A new gas sensor electronic interface with generalized impedance converter

A new gas sensor conditioning circuit that allows a direct resistance-to-frequency conversion, as well as the procedure for the design, is presented. The generalized impedance converter (GIC) proposed is configured as a variable capacitor connected with the capacitor timing terminal of an astable multivibrator implemented by a PSoC (programmable system on chip) microcontroller device. The GIC effective input impedance, which is controlled by the gas sensor resistance, controls the astable output frequency. Good correlation of the experimental output frequency, which depends on the gas concentration, is achieved. The circuit is a simple gas sensor digital interface with frequency output.