Renesas ZSSC3240 sensor signal conditioner

Renesas Electronics has introduced the ZSSC3240 sensor signal conditioner (SSC), delivering sensitivity and flexibility for sensor applications such as resistive pressure sensors and medical infrared thermometers. The SSC features high performance and speed with up to 24 bits analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) resolution.

With a flexible sensor front end and a broad range of output interfaces, the product can be used for nearly all types of resistive and absolute voltage sensor elements, enabling users to develop complete sensing platforms from a single SSC device. This combination plus its small size makes the unit suitable for use with a wide variety of sensor-based devices for the industrial, consumer and medical markets, including industrial pressure transmitters, HVAC sensors, weight scales, factory automation devices, smart meters and continuous smart health monitors.

Micro-machined and silicon-based sensing elements provide mostly nonlinear and small signals, requiring special technologies to convert the sensor signal into a linearised output. The SSC facilitates both the design and production of sensor interfaces by providing programmable, wide gain and quantisation functions combined with powerful, high-order digital correction and linearisation algorithms. High performance and flexible sensor front end configuration and analog output options enable easy sensor platform design using a single IC. This allows customers to leverage the SSC for a wide variety of sensor elements that have different characteristics.

Other features include: high-gain analog front end supporting up to 540 V/V; integrated 26-bit DSP for high-precision sensor calibration; 4–20 mA current loop output, analog voltage outputs and digital interfaces as I²C, SPI and OWI; and on-chip diagnostics for medical and safety applications.