Low-cost multiple-sensor systems

The paper reviews the architecture and design of low-cost high-performance sensor systems. These systems consist of a number of multiplexed sensor elements, sensor-specific front-ends, modifiers and microcontroller or digital signal processors (DSPs). Important properties which acts as focus points for the system design are : adaptability, accuracy, dynamic range, speed, power consumption, reliability and costs. To enable low-cost design and implementation a universal set-up, using components, is proposed. A universal sensor interfaces with front-ends for resistive, capacitivite, resistive-bridge sensing elements, is presented.