Summary and Conclusions

Abstract

Electronic sensors are applied in industrial machines, as well as in consumer products, in order to enhance functionality, or to improve performance and reliability. Currently, the application of sensors requires a high-level expertise, due to the large diversity in sensors and, correspondingly, in sensor output formats, and in the required electronic sensor interfaces. The application of electronic sensors will be greatly stimulated if the sensors are equipped with smart electronics, which provide conversion of the sensor signal to a standardized digital output and bus interface. Using modern silicon IC-technology, such smart sensors can be produced in high volume and at low cost. This will make them available for application in more products, and may also lead to new products. A smart sensor configuration, composed of silicon sensor(s), analog front-end circuit, one-bit sigma-delta AD-converter, and a serial bus interface, forms a suitable concept for complete integration.