Digital sensors design based on universal frequency sensors interfacing IC

The paper describes novel innovation idea and research results of digital, self-adapting smart sensors and systems-on-chip (SoC) designs based on universal frequency sensor interfacing integrated circuit. The developed integrated interfacing circuit based on four novel patentable conversion methods and designed to interface directly with any frequency-time domain sensors and improve the frequency (period, duty-cycle, time interval, etc.)-to-digital conversion and PC interfacing.The proposed design approach lets significantly simplify the design process, reduce time to market and production price and produce digital, smart and multiparameters sensors and sensor systems including SoC with high metrological performances. It also lets move from a traditional analog sensor output to quasi-digital. No output standardization is necessary as in case of analog sensors.In comparison with the direct microcontroller interfacing the proposed approach also lets to eliminate many design problems connected with the use of advanced conversion methods for frequency-time parameters, embedded microcontroller choice, its programming and additional error components due to so-called program-dependent or software-related effects.