Introduction of Analog Front End IC Used in Sensing System

Y. Shimeno (New Japan Radio Co., Ltd., Japan)

The electronic sensing system consists of "Sensor", "AFE" block, and "Digital Signal Processor" blocks. The "Sensor" block detects the any signals in its environment and converts to analog electric signals. The "AFE" amplifies the electrical signal from sensor block and to convert to digital signals by A/D convertor. The "Digital Signal Processor" calculates digitally by MPU and so on. This presentation explains about required performances and functions of "AFE" Device, which can be apply to sensing system with two types of examples. The first, "Electro-chemical Gas Sensing" AFE has to achieve "Low Consumption", "Low Noise", "High RF Immunity", and "Temperature Compensation". It explains the necessity of high precision analog-technique and digital-function, which complements analog performance to achieve those requirements. The other example, "Residual Current-Circuit-Breaker" AFE improves its performance by digital-analog mixed system from existing analog one.