AC-Excited Bridge Sensor Circuit for White Noise Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional bridge sensors in consumer electronic products face challenges due to their lightness and thinness, resulting in small strain and resistance value changes, which are heavily impacted by noise, leading to low detection accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A detection circuit that includes an alternating current excitation module, a signal conditioning module with an instrumentation amplifier and anti-alias filter, and a processing module using demodulation techniques to suppress white noise and improve signal-to-noise ratio, specifically applying an alternating current excitation signal to the bridge sensor and employing quadrature demodulation and correlated double sampling to enhance detection sensitivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a direct current voltage source or direct current source is applied to the bridge sensor, then the detection circuit can obtain pressure or temperature data, but the system suffers from high white noise and low signal-to-noise ratio

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidwhite noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic AC excitation signals to the bridge sensor instead of continuous DC excitation. The excitation signal alternates between positive and negative cycles, enabling the sensor to operate in a dynamic state that reduces the impact of white noise. The periodic nature of the excitation allows for synchronized detection and signal processing that enhances signal-to-noise ratio while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Weight of moving object

If the bridge sensor is made lighter and thinner for consumer electronic products, then it can be integrated into devices like touch screens and wearables, but the strain and resistance value changes become extremely small, making the voltage signal very weak and highly susceptible to noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor weightVSAvoidvoltage signal strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

By using periodic AC excitation, the patent enhances the dynamic response of the thin bridge sensor. The alternating excitation creates larger voltage swings during strain events compared to DC excitation, making the weak signals from thin sensors more detectable above the noise floor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional DC electrical excitation with AC excitation combined with synchronous detection methods. This substitution allows for better signal extraction from the weak voltage outputs of thin sensors by using frequency-domain separation to distinguish signal from noise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If the bridge sensor structure is simplified for lightness, then it can be used in consumer electronics, but the detection circuit becomes more susceptible to noise interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor structureVSAvoidnoise interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The periodic AC excitation method provides a way to maintain simple sensor structures while reducing noise susceptibility through signal processing. The regular timing of excitation cycles enables synchronized detection that filters out random noise, allowing simple thin sensors to achieve reliable measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach significantly reduces white noise, improves the signal-to-noise ratio, and increases detection sensitivity, enabling more accurate pressure and temperature measurements in harsh environments.

Implementation Method 1

an alternating current excitation module 11, and a signal conditioning module 12

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAlternating current excitation:

Implementation Method 2

when a resistance strain gauge is used to form a bridge sensor for pressure detection, the bridge sensor may be installed on a specific surface of an elastic element. When the elastic element is strained, a resistance value of the resistance strain gauge may change slightly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoresistive effect: Piezoresistive Effect

Implementation Method 3

a signal conditioning module 12 and an analog-to-digital conversion module 13 which are connected in sequence

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSignal amplification:

Implementation Method 4

a signal conditioning module 12 and an analog-to-digital conversion module 13 which are connected in sequence

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltering: Filter (electronic)

Implementation Method 5

The processing module 14 is configured to demodulate the processed output signal to generate a demodulated output signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDemodulation:

Implementation Method 6

employing quadrature demodulation and correlated double sampling to enhance detection sensitivity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCorrelated double sampling:

Data Source

PatentEP3957958B1Detection circuit of bridge sensor, chip and detection system
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 SHENZHEN GOODIX TECH CO LTD
  • EP3957958B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3957958B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3957958B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a detection circuit of a bridge sensor, a chip and a detection system. The detection circuit includes (1): an alternating current excitation module (11), and further includes a signal conditioning module (12), an analog-to-digital conversion module (13) and a processing module (14) connected in sequence. The alternating current excitation module (11) is configured to apply an alternating current excitation signal to the bridge sensor (2). The signal conditioning module (12) and the analog-to-digital conversion module (13) are configured to sequentially process an output signal of the bridge sensor (2). The processing module (14) is configured to demodulate the processed output signal and obtain detection information of the bridge sensor (2) according to the demodulated output signal. In embodiments of the present disclosure, a white noise of the system can be greatly suppressed, and a signal-to-noise ratio of the system is improved, thereby improving detection performance of the bridge sensor.