Considerations for the design of smart sensors

This paper discusses considerations which must be made during the design of a smart sensor. The points raised are based on experience gained during the design of a mixed signal ASIC for smart sensor applications. Reference is made to the circuitry required for such a design, the level of integration implemented and the design methodology used. The discussions highlight the difficulties in integrating all of the functions needed for a smart sensor signal conditioning on a single piece of silicon.