In a world where great efforts are spent designing and creating more complex, yet efficient systems, sensing elements and related readout circuits, which constitute an integral part of them, need to be designed fulfilling these constraints, beside the common key parameters, such as high sensitivity, resolution and accuracy. Capacitive sensors and their differential subset provide virtually no energy dissipation, show insensitivity to temperature variations and have the capability to be micromachined directly onto a silicon substrate, together with the readout interface. Designing a readout circuit that takes advantage of these benefits, according to any specific application, is thus of utmost importance. This volume introduces the reader to state-of-the-art techniques and research achievements in interfacing differential capacitance sensors.
Technical topics discussed in the book include:
▪ Switched capacitor based interfaces;
▪ Voltage mode, differential capacitance to time, voltage, digital converters;
▪ Current mode interfaces based on standard components;
▪ Current mode interfaces based on CCIIs and VCIIs;
▪ Principles of second generation current and voltage conveyors.
This book gives the reader a comprehensive overview on the working principles, equivalent circuit models and most advanced interfacing techniques for differential capacitive transducers, highlighting benefits and downsides of each option. Electronic interfaces for differential capacitive sensors is an ideal text for academic staff and Masters/research students in electronic and microelectronic engineering.
Gianluca Barile was born in Avezzano, Italy. He received the master's degree (cum laude) in Electronics Engineering from the University of L'Aquila (Italy) in 2016 and the PhD degree from the same University in 2020. His research activity includes voltage and current mode sensor interfaces, integrated circuits design and system for industrial electronics.
Giuseppe Ferri was born in L'Aquila, Italy, in 1965. He received the "Laurea" degree (cum laude) in electronic engineering in 1988. In 1991, he joined the Department of Electronic Engineering, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy, where he is actually a full professor of Electronics and Microelectronics at the University of L'Aquila, Italy. His research activity mainly concerns the design of analog electronic circuits for integrated sensor applications both in voltage and in current-mode. In this field of research, he is author or coauthor of 7 patents, 3 international books, 1 book chapter and more than 400 publications in international journals and conference proceedings. He is PhD coordinator for his department and responsible of the sensors, microsystems and instrumentation area in Italian Electronic Group. He is also an IEEE senior member and Editor of some international Journals and Special Issues.
Vincenzo Stornelli was born in Avezzano, Italy. He received the "Laurea" degree (cum laude) in electronic engineering in 2004. In October 2004, he joined the Department of Electronic Engineering, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy, where he is actually involved as Associate Professor with problems concerning current mode applications; physics-based simulation; computer-aided design modeling characterization and design analysis of active microwave components, circuits and subsystems; design of integrated circuits for Sensor and RF applications. He is an IEEE senior member and Editor of several international Journals and Special Issues. He also serves as a reviewer for several international journals.
