A novel sensing technique based on a sensor array

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. A. Physical. Vol. 82; no. 1; pp. 135 - 138
• Main Authors: Xu, Y.P., Frick, R., Haskard, M.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 15.05.2000; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Exact sciences and technology; General equipment and techniques; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Physics; Redundancy; Sensor array; Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing; Statistical estimation; Temperature sensor; Thermal instruments, apparatus and techniques; Thermometry; Temperature sensor; Statistical estimation; Sensor array; Redundancy; Temperature sensors; Temperature measurement; Relative error; Reference voltage; Experimental study; Block diagram; Comparator
• ISSN: 0924-4247; 1873-3069
• DOI: 10.1016/S0924-4247(99)00324-6

A novel sensing approach based on a sensor array has been described. The proposed system employs an array of temperature sensors. The output from each sensor is converted to a one-bit binary signal through a comparator. By analyzing the number of “ones” or “zeros” at the outputs of the comparator, the sensor output is estimated. By further successively reducing the reference voltage range applied to the comparators, the true value of the sensor output can be accurately determined within several iterations. The system has shown a certain degree of redundancy as the measurement does not rely on a particular sensor. Initial experiment using 30 sensors has shown that the relative errors for temperature measurement are between 0.2% and 1.4%. Although the experiment is performed on temperature measurement, the principle of the proposed approach is generic and can be applied to other sensing systems.