SWITCHED-RESISTOR SENSOR BRIDGE, CORRESPONDING SYSTEM AND METHOD

    公开(公告)号:US20170356813A1

    公开(公告)日:2017-12-14

    申请号:US15437615

    申请日:2017-02-21

    CPC classification number: G01L1/2262 G01K7/16 G01L1/18 G01L1/2287 G01L9/0052

    Abstract: A MEMS pressure sensor includes a resistive sensing bridge with a first sensing resistor and a second sensing resistor, each having variable resistance values in response to change in a sensed physical variable. An oscillator generates an oscillation signal with a frequency or period that is a function of an oscillator control signal. A sensor reference module generates the oscillator control signal as a function of the resistance value of a resistor coupled therewith. This sensor reference module is couplable with the first sensing resistor or second sensing resistor. A processing circuit coupled to the oscillator provides a sensor signal indicative of the frequency or period of the oscillation signal. The sensor signal has first and second values with the sensor reference module coupled with the first sensing resistor and with the second sensing resistor, respectively, the first and second values being thus jointly indicative of the physical variable sensed.

    Switched-resistor sensor bridge, corresponding system and method

    公开(公告)号:US10900849B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-01-26

    申请号:US16512912

    申请日:2019-07-16

    Abstract: A sensing bridge includes first and second branches in parallel, the first branch including a first resistor in series with a first switch, the second branch including a second resistor in series with a second switch. Resistances of the resistors vary with a sensed physical variable. The branches switch between first and second phases, with the first switch closed and the second switch open during the first phase, and the first switch open and the second switch closed during the second phase. A reference block generates a control signal from the resistance of the variable resistors during the first and second phases. An oscillator generates an oscillating signal during the first and second phases from the variable sense current during the first and second phases. Processing circuitry determines a value of the sensed physical value from an algebraic combination of the oscillating signal during the first and second phases.

    Switched-resistor sensor bridge, corresponding system and method

    公开(公告)号:US10393601B2

    公开(公告)日:2019-08-27

    申请号:US15437615

    申请日:2017-02-21

    Abstract: A MEMS pressure sensor includes a resistive sensing bridge with a first sensing resistor and a second sensing resistor, each having variable resistance values in response to change in a sensed physical variable. An oscillator generates an oscillation signal with a frequency or period that is a function of an oscillator control signal. A sensor reference module generates the oscillator control signal as a function of the resistance value of a resistor coupled therewith. This sensor reference module is couplable with the first sensing resistor or second sensing resistor. A processing circuit coupled to the oscillator provides a sensor signal indicative of the frequency or period of the oscillation signal. The sensor signal has first and second values with the sensor reference module coupled with the first sensing resistor and with the second sensing resistor, respectively, the first and second values being thus jointly indicative of the physical variable sensed.

    Stress sensor, structural health monitoring system for constructions and process for manufacturing a stress sensor

    公开(公告)号:US11237077B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-02-01

    申请号:US16353965

    申请日:2019-03-14

    Abstract: A stress sensor includes: a substrate, having a face and a recess, open to the face; and a sensor chip of semiconductor material, housed in the recess and bonded to the substrate, the sensor chip being provided with a plurality of sensing components of piezoresistive material. The substrate has a thickness which is less by at least one order of magnitude with respect to a main dimension of the face. Further, the sensor chip has a thickness which is less by at least one order of magnitude with respect to the thickness of the substrate, and a Young's module of the substrate and a Young's module of the sensor chip are of the same order of magnitude.

    Process for manufacturing a strained semiconductor device and corresponding strained semiconductor device

    公开(公告)号:US11075172B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-07-27

    申请号:US16389849

    申请日:2019-04-19

    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a strained semiconductor device envisages: providing a die of semiconductor material, in which elementary components of the semiconductor device have been integrated by means of initial front-end steps; and coupling, using the die-attach technique, the die to a support, at a coupling temperature. The aforesaid coupling step envisages selecting the value of the coupling temperature at a value higher than an operating temperature of use of the semiconductor device, and moreover selecting the material of the support so that it is different from the material of the die in order to determine, at the operating temperature, a coupling stress that is a function of the different values of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials of the die and of the support and of the temperature difference between the coupling temperature and the operating temperature. Furthermore, additional stress can be enhanced by means of different embodiments involving the support, such as ring or multi-layer frame.

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