Implementation of a Universal Micro-Sensor Interface Chip

Abstract

This thesis presents the design and implementation of an interface circuit which provides the critical link between a microcontroller and a network of sensors in low-power microsystems. The chip implements an 11-line serial communication sensor bus optimized from an IEEE standard to include plug-n-play features and support multiplexed analog output signals. The interface circuit also includes 24 8b SRAM-style data registers, a 4-node SPI, an 8b I/O port, a 5b interrupt source management unit, a mixed-signal output signal multiplexer, an on-chip temperature sensor, and a variety of highly-programmable and self-testing sensor readout circuits. Significant features of this chip are low-power design including chip-level power management, single chip solution containing all necessary interface electronics and capable of network implementation, and the ability to interface with a very wide variety of capacitive, resistive, and potentiometric sensors and actuators. The design of this chip and its implementation in a 0.5 micrometer CMOS process are presented.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADA405361

Entities

People

  • Kun Zhang

Organizations

  • University of Kentucky

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Amplifiers
  • Analog Signals
  • Cells
  • Circuits
  • Computer Programming
  • Computers
  • Converters
  • Electronics Industry
  • Frequency
  • Integrators
  • Microelectromechanical Systems
  • Networks
  • Power Electronics
  • Reliability
  • Simulations
  • Transducers

Readers

  • Computer Science/Computer Engineering/Data Science/Digital Signal Processing.
  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems