Low-Power, Continuous-Time Sigma-Delta Interface for Micromachined Gyroscopes Employing a Sub-Nyquist-Sampling Technique

In this paper a novel system concept for the implementation of low-power readout electronics for micromachined gyroscopes is described. The main innovation is a modified Chopper Stabilization (CHS) technique in a ΣΔloop based on an undersampling process. It enables the design of a full Continuous-Time (CT) ΣΔ interface dissipating less power than its Discrete-Time (DT) counterpart without additional hardware effort for a flicker noise suppression. Further a systematic design approach for an interface employing this method and an architecture enabling this procedure is presented.