CONCEPTS AND FOCUS POINT FOR INTELLIGENT SENSOR SYSTEMS

This paper discusses the state-of-the-art and current trends in the de sign of intelligent low-cost high-performance sensor systems. In these systems the functions of the sensors, actuators, analog interfacing c ircuits and microcontrollers are merged in overall designs which have been implemented, where technology allows, on common substrates. Impor tant properties which can act as focus points for an intelligent desig n are: adaptability, accuracy, dynamic range, speed, power consumption , reliability and costs. The functions of A/D converters are re-evalua ted and novel conversion methods presented. Some important aspects of data processing and data communication are discussed. Examples of inte lligent sensor systems are given in two areas: smart temperature senso rs which can detect the presence of micro-organisms in food products b y sensing the temperature rise of the products with a resolution of 5 mK, and capacitive displacement transducers which can accurately sense position, speed and acceleration by measuring the (trans)capacitances in multi-electrode structures.