The present invention is directed at improving charge transfer based measurement techniques. This may be done through the use of a sigma-delta like sensing circuit that continually removes a specific amount of charge from an accumulator to produce a binary bit output stream reflective of the state of a connected sensor. Further techniques include detection of a charge transfer measurement residual through a controlled, multi-step charge removal until a trip event is cleared, as well as the reuse of a voltage threshold with a plurality of charge transfers measurements of different resolution.