High-end sensors: challenges for the future

The paper describes the coming challenges in high-end sensors and transducers design. These challenges are coming from the recent technological limitations in microelectronics. The proposed approach to overcome such limitations is based on programmable parameter-to-frequency converters as a digital sensor's core and advanced method of measurement in order to move from a traditional analog-to-digital conversion to alternative frequency (period, duty-cycle, time interval)-to-digital conversion. Working in the frequency-time signal domain simplifies design, and obviates some technical and technological problems, due to the properties of frequency as informative parameter of sensors and transducers. The major benefits offered by such approach are high reliability, high metrological performance, wide functionality, cost effectiveness and scalability. The perspectives, which will bring such approach to various sensors and transducers for physical and chemical, electrical and nonelectrical quantities are illustrated by examples of multivariable sensors, sensors for smart health care and wearable sensors.