) selecting one of the N acoustic wave sensors that has not been selected since the first acoustic wave sensor was selected, (f) repeating steps (b)-(d), (g) repeating steps (e) and (f) N-2 times. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification