ARRAY SENSOR ELECTRONICS

摘要

Circuits and methods for detecting and amplifying sensor and sensor array (102, 104) output signals are presented. According to some aspects, a nonlinear feedback loop containing a sensor element provides a nonlinear transformation that compensates for a corresponding nonlinear response of th e sensor element thereby providing a linearized final output signal. In other aspects, idle sensors are coupled to a reference on non-idle sensor elements . Other aspects include sensor and amplification circuits which operate withou t traditional filtering or switching elements, such that a higher throughput i s achieved and no settling time is required due to traditional transients, thu s allowing for faster scanning of larger sensor arrays. Some embodiments of th e present invention are directed to variable gap capacitive sensor arrays and the signal processing electronics.