Product category:
Analogue and Mixed Signal ICs
News Release from: Semtech | Subject: SX8722
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 30 November 2006
Acquisition chip makes sense of MEMS
signals
The SX8722 is a complete high-resolution data acquisition device for MEMS sensors used in portable industrial and consumer sensing applications.
New from Semtech Corp, the SX8722 is a complete, high-resolution data acquisition device for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors used in portable industrial and consumer sensing applications The SX8722 interfaces with most Wheatstone bridge chemical, pressure or magnetic sensors to condition and read data
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 16 Jul 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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The device features Semtech's ZoomingADC, a 16bit analogue/digital convertor (ADC) with a 10bit preamplifier to allow the device to "zoom in" on a small portion of the analogue signal and apply the full 16bit ADC to that part of the signal.
With this capability, the SX8722 can directly connect to a wide array of sensors ranging from 5V chemical to 2mV magnetic sensors without the need for an external amplifier.
A built-in input multiplexer means the SX8722 can measure up to four differential sensors, seven single-ended sensors or a combination thereof.
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The 1000-times gain of the preamplifier also gives designers the freedom to achieve a given level of sensitivity using a less sensitive, and usually lower cost, sensor.
For example the ZoomingADC can enhance the signal from a 345mbar breath sensor to deliver the 35mbar sensitivity needed for a breath analyser application - saving cost and board space.
"We've developed the SX8722 as a standard product with the features and software necessary for it to be dropped into an application and work without additional development", said Michel Chevroulet, Sensing Product Group Manager for Semtech's Wireless and Sensing Products Business Unit.
"But the ZoomingADC feature gives our customers the best of both worlds because they also get a level of programmability that makes the device equally suited to the cost-sensitive stand-alone product as well as the broad-based sensor product lines that need to accommodate thousands of different sensors for niche applications".
The low-power SX8722 is optimised for battery applications with two power-saving shutdown modes and a power supply range of 2.4 to 5.5V.
The SX8722's 7 x 7mm leadless package is well suited for portable consumer (compass or altimeter) or industrial applications.
It is a complete data acquisition solution that includes embedded software for basic data acquisition functions for fast development of sensor solutions.
For more advanced functionality, the SX8722 features a two-wire I2C serial bus for connection to a general-purpose microcontroller.
The device also features programmable high and low threshold alarm outputs enabling it to work without an MCU in stand-alone sensor devices and be able to trigger an LED to indicate an alarm condition.
The SX8722 is available immediately in production quantities.
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