Micro Analog Systems has introduced the MAS6502, a 16bit piezo resistive sensor signal interface IC for MEMS-based pressure sensor modules. The IC uses a ratiometric ADC principle employing a delta-sigma conversion technique, giving a good noise performance, claims the company. It can operate in the supply voltage range from two to 3.6V, which makes it suitable for interfacing a piezo-resistive sensor in power consumption-critical portable applications. The effective number of bits of the ADC is 14bits. The company says that the external sensor bridge can be used to sense not only pressure but also temperature, using the built-in sensor sampling switches. The IC communicates via a standard two-wire I2C serial bus interface. It has a standby current consumption of 0.1μA and supply current of 0.35 to 2.3μA. The IC's input signal ranges are 325, 220, 150, and 100mVpp. It features an optional offset of 33mV with Vdd of 2.35V. The IC features 5, 4.5, 4, and 3.4kΩ sensor resistance values. Sampling ratios are 512, 256, 128, and 64, and conversion times of 0.8 to 10.6ms. It also features a 256bit EEPROM memory and is available in a 4x4x0.75 QFN-16 package as well as tested wafers or dies in waffle pack.
