Multiple output inertial sensing device

1. An inertial sensor adapted to be attached to a body comprising:

a base member, said base member being formed from a silicon wafer;

a single linear acceleration sensor element disposed on said base member, said linear sensor element operable to sense a change in linear acceleration of said body, said linear acceleration sensor element being the only sensor element disposed on said base member;

a plurality of signal conditioning circuits that are located remotely from said silicon wafer and said linear acceleration sensor, said plurality of signal conditioning circuits connected to said linear sensor element, with a first one of said signal conditioning circuits being calibrated to sense a first range of change in said linear acceleration of said body and a second one of said signal conditioning circuits being calibrated to sense a second range of change in said same linear acceleration of said body, said second range of change in said linear acceleration of said body being different from said first range of change in said linear acceleration of said body, said signal conditioning circuits operable to generate a plurality of electrical output signals with each electrical output signal being a function of said change in said linear acceleration while also being within the calibration range associated with said signal conditioning circuit;

a multiplexer for combining signals, said multiplexer connected to said signal conditioning circuits and operable to combine the output signals generated by said plurality of signal conditioning circuits into a single multiplexer output signal; and

a demultiplexer for separating signals, said demultiplexer in communication with said multiplexer and operable to receive said single multiplexer output signal, said demultiplexer operative to separate said received signal into the individual output signals generated by said signal conditioning circuits and to supply said individual output signals to a plurality of control devices with each output signal being supplied to a selected one of said control devices.

2. The inertial sensor according to claim 1 wherein said signal conditioning circuits are included within an Application Specific Integrated Circuit.

3. An inertial sensor adapted to be attached to a body comprising:

a base member, said base member being formed from a silicon wafer;

a single linear acceleration sensor element disposed on said base member, said linear sensor element operable to sense a change in linear acceleration of said body, said linear acceleration sensor element being the only sensor element disposed on said base member;

a plurality of signal conditioning circuits that are integral with said silicon wafer and said linear acceleration sensor, said plurality of signal conditioning circuits connected to said linear sensor element, with a first one of said signal conditioning circuits being calibrated to sense a first range of change in said linear acceleration of said body and a second one of said signal conditioning circuits being calibrated to sense a second range of change in said same linear acceleration of said body, said second range of change in said linear acceleration of said body being different from said first range of change in said linear acceleration of said body, said signal conditioning circuits operable to generate a plurality of electrical output signals with each electrical output signal being a function of said change in said linear acceleration while also being within the calibration range associated with said signal conditioning circuit;

a multiplexer for combining signals, said multiplexer connected to said signal conditioning circuits and operable to combine the output signals generated by said plurality of signal conditioning circuits into a single multiplexer output signal; and

a demultiplexer for separating signals, said demultiplexer in communication with said multiplexer and operable to receive said single multiplexer output signal, said demultiplexer operative to separate said received signal into the individual output signals generated by said signal conditioning circuits and to supply said individual output signals to a plurality of control devices with each output signal being supplied to a selected one of said control devices.

4. The inertial sensor according to claim 3 wherein said signal conditioning circuits are included within an Application Specific Integrated Circuit.

5. An inertial sensor adapted to be attached to a body comprising:

a base member, said base member being formed from a silicon wafer;

a single linear acceleration sensor element disposed on said base member, said linear sensor element operable to sense a change in linear acceleration of said body, said linear acceleration sensor element being the only sensor element disposed on said base member;

a plurality of signal conditioning circuits connected to said linear sensor element, with a first one of said signal conditioning circuits being calibrated to sense a first range of change in said linear acceleration of said body and a second one of said signal conditioning circuits being calibrated to sense a second range of change in said same linear acceleration of said body, said second range of change in said linear acceleration of said body being different from said first range of change in said linear acceleration of said body, said signal conditioning circuits operable to generate a plurality of electrical output signals with each electrical output signal being a function of said change in said linear acceleration while also being within the calibration range associated with said signal conditioning circuit;

a multiplexer for combining signals, said multiplexer connected to said signal conditioning circuits and operable to combine the output signals generated by said plurality of signal conditioning circuits into a single multiplexer output signal; and

a demultiplexer for separating signals, said demultiplexer in communication with said multiplexer and operable to receive said single multiplexer output signal, said demultiplexer operative to separate said received signal into the individual output signals generated by said signal conditioning circuits and to supply said individual output signals to a plurality of control devices with each output signal being supplied to a selected one of said control devices.