Single-chip CMOS anemometer

For the first time a packaged single-chip anemometry microsystem is reported. The system includes a thermal CMOS flow sensor with on-chip power management, signal conditioning, and A/D conversion. It is fabricated using an industrial IC process followed by post-CMOS micromachining. The system is packaged on a flexible substrate using flip-chip interconnection technology. The measurement of wind speeds is demonstrated in the range from 0 to 38 m/s (0 to 12 Beaufort), with a dynamic range of 65 dB. Total power consumption is 3 mW.