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Sensor readout detector circuit

Patent ·
OSTI ID:871773
 [1]
  1. Albuquerque, NM
+ Show Author Affiliations

A sensor readout detector circuit is disclosed that is capable of detecting sensor signals down to a few nanoamperes or less in a high (microampere) background noise level. The circuit operates at a very low standby power level and is triggerable by a sensor event signal that is above a predetermined threshold level. A plurality of sensor readout detector circuits can be formed on a substrate as an integrated circuit (IC). These circuits can operate to process data from an array of sensors in parallel, with only data from active sensors being processed for digitization and analysis. This allows the IC to operate at a low power level with a high data throughput for the active sensors. The circuit may be used with many different types of sensors, including photodetectors, capacitance sensors, chemically-sensitive sensors or combinations thereof to provide a capability for recording transient events or for recording data for a predetermined period of time following an event trigger. The sensor readout detector circuit has applications for portable or satellite-based sensor systems.

Research Organization:
SANDIA CORP
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Number(s):
US 5793230
OSTI ID:
871773
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (7)

A low power low noise amplifier for a 128 channel detector read-out chip journal January 1989
A 0.8nV/√Hz CMOS preamplifier for IC-magneto-resistive read elements journal January 1994
Low-phase-error offset-compensated switched-capacitor integrator journal January 1990
Switched-capacitor integrator with reduced sensitivity to amplifier gain journal January 1986
Low-distortion switched-capacitor filter design techniques journal December 1985
Offset cancelling circuit journal June 1989
Noise sources and calculation techniques for switched capacitor filters journal August 1982

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