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Publication Number
US-12553846-B2
Publication Date
2026-02-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
An Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) configured to control one or more gas sensors includes a light emitting diode (LED) driver which receives a pulse width modulator (PWM) signal for driving at least one ultraviolet (UV) LED, wherein an output of the at least one UV LED activates the one or more gas sensors; and an amplifier front end and an analog to digital converter (ADC) configured to calibrate an output of an amplifier to remove offsets associated with outputs associated with the one or more gas sensors, wherein calibration of the amplifier occurs after both generation of the PWM signal and entering a steady state by the one or more gas sensors in which the one or more sensors are not exposed to any gas but air and the amplifier receives one or more inputs associated with the one or more gas sensors.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to operating an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) that controls one or more gas sensors by powering on the ASIC to generate a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal for driving at least one ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diode (LED), wherein an output of the at least one UV LED activates the one or more gas sensors. After generating the PWM signal, the method enters a steady state by the one or more gas sensors in which the one or more gas sensors are not exposed to any gas but air, prior to calibrating an output of an amplifier.
The invention calibrates the amplifier to remove offsets associated with outputs associated with the one or more gas sensors, using the amplifier receiving one or more inputs associated with the one or more gas sensors. The calibration is performed after both generation of the PWM signal and entering a steady state by the one or more gas sensors, with the sensors in air but not exposed to any gas. The method and ASIC determine whether operation is in an internal control mode or an external control mode.
When operating in the internal control mode, the ASIC includes a microcontroller for controlling logic associated with performing the calibration of the amplifier and operating other functions of the ASIC, and after calibration it waits a specified sampling interval, activates the PWM signal to activate the LED driver, waits for a ramp-up duration, and takes a resistance measurement of each of the gas sensors. The invention then flags reading of the resistance measurements and enters a wait mode until a next sampling interval, while in the external control mode it supports instruction-based behavior controlled by a microcontroller.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover (i) a method of operating an ASIC for UV-LED-driven gas sensor activation with ADC amplifier offset calibration in an air-only steady state, and (ii) an ASIC architecture implementing the same calibration timing and control-mode distinctions, including internal microcontroller-controlled measurement flow and external control-mode operation.
Air-only steady-state calibration after PWM generation to remove amplifier offsets
Calibrating an output of an amplifier to remove offsets associated with outputs associated with the one or more gas sensors, wherein calibration occurs after both generation of the PWM signal and entering a steady state by the one or more gas sensors in which the one or more sensors are not exposed to any gas but air.
UV LED activation via PWM-controlled LED driver for gas sensing
Generating a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal for driving at least one ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diode (LED), wherein an output of the at least one UV LED activates the one or more gas sensors.
Internal versus external control mode determination with microcontroller-controlled logic
Determining whether the ASIC is operating in an internal control mode or an external control mode, wherein when the ASIC is operating in the internal control mode the ASIC includes a microcontroller for controlling logic associated with performing the calibration of the amplifier and operating other functions of the ASIC, and the internal mode supports the specified post-calibration timing and measurement sequence.
Post-calibration internal control measurement loop with resistance measurement, flagging, and wait mode
When operating in the internal control mode, after calibration waiting a specified sampling interval, activating the PWM signal to activate the LED driver, waiting for a ramp-up duration, taking a resistance measurement of each of the gas sensors, flagging reading of the resistance measurements, and entering a wait mode until a next sampling interval.
Amplifier front end and ADC configured to calibrate after PWM and steady state
Configuring an analog front end and an analog to digital converter (ADC) to calibrate an output of an amplifier to remove offsets associated with outputs associated with the one or more gas sensors, wherein calibration occurs after both generation of the PWM signal and entering a steady state by the one or more gas sensors in air only.
External control mode instruction/trigger behavior with measurement saving
Determining internal versus external control mode and, when operating in the external control mode, receiving instructions from an external source to perform amplifier calibration and other ASIC functions, with externally controlled behavior that includes entering a wait mode, receiving an external trigger to initiate reading of inputs, and saving resulting measurements into registers.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage centers on UV LED activation of one or more gas sensors using a PWM signal, performing amplifier calibration to remove offsets after PWM generation during an air-only steady state, and operating with internal versus external control modes. The internal mode includes microcontroller-controlled timing, ramp-up waiting, resistance measurement, flagging, and waiting until the next sampling interval, while the external mode supports external instruction and trigger-based measurement handling and register saving.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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