This paper introduces the electronic interface for a capacitive airborne particle matter detector. The proposed circuit relies on two matched ring oscillators and a mixer to detect the frequency difference induced by the deposition of a particle onto an interdigitated capacitor, which constitutes the load of one of the oscillators. The output of the mixer is digitized through a simple counter. In order to compensate the oscillation frequency offset of the two ring oscillators due to process and mismatch variations, a capacitive trimming circuit has been implemented. The sensor is connected to host through an I2C interface for communication and configuration. The sensor has been implemented using a standard 130-nm CMOS technology by STMicroelectronics and occupies 0.12-mm2 die area. Experimental measurements using talcum powder show a sensitivity of 60 kHz/fF and a 3σ resolution equal to 165 aF.
CITATION STYLE
Ferlito, U., Grasso, A. D., Vaiana, M., & Bruno, G. (2021). A time-based electronic front-end for a capacitive particle matter detector. Sensors, 21(5), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21051840
Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.