Sensor readout detector circuit
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
-
- Albuquerque, NM
- (Bozeman, MT)
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 871773
- Patent Number(s):
- 5793230
- Assignee:
- Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
H - ELECTRICITY H03 - BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY H03F - AMPLIFIERS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- sensor; readout; detector; circuit; disclosed; capable; detecting; signals; nanoamperes; microampere; background; noise; level; operates; standby; power; triggerable; event; signal; predetermined; threshold; plurality; circuits; formed; substrate; integrated; operate; process; data; array; sensors; parallel; active; processed; digitization; analysis; allows; throughput; types; including; photodetectors; capacitance; chemically-sensitive; combinations; provide; capability; recording; transient; events; period; time; following; trigger; applications; portable; satellite-based; systems; sensor signals; noise level; time following; detector circuit; threshold level; predetermined threshold; power level; integrated circuit; predetermined period; background noise; sensor systems; circuit operates; readout detector; sensor readout; active sensors; sensitive sensor; sensor signal; capacitance sensor; /327/
Citation Formats
Chu, Dahlon D, and Thelen, Jr., Donald C. Sensor readout detector circuit. United States: N. p., 1998.
Web.
Chu, Dahlon D, & Thelen, Jr., Donald C. Sensor readout detector circuit. United States.
Chu, Dahlon D, and Thelen, Jr., Donald C. Thu .
"Sensor readout detector circuit". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871773.
@article{osti_871773,
title = {Sensor readout detector circuit},
author = {Chu, Dahlon D and Thelen, Jr., Donald C.},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998}
}
Works referenced in this record:
A 0.8nV/√Hz CMOS preamplifier for IC-magneto-resistive read elements
journal, January 1994
- Klein, H. W.; Robinson, M. E.
- IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 29, Issue 12
A low power low noise amplifier for a 128 channel detector read-out chip
journal, January 1989
- Stanton, J. C.
- IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Vol. 36, Issue 1
Switched-capacitor integrator with reduced sensitivity to amplifier gain
journal, January 1986
- Nagaraj, K.; Vlach, J.; Viswanathan, T. R.
- Electronics Letters, Vol. 22, Issue 21
Low-distortion switched-capacitor filter design techniques
journal, December 1985
- Lee, K. -L.; Mayer, R. G.
- IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 20, Issue 6
Offset cancelling circuit
journal, June 1989
- Wiegerink, R. J.; Seevinck, E.; De Jager, W.
- IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 24, Issue 3
Low-phase-error offset-compensated switched-capacitor integrator
journal, January 1990
- Ki, W-H.; Temes, G. C.
- Electronics Letters, Vol. 26, Issue 13
Noise sources and calculation techniques for switched capacitor filters
journal, August 1982
- Fischer, J. H.
- IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 17, Issue 4