Ratiometric Voltage-to-Frequency Converter for Long-Life Autonomous Portable Equipment

Author

Azcona, C. ; Calvo, B. ; Celma, S. ; Medrano, N. ; Martinez, Philip A.

Author_Institution

Electron. Design Group, Univ. of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain

Volume

13

Issue

6

fYear

2013

fDate

Jun-13

Firstpage

2382

Lastpage

2390

Abstract

This paper presents a high performance 1.2 V-0.18 μm CMOS voltage-to-frequency converter (VFC) that can be used either in single or differential mode to digitize sensor readout signals in wireless sensor network applications. The proposed VFC works over the entire input range with output frequencies ranging between 0.1 and 1.0MHz, which allows the sensor node embedded microcontroller performing optimally the final digitalization Its operation is ratiometric, adding value to this device when used in battery operated systems. High linearity is achieved (0.015% linearity error) with low power consumption (80 μW) over a temperature range of -40 to +120°C.

Keywords

CMOS integrated circuits; frequency convertors; microcontrollers; portable instruments; power consumption; wireless sensor networks; VFC; differential mode; digitize sensor readout signals; frequency 0.1 MHz to 1.0 MHz; high performance CMOS voltage-to-frequency converter; long-life autonomous portable equipment; power 80 muW; power consumption; ratiometric voltage-to-frequency converter; sensor node embedded microcontroller; single mode; size 0.18 mum; temperature -40 degC to 120 degC; voltage 1.2 V; wireless sensor network applications; Capacitors; Linearity; Power demand; Resistors; Temperature sensors; Transistors; Wireless sensor networks; Low-voltage low-power; ratiometric; sensor interface; temperature compensation; voltage-to-frequency converter;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Sensors Journal, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1530-437X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JSEN.2013.2254595

Filename

6484870